The first conversation is a free phone call of about 30 minutes with Ali Sedighi. You describe the problem in your own words, Ali asks the questions an experienced outsider would ask, and by the end you know what is really going on and whether paid help is worth buying. There is no obligation, and a fair number of these calls end with "you don't need us yet".
What the first conversation is for
The call exists to separate the symptom from the cause. Owners usually describe a symptom, such as fewer calls, thin margins or an agency that isn't delivering, and the first job is to trace it back.
Three outcomes are common:
- You leave with the answer. Some problems are simple once named, and the call itself is enough.
- You leave knowing what to ask for. The call shows which format fits: a paid session, a defined review or ongoing advisory.
- You leave with a referral. If the question needs a lawyer, accountant or lender, Ali will say so plainly.
Who should book it
Book it if you run an established business and a decision is stuck. It suits an owner who has revenue and customers but feels growth has stalled, or one holding a proposal from another firm and wanting a second opinion.
It also suits managers who have been asked to "fix marketing" with no brief. Thirty minutes with someone who has built and run agencies since 2007 can turn a vague instruction into a short list of priorities.
It is not designed for idea-stage start-ups with no customers yet. You'll get more from a feasibility study or market test first.
What Ali asks during the call
Expect questions about numbers before questions about tactics. A typical sequence:
- What do you sell, to whom, and where?
- What is an average sale or job worth, and roughly what margin does it carry?
- How many enquiries arrive in a normal month, and how many become paying customers?
- Where do those enquiries come from today?
- What have you already tried, what did it cost, and what happened?
- What decision do you need to make in the next 90 days?
If you can't answer some of these, that is useful information, not a failure. Missing numbers often point straight at the problem. Our guide to preparing for your consultation shows how to gather them quickly.
What you leave with
You leave with a plain-language read on what is going on and a recommended next step, even if that step is "do nothing for three months and measure". If paid work would help, Ali tells you which format and the price range on the spot.
A worked example of the kind of clarity the call can give: suppose you get 60 enquiries a month and win 15 of them at $2,500 each. That is $37,500 in monthly sales. Lifting your close rate from 25% to 30%, through faster follow-up alone, would add three sales, or $7,500 a month, without one extra dollar on advertising. Many owners discover on this call that their bottleneck is follow-up, not lead volume.
How long it takes to get on the calendar
Getting started takes one message. Call or text (604) 632-4959 or email Ali@Sedighi.ca, Monday to Friday, 9 to 6 Pacific. We usually reply within one business day to agree on a time that suits your time zone.
The call itself is about 30 minutes. If a paid next step makes sense, a written scope follows so you can decide without pressure.
How we judge whether the call was worth it
A good first conversation ends with you able to state your main problem in one sentence and name your next action. If you can't do both by the end, the call didn't do its job, and you should tell us.
Mistakes that waste the free 30 minutes
- Spending 20 minutes on history. Give the short version; Ali will ask for detail where it matters.
- Hiding the awkward number. If margins are thin or a campaign failed, say so. The advice is only as good as the facts.
- Bringing five problems. Pick the one costing you the most. The rest can wait for a later conversation.
When you're ready, the contact page has message templates, the services overview compares the paid formats, and the pricing page lists every rate.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a catch to the free call?
No. The initial 30-minute consultation is free with no obligation. Ali would rather tell you that you don't need paid help than sell you something that won't pay for itself.
Will I be pitched during the call?
The call is about your problem. If a paid format would genuinely help, Ali will say which one and roughly what it costs, then leave the decision with you. Nothing is billed without a written scope you've agreed to.
What if 30 minutes isn't enough?
It usually is for diagnosis. If the conversation shows a deeper problem, the next step is a paid session or a defined review, scoped in writing, rather than an open-ended free call.
Can my business partner join?
Yes. If two people make the decision together, it helps to have both on the call. Just mention it when you get in touch so the right number is used.