Ep. 233 - How To Make Risky Moves In Business and Marriage with Susan Schramm

When big ideas stall, it’s rarely because the idea is bad—it’s because people get stuck. In this week’s conversation, we welcome strategist and author Susan Schramm (chair of Nehemiah Project; founder of Go To Market Impact) to unpack how married entrepreneurs can de-risk decisions at work and at home—without killing momentum or connection.

Susan introduces her De-Risk System for Impact, a simple, people-first way to move initiatives forward: clarify why and why now, name who must take action, surface assumptions, and explore both upside and downside risk—including the risk of inaction. She also shares a practical rhythm couples can use to align different risk profiles (hello, “shoot first” spouse vs. “think it through” spouse), reduce anxiety, and keep communication open.

From cross-country moves and career shifts to launching products and leading teams, you’ll hear scripts, questions, and exercises you can use tonight—like pre-mortems, writing decisions down, and even trying on “Disney roles” (visionary, operator, financier) together—so you protect your marriage, accelerate results, and avoid costly detours.

Get the book - Fast Track Your Big Idea: Navigate risk, move people to action, and avoid your strategy going off course fasttrackyourbigidea.com or 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanbaileyschramm/ 

Key Takeaways

• Risk has two dimensions: awareness of risk and willingness to engage. Know where each spouse sits.

• Always ask “Why now?” Great ideas can be right—but at the wrong time.

• Map four quadrants: upside of acting, downside of acting, upside of not acting, downside (risk) of not acting. Inaction carries its own costs.

• Make assumptions visible. Write down what you’re presuming about time, travel, money, family, and capacity. Revisit when reality changes.

• Use pre-mortems. Before launching, imagine what could go wrong (or right too fast) and plan responses—without making it personal.

• Try role-switching. Together evaluate ideas as the visionary (experience), operator (execution), and financier (resources).

• Document decisions. Capture reasoning so you can learn, adapt, and avoid blame when conditions shift.

• Practice on small stuff. Use the system for everyday choices (schedules, purchases, projects) so you’re ready for high-stakes moves.

Bio

Susan Schramm is on a mission to help people turn big ideas into reality. Whether in a boardroom or a coffee shop, Susan finds joy in equipping and encouraging people to overcome obstacles and move forward. 

After decades of working with Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits launching new products and programs, new partnerships, and new companies, Susan founded her firm, Go to Market Impact. She aims to help leaders of organizations of all sizes achieve results faster when driving high-stakes strategies. Susan developed the De-RiskSystemforImpact® to encourage leaders to openly discuss risk and plan for the people side of strategy, which is often ignored. She brings energy, experience, and practical insights that inspire a fresh perspective. 

Susan revels in exploring the world around her and has proudly conquered one of her bucket list goals: visiting all 50 states in the US. She is fueled by her faith, her family, and a bottomless cup of coffee. 

Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our (audio) book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/ 

Download the 5 Daily Habits to Thrive in Tandem https://marriedentrepreneur.co/5-daily-habits-download

Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk