Lany and Susan dive into the sometimes murky waters of consultant-client relationships. Drawing from years of experience sitting on every side of the boardroom table, they tackle the age-old question: "Who is responsible for doing the tasks at hand?"

Let's face it—consultants don't come with magic wands, and CEOs don't get to toss the keys and walk away. Whether you've ever wondered "Why isn't this working?" or "I paid a consultant, so why isn't everything fixed?" this episode cuts through the confusion with practical advice on setting boundaries, managing expectations, and creating successful partnerships.

Susan and Lany share real-world stories about scope creep, communication breakdowns, and the emotional rollercoaster that can derail even the best-intentioned business relationships. They also offer straightforward tips for both sides to keep things running smoothly, from clear contracts to honest conversations about decision-making authority.

Tune in for a no-nonsense discussion about what makes consultant-CEO partnerships work, and what doesn't!

1. Clear Roles and Responsibilities: CEOs and consultants must understand who owns what in the relationship. Consultants provide expertise and guidance, but CEOs remain the ultimate decision-makers.
2. Communication is Critical: Most problems in consultant-client relationships stem from poor communication or unclear expectations.
3. Consultants' Role: Consultants bring fresh perspectives, specialized expertise, and assessment capabilities but aren't responsible for the final decisions or outcomes.
4. CEO Authority: Business owners need to maintain their decision-making power and not abdicate responsibility to consultants.
5. Documentation and Contracts: Clear contracts and documentation help prevent scope creep and establish expectations for both parties.
6. Implementation Shared Effort: Even after a consultant provides recommendations, implementation requires effort from both parties.
7. Knowing When to Part Ways: Sometimes the relationship isn't a good fit, and both parties should know how to amicably end the engagement.

In this episode, Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan revisit a topic we can’t stress enough: branded email addresses. Using Gmail, Yahoo, or even AOL for business? You’re losing trust before the conversation starts. We dig into real examples, onboarding requirements, offboarding protocols, and the risk of letting your team operate with inconsistent or unprotected emails. Your email isn’t just a communication tool—it’s your brand's handshake.

Related Reading:

• Domain, Email & Website Evaluation for Your Brand

• Why Branded Email Matters – Quick Reminder

Listen, nod, then take action.

Struggling to make your real estate data stand out in a sea of generic market reports? In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, I share practical insights from my recent workshop with NRBA professionals Kelley Kesterson and Angelica Suarez, who are looking to elevate their marketing with meaningful data visualization. Discover how to transform complex market statistics into compelling visual stories that build trust and position you as the go-to expert in your local market—all using tools you already have access to, like Google Sheets. Stop wasting time on generic industry charts that mean nothing to your audience and start creating content that genuinely connects.

1. Data with context builds trust - Generic industry charts without local relevance or explanation provide no value to your audience.
2. Simplify your data storytelling - Focus on communicating one clear message rather than overwhelming with multiple data points.
3. Use accessible tools - Google Sheets offers easy chart creation and customization without needing advanced design skills.
4. Brand your visuals - Customize colors to match your brand and include your logo so graphics remain attributed if shared.
5. Create master templates - Develop Google Slides masters with different layouts for different content types to maintain consistency.
6. Prioritize readability - Use high contrast between text and background, and consider accessibility for all viewers.
7. Post with purpose - Better to post quality content weekly than generic, contextless daily updates.
8. Establish visual consistency - Different content types should have recognizable, consistent layouts.
9. Consider format versatility - Create both square (Instagram) and rectangular (website/LinkedIn) versions of your template.
10. Show local expertise - Position yourself as the authority by translating national trends to your specific market conditions.

Susan sits down with former team member Karen Mares, Content Creator at Event Builder, who serves as her company's "marketing anchor" as she navigates the evolving landscape of AI tools.

Karen shares her journey from initial concerns about AI replacing her writing role to developing a strategic workflow where she remains firmly in control. You'll discover how she has combined multiple AI platforms—each serving distinct purposes in her content creation process—while ensuring that her human expertise, voice, and judgment remain the guiding force.

For marketing leaders seeking practical ways to integrate AI without compromising authenticity, Karen offers invaluable insights: training AI tools in your company's voice, identifying and eliminating phrases that give away AI, and creating approval processes that maintain compliance standards. Her approach has significantly accelerated content production while preserving the quality and distinctiveness that only a skilled human writer can deliver.

Whether you're just beginning to explore AI tools or looking to refine your existing processes, this conversation provides a blueprint for keeping the human element central while leveraging AI's capabilities to expand your content reach and impact.

Join us to learn how to stay firmly at the helm while letting AI help power your content journey forward.

Karen Mares on LinkedIn EventBuilder

Love, Hate, Delegate: Transforming Your Business Through Delegation

LEADER GENERATION EP109: AI, Data & Marketing: How To Manage Risks

Grants Pass native Terry Hopkins has returned to his roots after a diverse hospitality career across five states. With over 25 years of business ownership and management experience in Southern Oregon, Terry recently spent 5 years as a business advocate with the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. Married for 20+ years with two sons, Terry is passionate about community service, having served on numerous Chamber and city committees. He's excited to join the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce team to advocate for local businesses and enhance community development.

thopkins@grantspasschamber.org | 541-956-4100

Lany Sullivan sits down with Mark Cleve, who shares his remarkable 32-year journey with Tom James, the premium custom clothing company that's grown from $119 million to over $600 million during his tenure. Mark reveals the business philosophy that has guided his success: "You don't build a business, you build people and people build a business."

From his early door-to-door book-selling experiences to becoming a trusted name in custom clothing, Mark offers powerful insights on why clothing matters, how to build systems that scale, and why the ultimate business legacy is reliability. Discover why Mark has only lost clients for three reasons: how the right clothing creates both confidence and respect, and why he believes that dressing appropriately for occasions shows respect for others. Whether you're in fashion, sales, or any client-facing business, Mark's practical wisdom on creating "consciously competent" customers who trust you completely offers a blueprint for building your lasting business legacy.

Connect with Mark:

mark.cleve@tomjames.com | 503-819-7001

LinkedIn | Instagram | Website

About Mark Cleve

Mark Cleve is a Division Vice President, Image Consultant, and Executive Clothier at Tom James Company, the world's largest manufacturer and retailer of custom clothing. Based in Portland, Oregon, Mark has dedicated over 32 years to helping professionals elevate their presence through tailored wardrobe solutions. With a client-centric approach, he meets individuals at their homes or offices, crafting bespoke garments that reflect their unique style and career aspirations.

His career began at Southwestern Company, selling educational books door-to-door—an experience he calls the hardest and best job he ever had. A graduate of Indiana University Bloomington (B.A. in Religious Studies and English), Mark brings analytical insight and interpersonal skill to his work.

Beyond his professional life, Mark enjoys music, food, wine, travel, and the outdoors. He takes pride in delivering concierge-level service that empowers clients to make lasting first impressions across all aspects of their professional and social lives.

We're continuing our exploration of effective marketing strategies with the experts from iHeartRadio. In our first segment, we discovered how radio remains 'America's Trusted Companion' and explored the powerful geofencing capabilities that can target potential customers with remarkable precision.

Now, we're shifting focus to the strategic side - how businesses of all sizes can effectively incorporate audio marketing into their overall strategy, even with limited budgets. Julie and Kevin share valuable insights on the psychology behind effective advertising, the multiplier effect of audio on other marketing channels, and practical approaches to campaign timing that maximize impact without breaking the bank. Let's rejoin the conversation as they break down the differences between host-read ads and generic spots, and reveal how audio fits into a comprehensive marketing strategy.

This episode could have also been called:

• The Host-Read Advantage: Building Trust Through Strategic Audio Marketing"
• "The Marketing Multiplier Effect: How Audio Amplifies Your Entire Strategy"
• "Strategic Audio Campaigns: Maximizing Impact on Any Budget"
• "Beyond Digital: Using Radio and Podcasts to Boost Your Marketing ROI"
• "Marketing Funnel Mastery: How Audio Drives Results at Every Stage"
• "The Flighting Strategy: Smart Seasonal Campaigns for Year-Round Impact"
• "Audio Marketing Psychology: Why Radio and Podcasts Create Deeper Connections"

Real estate brokers searching for an edge are discovering what radio professionals have known all along – radio remains 'America's Trusted Companion' even in our digital age. This special segment of Rooted in Revenue brings you face-to-face with iHeartRadio experts Julie Beaulieu and Kevin Cash, who share surprising insights about radio's continued growth and its unique ability to build community trust.

Learn how their advanced geofencing technology lets you precisely target potential clients – from specific neighborhoods to competitors' open houses – creating opportunities traditional digital marketing misses. You'll understand why radio creates deeper connections with listeners and how this translates directly into brand credibility for real estate professionals.

Whether you're running a boutique agency or a larger brokerage, discover practical strategies to incorporate radio into your marketing mix without stretching your budget. This conversation might completely change how you think about connecting with future clients and positioning your brand in the competitive real estate landscape.