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
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. ICP 1 (Stuck Decision), some ICP 2 (New Build) applications.

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. ICP 2, 4, and most ICP 3/5 conversions after newsletter trust builds.

Apply for Tier 02
Tier 03

Operating Partner

from $15,000

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 cancellation policy?

Either party can terminate with written notice. Fees paid for a billing period underway are non-refundable once the period has begun. Prepaid unused future periods are refunded pro-rata on termination. Work already performed and reserved time are considered value delivered and are non-refundable.

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