Podcast Summary: Courage & Clarity, Episode 149

Title: "Next Level Launch" Checklist: 6 Standards I'm Holding Myself To This Year
Host: Steph Crowder
Date: September 1, 2025

Episode Overview

In this solo episode, Steph Crowder dives deep into what it takes to elevate your launches beyond “scrappy selling” into sustainable, high-performing, and less stressful experiences. Through sharing her own evolving standards and personal stories, Steph offers a six-part “next level launch readiness checklist.” This episode is especially valuable for entrepreneurs looking to move from basic, just-in-time launches to well-orchestrated, repeatable, and scalable launch strategies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Purpose & Evolution of Launching

• Transition from “scrappy selling”: Steph describes how she’s built significant success with quick, imperfect launches (“flying by the seat of my pants”) but now aims for a more sustainable, professional approach.
• Threshold for “next level” launching: The checklist is most relevant for entrepreneurs who’ve launched before and want to improve results while reducing stress and chaos.

“I have done many launches. Most... have been pretty flying by the seat of my pants. The first million that I've done in business has come primarily from building the parachute on its way down.” ([14:45])

• Important distinction: Preparing for a next-level launch doesn’t mean falling into perfectionism or endless delay; progress over perfection is the goal.

2. The Six Standards for Next-Level Launches

1. Assets Are Done Ahead of Time

• All launch materials (emails, sales pages, social media posts) should be fully written and, ideally, scheduled before launch begins.
• Prepping in advance helps manage energy and withstand the “launch rollercoaster.”
• Steph highlights the value of delegating scheduling but keeping sales communication authentic and CEO-led.

“Your assets are done ahead of time. Not almost done, not a little bit done, not done in my brain, but actually done.” ([23:05])

2. Sales Event Locked and Loaded

• Every launch should anchor around a core sales event (webinar, workshop, info session), designed intentionally for conversion.
• This sales event becomes the “big show” of the launch, with all pre-launch content building up to it.
• Steph notes her clients' shifts back and forth between webinars and free challenges, but always as intentional, strategic sales mechanisms.

“Your sales event is really going to be the anchor and the big show and the kind of cresting moment of your launch period.” ([36:30])

3. Four Weeks of Audience Preparation

• Begin talking about your offer at least four weeks in advance through emails, podcasts, and content focused on problems your offer addresses.
• This includes open transparency about pricing and the forthcoming launch to build trust and anticipation (not surprise offers).

“I truly think that at least right now, in 2025, more Runway is better. A longer driving period where you're warming people up, you are acclimating them to your offer.” ([41:20])

4. Life and Logistics Clear for Launch

• Prepare your personal life to support your launch—means no overbooked schedules, healthy meals ready, core routines in place (fitness, mindset, rest).
• Don’t “wear busy as a badge of honor”; treat yourself as a “supported CEO.”

“We don't need to be wearing busy like a badge of honor. Real CEOs and real badass business owners are supported.” ([51:40])

5. Daily Show-Up Plan

• Map out in advance exactly how you’ll show up during the open-cart period, including posting schedules, personal outreach, objection handling, and repurposing live content.
• This planning frees up energy for high-impact sales activities (“money making activities”).

“You know exactly how you'll show up daily. Once the doors are open, you have this planned in advance. This has been the number one game changer...” ([54:36])

6. Offer & Messaging Mastery

• Know your offer, transformations, client stories, and objections so deeply that you can pitch effortlessly and with bold conviction.
• This comes from repetition and feedback, evolving your messaging with every launch.

“Your offer and your message feel so locked and loaded you could pitch ‘em in your sleep. You know your offer, you know your transformations, you know your client results, you know your objections.” ([01:03:45])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On scrappy selling versus next level launches:

  "I don't suggest a big, elaborate launch to fill your first group. You can fill your first group program with scrappy selling strategies... I like to build my offers with people." ([11:00])

• On the myth of perfectionism:

  “No such thing exists. In fact, what I'm going to share with you is still something I'm working on. I probably get like 75% of what I'm sharing. It's not about being perfect…” ([19:42])

• On audience prep and transparency:

  “It's a breath of fresh air that you tell us about your offer ahead of time and it feels, it makes people feel like they're being treated as adults and that you're not trying to hide it…” ([45:45])

• On CEO mindset:

  “I love to just cosplay as the CEO of a business that's 10 times as big as mine, I ask myself like, how would she show up? What would she do?” ([53:07])

• On readiness versus delay:

  “This is not meant to help us have a perfect launch. No such thing exists... I don't want you to use what I'm about to share to delay things, to push it off…” ([16:35])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–05:00: Introduction, show context, Steph’s background
• 05:20–15:00: Evolution of scrappy launches, who this checklist is for
• 15:40–19:40: Perfectionism pitfall; being “ready” vs. delaying
• 23:05–36:30: Standards 1 & 2: Assets in advance and sales events
• 36:30–49:00: Standard 3: Four-week audience runway and transparent seeding
• 49:00–53:45: Standard 4: Life and logistics; treating yourself as a supported CEO
• 54:36–01:02:00: Standards 5 & 6: Daily show-up plan and offer mastery
• 01:02:30–End: Final reflections; invitation to mastermind

Summary & Takeaways

Steph Crowder candidly outlines her “next level launch” checklist—six standards that distinguish sustainable, high-performing launches from the chaos and stress of winging it. Emphasizing preparation, transparency, intentional event anchoring, and a supported CEO mindset, this episode offers a clear roadmap whether you’re looking to scale up your launches or simply reduce exhaustion and anxiety.

For listeners:
If you want launching to feel more like an energizing, repeatable business activity and less like a wild emotional ride, Steph’s checklist sets out actionable, aspirational goals. She invites you to reflect on which standard your launches most need—test, optimize, and, above all, don’t strive for perfection before you start.

Interested in Steph’s support?
Get on the waitlist for her Sold Out Group Programs Mastermind.

Steph’s closing words:

"I’m wishing you the courage and the clarity to go after what you love." ([01:11:15])