The Right-Hand Roadmap

If you’re always too busy to invest in yourself, your career might be stuck.

In this short but powerful solo episode, Megan Long addresses the all-too-familiar excuse: “I’m too busy.” Whether you're putting off professional development, skipping strategic planning, or just stuck in back-to-back meetings, it’s time to ask what that busyness is really costing you. This is a pep talk for every second-in-command who’s running on fumes—...

Before you chase growth, fix these foundational cracks that could break your business. 

Before you chase aggressive growth targets, you have to ask yourself a hard question: Is your business actually ready to scale?

We work with leaders every day who are stuck in the messy middle: growing revenue while cash gets tighter, roles get blurrier, and the founder still has a hand in every decision. In this week’s episode of The Right-Hand...

Most companies don't have a real strategy. 

What’s the difference between being the “best” in your industry and being the only one of your kind? In this episode, bestselling author and street strategist Alex M H Smith joins Megan Long to break down the myths of business strategy. If you’re a COO or second-in-command trying to steer your company toward a clear, scalable, and profitable future, this conversation is your shortcut. Lea...

Unlock time and scale smarter by learning what to delegate and how to successfully partner with a remote VA

In this episode, Megan Long sits down with Kimeran Johnson, COO of Nexus Point, to dive deep into how executives can offload the right work, reclaim their time, and scale their companies using offshore virtual assistants. Kimeran shares practical delegation frameworks, red flags to avoid when outsourcing, and best practices f...

50 Lessons for 50 Episodes

In this special 50th episode, host Megan Long reflects on the hard-won wisdom gathered from years of working as (and with) Seconds-In-Command at founder-led companies. She shares 50 rapid-fire lessons she wishes she could give her younger executive self, ranging from mindset shifts and leadership tactics to strategic guidance and personal boundaries. If you’re navigating the complex and rewarding role of ...

Scaling Smarter: What Every COO Needs to Know About Lead Gen

In this episode, Megan Long interviews Cindy Dodd, the powerhouse COO and cofounder of PEMA.io, an Inc. 5000 B2B appointment-setting firm. Cindy breaks down the most common lead generation mistakes, shares how to hold outsourced vendors accountable, and reveals the revenue planning process that helps her team scale with confidence. Whether you're managing a sales team, ov...

Protect the business and your team by identifying and eliminating risk before it derails your growth.

One of the most powerful (and often invisible) things you can do in this role is proactively de-risk the business. That means thinking ahead, planning for disruptions, and removing single points of failure that could knock the business off track.

In this episode of The Right-Hand Roadmap, we unpack the real meaning of de-risking. I...

Avoid the Hidden Traps in Your Compensation Plan and Financial Planning as a Six-Figure Earner.

In episode 47 of The Right-Hand Roadmap, we sat down with Brenton Harrison, a Certified Financial Planner who specializes in helping first- and second-generation high-income earners. Brenton pulls back the curtain on the emotional baggage that often comes with financial success, and how easy it is to fall into the trap of compensation pl...

Encouraging employee-generated content and building a personal brand on LinkedIn can position your company and team as industry leaders (while also making hiring easier than ever).

In today’s episode of The Right-Hand Roadmap, we’re diving into employee-generated content (EGC) and why it’s one of the most powerful tools for attracting top talent and building a strong company presence. We’ll also explore why Seconds-in-Command shoul...

Get practical answers to questions COOs are asking—about SOPs, staffing ahead of growth, and managing disengaged employees.

In this Q&A episode of The Right-Hand Roadmap, Megan Long tackles real-world questions from second-in-command leaders navigating fast growth, resource constraints, and team dynamics. Whether you're wondering when to systematize your startup, how to staff for a 30% growth forecast, or what to do with employ...

Want your CEO to actually read your emails? Master the art of concise communication.

As a COO or second-in-command, you don’t have time for long-winded explanation, and neither does your CEO. In this episode of The Right-Hand Roadmap, Megan Long shares why brevity is an essential leadership skill in founder-led companies. You’ll hear real-life examples of communication failures and learn how to craft messages that get read (and act...

Prepare for quarterly planning with a structured prework process that ensures alignment, clarity, and execution for your leadership team.

Quarterly planning isn’t just about setting goals—it’s about ensuring your company is focused, aligned, and equipped to execute effectively. In this episode, Megan Long breaks down the essential prework every second-in-command should complete before heading into a quarterly planning session. From...

Secrets to success being a Second-In-Command to your spouse while balancing business and family life with Amy Stasiukaitis, Chief of Staff at Low County Case & Millwork and founder of The Helm.

Being a second-in-command in any business is a challenge, but when your CEO is also your spouse, the dynamics become even more complex. In Episode 42 of The Right-Hand Roadmap, we sat down with Amy Stasiukaitis, Chief of Staff at Low Cou...

Learn the key differences between an Executive Assistant, Chief of Staff, and COO, and how to maximize your partnership with a founder, featuring expert insights from Hallie Warner.

In this episode of The Right-Hand Roadmap, we dive deep into the evolving roles of Executive Assistants, Chiefs of Staff, and COOs with Hallie Warner, founder of The Founder & The Force Multiplier. Hallie shares her expert perspective on how each ro...

Feeling less confident in your role as a Second-in-Command? Learn how the Dunning-Kruger effect impacts your leadership and how to overcome it.

Ever feel like the more you learn, the less confident you become? You’re not imagining it. This is the Dunning-Kruger effect at work. In this episode, we break down how this psychological phenomenon affects Seconds-in-Command and why gaining experience can sometimes feel like a confidence k...

Want to connect with top industry leaders and expand your executive network? Learn how to make high-impact connections and build relationships that open doors.

As an executive, your network is one of your greatest assets. In this episode of The Right-Hand Roadmap, we dive into the art of strategic networking: how to connect with key industry leaders, build meaningful professional relationships, and leverage those connections to gro...

Discover how to reclaim 20% of your team’s time and master your digital tools with Shawn Lemon, founder of The Digital Organizer.

In this episode of The Right-Hand Roadmap, we sit down with Shawn Lemon, founder of The Digital Organizer, to tackle the hidden costs of "digital chaos" in your organization. Shawn shares practical strategies for optimizing digital tools, streamlining workflows, and reclaiming 20% of your employees' time...

Simple yet powerful phrases to elevate your leadership, empower your team, and reclaim your time.

In this episode, host Megan Long shares three essential phrases every COO or second-in-command should master. These tools are designed to grow your team’s problem-solving skills, build trust with your CEO, and help you maintain focus by avoiding unnecessary urgency.

You'll hear all about:

• 00:29 – Introduction to the episode: three...

Set realistic revenue goals for the year and create a strategic plan to hit them.

In this episode, Megan Long breaks down the process of setting accurate revenue goals for your business. If you’re tired of arbitrary revenue targets, this episode will teach you how to evaluate your sales funnel, crunch the numbers, and build a clear path to success. Whether you're a COO or second-in-command, this episode gives you actionable steps t...