Paid strategy session: one decision, properly settled

What a strategy session is

A strategy session is the smallest paid unit of advice. It suits questions where you already know what you're deciding but want an experienced outside view before you commit money or people.

Examples of well-shaped session questions:

• "Should we move $3,000 a month from paid ads into improving our website?"
• "Is a 7% price increase safe for our customer base?"
• "Which of these two agency proposals actually fits what we need?"
• "Should our next hire be a salesperson or an office manager?"
• "Is it time to add a second service line, or are we spreading too thin?"

Who it suits

It suits owners who can bring at least rough numbers and who will make the decision themselves. It is a poor fit if the problem has five tangled parts; that is better handled by a defined-scope business review.

It also works well for managers who need to present a recommendation to an owner or board and want the reasoning stress-tested first.

What's included

Each session includes:

1. A short pre-read. You send the numbers and any documents a few days before. Ali reviews them so the session starts with analysis, not orientation.
2. The working session itself, by phone, focused on the one decision.
3. A written summary of the recommendation, the assumptions behind it and the next actions.
4. One short follow-up question by text or email after you've read the summary, if something needs clarifying.

Any extra analysis beyond that is estimated before it starts.

A worked example of the math

A session is easiest to justify when you put a number on the decision. Suppose you're choosing whether to spend $24,000 a year on a new marketing channel. Your average sale is worth $3,000 at a 35% gross margin, so each sale earns $1,050. You would need about 23 extra sales a year just to cover the channel.

A two-hour session at the top hourly rate costs $700, or $735 with 5% GST in BC ($791 with Ontario's 13% HST). If it stops you from committing $24,000 to a channel that can't realistically produce 23 more sales, it has paid for itself many times over. If it confirms the channel is sound, you commit with more confidence and a clear target to measure against.

Timeline

From your first message to the session is usually a matter of scheduling. A typical sequence:

• Day 1: you call, text or email; we usually reply within one business day.
• Within a few days: agree on the question, the rate and the time.
• Before the session: send your pre-read.
• Session day: the working conversation.
• Shortly after: your written summary.

How results are measured

A strategy session is measured by whether you made the decision and by what the decision produced. The summary names one or two numbers to watch, such as cost per enquiry, close rate or margin, and when to check them.

If you check those numbers three months later and they moved the wrong way, that is worth another short conversation. Good advice includes a way to tell whether it was wrong.

Mistakes to avoid

• Arriving without the pre-read. The first half hour then goes on facts you could have sent ahead.
• Asking two questions in one session. Split them; each gets a better answer.
• Treating the summary as optional. Read it within a day and act on the first step while it's fresh. Our guide to keeping a decision log after the call shows how.
• Booking a session to vent. It's fine to be frustrated, but paid time is best spent on a choice you can actually make.

Rates for every format are on the pricing page, and the contact page explains how to book.