Engagement structure

Three ways to work. One standard.

The engagement always starts with the decision, not with a scope document. What differs across tiers is duration, cadence, and the size of the room. What does not differ is the read: one person with twenty years of operating exposure, in the room with you, catching structural mistakes as you describe them.

Pricing is set against the decision being carried, not against hours or deliverables. Scope and cadence are set in the first conversation. Not every application converts.

Apply Compare the three tiers
How engagements start

Five steps. You are at step one.

  1. 01 You apply

    A short application. Stan reads every one personally.

  2. 02 Direct reply within 48 hours

    Yes with a time. No with a reason. Or a redirect, if a different structure serves you better.

  3. 03 First conversation

    Sixty to ninety minutes. Tier confirmed or reassigned. Scope and fee in writing.

  4. 04 Secure payment

    A direct link. Paid before the work starts.

  5. 05 The work begins

    The conversation is the product.

The three tiers

Ascending commitment. Same standard.

The ladder ascends in depth, duration, and fee. It does not ascend in rigor. The first engagement is held to the same standard as the largest one.

Tier 01

Private Engagement

from $2,500

A single focused engagement for one decision or structural question.

Duration
Single engagement, typically 2-4 conversations.
Cadence
Scheduled against the decision timeline.
Format
Video or in person where geography allows.
Scope
Anchored to one specific question. Closes when resolved.
Written output
None by default. Optional summary by request.

Right fit: founder or operator carrying one specific decision that has been open for weeks or months. Most often The Stuck Decision, or an early-stage New Build.

Apply for Tier 01
Tier 02

Principal Circle

from $4,500 / month

Recurring outside read for operators making consequential decisions continuously.

Duration
Three-month minimum. Ongoing after.
Cadence
Two 60-90 minute conversations per month.
Format
Video. Optional in-person quarterly for proximate operators.
Scope
Whatever is on the desk. Topics shift across engagement.
Written output
None. The conversation is the product.

Right fit: founder or operator whose decision surface is continuous, not one-off. Common across New Build, The Weight, ongoing Drift, and recurring Cross-Border work.

Apply for Tier 02
Tier 03

Operating Partner

By application

On-site, principal-to-principal. Boards, founding teams, and ownership groups in transition.

Duration
Two to six months, scoped to the transition.
Cadence
Every two to four weeks. In person where geography allows.
Format
In the team's actual meeting. No parallel coaching.
Scope
One specific transition or decision. Closes on closure.
Written output
None unless explicitly requested by sponsor.

Right fit: multi-party decisions, governance transitions, ownership restructure. Detailed framework at /boards-and-teams.

Apply for Tier 03
The first conversation

Tier assignment is a conversation, not a form.

The application signals a starting tier. The first conversation confirms, refines, or reassigns. Most applications that start at Tier 01 stay at Tier 01. A minority reveal a deeper pattern and move to Tier 02 or Tier 03 during the first call.

  1. 01

    Application

    Fifteen minutes to complete. Stan reads every application personally. No auto-screen, no delegated triage.

  2. 02

    Direct reply

    Within 48 hours. Usually same day. Yes with a time, no with an honest reason, or a redirect if a different structure fits better.

  3. 03

    First conversation

    Sixty to ninety minutes. Video or in person. The real question surfaces. Tier is confirmed or reassigned based on what the conversation reveals.

  4. 04

    Engagement begins

    Scope, cadence, and terms are set in writing. Fees are invoiced at the start of the engagement or the start of each month, depending on tier.

Questions

Direct answers.

Pricing Why application-gated instead of open booking?

Two reasons. First, the work requires enough operating context that a random calendar booking would not land. Stan needs to read the situation before saying yes. Second, an open calendar invites transactional conversations that do not fit the product. The application is the filter.

Fit How do I know which tier I need?

Short answer: submit the application, get a direct reply, discuss in the first conversation. Longer answer: if the situation is one decision that needs to close, Tier 01 fits. If the decision surface is ongoing, Tier 02 fits. If the decision belongs to a room and not a person, Tier 03 fits. The first conversation confirms.

Refunds What is the refund and cancellation policy?

Engagement fees are non-refundable except in narrow stated circumstances.

Tier 01: Cancellations more than 48 hours before the first scheduled session are refunded in full. Once the first session is reserved within the 48-hour window or has occurred, fees are earned.

Tier 02: Three-month minimum commitment is non-refundable. After the minimum is satisfied, either party may terminate with thirty (30) days written notice; the notice period is paid. Prepaid months strictly beyond the notice period are refunded pro-rata.

Tier 03: Refund and termination terms are set in the signed engagement letter.

Outcome-based refunds are not offered. The client decides, the client acts, and the client bears the result. Dissatisfaction with the outcome of a decision the client makes is not a basis for refund.

The single exception is conflict of interest. If a material conflict emerges mid-engagement and Stan declines to continue, any prepaid portion covering future unworked periods is refunded in full.

Reserved calendar time, scheduled sessions, and work performed are considered value delivered. Chargebacks initiated in lieu of the contractual termination process constitute material breach. Full policy at /terms.

Confidentiality How does confidentiality work across tiers?

No recording of any conversation. No written deliverables unless explicitly requested. Case patterns published on the site never identify clients, companies, or specifics that would allow identification. Tier 03 engagements add a formal conflict check before every engagement begins. Full protocol at /boards-and-teams.

Scope What does advisory NOT cover?

No legal advice. No tax advice. No investment management. No fractional executive duties. No hiring, firing, or operational implementation. Stan sits outside the operating seat and names structural mistakes. Counsel, accountants, and the operating team handle execution.

Success rate What if the decision does not close?

The engagement names the reason. Sometimes the decision does not close because the structural frame it sits inside is the wrong frame. The work is reframing until the decision becomes closable. Sometimes the answer is that the decision is not ready, and the honest move is to say so. Both are legitimate outcomes.

Apply for private advisory

The conversation starts with the decision. Bring it.

Apply
Personal reply within 48 hours Tier assigned in first conversation