# A Clear Path from First Conversation to Independent Team.

No surprises, no vague retainers. Every engagement follows the same structured 9-month journey, built to leave your business thriving.

## The Discovery Call

Before any engagement begins, we spend an hour together on Zoom — no pitch, no pressure. It’s a straight conversation about your business, your team, and whether working together actually makes sense for both of us.

I’ll tell you honestly on the call if I think I can help. If I can’t, I’ll tell you that too — and point you somewhere that might be a better fit.

- **Format & Length:** 60 minutes over Zoom. Just you and me — no sales rep, no intake coordinator.
- **Your Business:** We’ll talk about where you are — revenue, team size, industry, and what’s driving growth or slowing it down.
- **Your Marketing Situation:** What’s working, what isn’t, who’s doing what, what you’ve tried, and what you’re spending.
- **Your Goals:** Where you want to be in 6 and 12 months — and what’s standing between you and that.
- **Real-Time Feedback:** You’ll leave with honest observations — not a follow-up proposal full of vague promises.

## How I Evaluate Whether We’re a Good Fit

I only move forward when I’m confident I can deliver real value. Here’s what I’m actually looking for.

- **Revenue Stage:** Your business is generating $1M–$5M+ in revenue. At this stage, the marketing leadership gap is real — and the engagement pays for itself.
- **Team Readiness:** There’s someone doing marketing — or you’re ready to hire. I lead and develop people. A completely empty marketing function isn’t the right starting point.
- **Owner Mindset:** You’re open to outside leadership and willing to trust the process. If every recommendation gets second-guessed, neither of us will get what we want.
- **Budget Alignment:** The engagement is sustainable for your business — not a financial stretch that creates pressure from day one. We’ll talk about this openly on the call.
- **Goals Clarity:** You have a reasonable sense of what you want to achieve — even if you’re not sure how to get there. Curiosity and ambition count more than a polished plan.
- **Working Relationship:** This has to be a partnership I believe in. I take on a limited number of clients and I’m selective — because your success is directly tied to my reputation.

If it’s not a fit, I’ll tell you. And I’ll do my best to point you toward something that is — whether that’s a different consultant, a resource, or simply different timing. No hard feelings, ever.

## Five Phases. One Clear Destination.

### 01. The Foundation Sprint (Month 1): Onboarding & Audit

Before we can build anything, we need to know exactly what we’re working with. The Foundation Sprint is about getting full visibility into your business, your team, and your marketing — so nothing is assumed and nothing is missed.

- Owner & team questionnaires completed
- Tool & platform access established
- Stakeholder kickoff call
- Gap analysis documented
- Full marketing asset audit
- Analytics and data review
- Communication cadence agreed
- Vendor & platforms review

### 02. The Blueprint Sprint (Months 2-4): Strategy & Roadmap

With a clear picture of where you are, we build the roadmap for where you’re going. The Blueprint Sprint delivers a custom marketing strategy — not a template — along with a 90-day priority plan your team can actually execute against.

- Custom marketing strategy developed
- Channel & budget recommendations
- Competitive positioning analysis
- Team roles & responsibilities clarified
- 90-day priority plan delivered
- Target audience defined & documented
- KPIs & success metrics established
- Strategy presentation to owner

### 03. The Build Sprint (Months 5-6): Execution & Team Development

This is where the work gets real. The Build Sprint is the longest phase for a reason — sustainable marketing functions aren’t built overnight. We execute the strategy, develop your team’s capabilities, and put the right systems in place.

- Weekly team coaching sessions
- Campaign execution oversight
- Hiring guidance if needed
- Team accountability frameworks
- Vendor & agency management
- Marketing systems & workflows built
- Monthly reporting cadence established
- Owner monthly strategy review

### 04. The Momentum Sprint (Months 7-8): Optimization & Results

By now, your team is executing. The Momentum Sprint shifts focus to optimization — measuring what’s working, eliminating what isn’t, and doubling down on the channels and tactics driving real results. Your team starts leading more, with me in a coaching and oversight role.

- Performance analysis & reporting
- Budget reallocation based on data
- Bi-weekly owner check-ins
- Team skill gap assessment
- Campaign optimization cycles
- Team leading independently on execution
- Strategy refinement as needed
- Scaling plan developed

### 05. The Handoff Phase (Month 9): Independence & Continuity

The goal of this entire engagement is a marketing team that doesn’t need me anymore. The Handoff Phase ensures a clean, confident transition — with documented systems, a clear ongoing roadmap, and a team that knows exactly what to do next.

- Full strategy & systems documentation
- Team final capability assessment
- 12-month forward roadmap delivered
- Vendor relationships transitioned
- Reporting templates handed off
- Final owner debrief & review
- Optional: post-engagement advisory
- Referral introductions if needed

## Two Possible Outcomes. Both Are Good.

Within 5 business days of our call, you’ll hear back from me directly with a clear answer.

### It’s a Fit: Here’s What Happens Next

- You receive a custom engagement proposal within 5 business days.
- We align on scope, tier, and start date.
- Agreement signed and first month invoiced.
- Foundation Sprint questionnaires sent immediately.
- Kickoff call scheduled in just days.

### Not the Right Fit: You Won’t Be Left Hanging

- I’ll tell you clearly and honestly why it’s not the right match.
- I’ll point you toward a resource, referral, or better-fit alternative.
- No awkward silence, no ghosting, no hard sell.
- The door stays open if your (or my) situation changes.

## Questions About the Process

### Do I need to prepare anything before the discovery call?

Nothing formal. It helps to have a rough sense of your current revenue, what you’re doing for marketing now, and what’s frustrating you most. But there’s no deck or prep work required.

### How long is the discovery call?

Plan for one hour over Zoom. You’ll be talking directly with me, not a sales rep or intake coordinator.

### What if I’m not sure which tier is right for me?

That’s exactly what the discovery call is for. We’ll figure it out together based on your situation, not based on which one costs more.

### Is the 9-month engagement a hard commitment?

The engagement is designed as a 9-month journey for a reason, change takes time and the Handoff Phase only works if the earlier sprints are complete. We’ll discuss terms openly on the call.

### What happens after the 9 months?

The goal is that your team is running independently. Some clients choose to continue with a lighter advisory arrangement. Others are fully on their own. Both are a win.

### How many clients do you work with at once?

I keep my client load intentionally limited so every engagement gets real attention, not just a check-in call once a month. I have to be able to really “dig-in”. Availability is limited; if you’re interested, don’t wait.


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Published: 2026-03-18
Last updated: 2026-10-19
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