Today I'm talking with Shannon Susko, a serial entrepreneur who developed the 3HAG (3-Year Highly Achievable Goal) and Metronomics frameworks. What sets Shannon's approach apart is how directly it connects your strategic plan and execution rhythms to clear, measurable financial outcomes. It's an operating system built specifically for business owners who understand their numbers but want greater clarity on how daily decisions impact long-term value.

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In this episode, Shannon explains exactly how to align your team’s strategic actions with the financials, creating predictability in your business. We cover the specifics of her methodology and why integrating financial clarity into your strategic planning process is critical for creating real operational independence. If you want to build a business that’s both scalable and owner-independent, Shannon provides straightforward, practical insights you can apply immediately.
Shannon Susko is an accomplished entrepreneur and creator of the 3HAG and Metronomics systems, uniquely focused on integrating strategic execution with financial clarity. She has successfully scaled and exited multiple businesses and now advises business leaders globally on how to align their strategic planning directly with measurable financial results, making owner independence achievable and sustainable.
Chapters:

• (00:00) Introduction To Shannon Susco And Her Metronomics System
• (07:11) The 3HAG Way Filling Critical Strategy Gaps
• (10:44) Connecting Long-Term Vision With Practical Execution
• (14:28) Why Forecasting Cash First Creates Business Confidence
• (20:22) How Strategy Mapping Led To A Premium Acquisition
• (25:38) Understanding Value Creation From The Ownership Lens
• (30:20) The Definition Of Strategy And Creating a Unique Position
• (35:10) Building The Core Customer Knowledge System
• (40:09) Creating An A Player Leadership Team For Growth
• (45:30) How Clear Goals Make Accountability Objective Not Personal
• (53:12) Breaking Free From Working In The Business
• (01:00:13) Empowering Owners To Let Go With Confidence
• (01:10:00) Closing Thoughts, Getting in Touch with Shannon
• Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!

Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals.

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast.

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around.

Resources:
Shannon Susko Website
Shannon Susko LinkedIn
Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop
Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/
Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom
Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom
Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8

Sound Bites

“Strategic planning is meaningless unless everyone knows how it directly affects the financial outcomes we’re aiming for.” – Shannon Susko

“True operational freedom comes when your strategic rhythms match up perfectly with clear financial targets.” – Ryan Tansom

“Predictable growth isn’t a mystery—it's the result of aligning strategic actions with your numbers.” – Shannon Susko