30 minutes. No pitch. No commitment. Most calls end one of three ways — and we'll be honest about which one this is.
A discovery call is a working conversation, not a sales pitch. The goal is mutual: figure out whether one of the productized engagements (or something else entirely) is actually the right next step for your operation.
Here's the approximate shape of the 30 minutes:
You tell me a little about your role and your team. I tell you a little about how I work. We confirm we're both in the right room.
The bulk of the call. You walk me through what's prompting the conversation — the symptoms, what you've already tried, what you suspect, what you can't yet name. I ask follow-ups. This is where the real diagnostic happens.
I tell you what I think the actual problem is and what the highest-leverage next step looks like. Sometimes that's an engagement with me. Sometimes it's something you can do internally without spending a dollar on consulting. About a third of these calls end with "you don't need a consultant for this — here's what to do instead."
If an engagement makes sense, we talk through which one, timeline, and what a kickoff would look like. If not, I'll point you at the right resource or person. Either way, you leave the call with a clearer picture.
1. We're a fit and you want to move forward. You'll get a Statement of Work within 24 hours, signed electronically, and we'll book the kickoff date.
2. We're a fit but the timing isn't right. Maybe you need budget approval, maybe you want to sit with it. I'll send you a follow-up summary so you have something to reference when you're ready.
3. We're not a fit (and that's fine). Sometimes the right answer is "you don't need a consultant for this," or "your operation is too early-stage for these engagements," or "there's someone better suited to this specific problem." I'll tell you so, and point you in a better direction if I can.
There's no scenario in which I try to talk you into an engagement that doesn't make sense for you. I'd rather lose the call than start the wrong engagement.
Will you try to sell me something on the call? No. The call is a diagnostic conversation. If an engagement makes sense, I'll say so and walk through which one. If it doesn't, I'll say that too.
Do I need to be the decision-maker? Not necessarily. If you're the champion who'd advocate internally for an engagement, that works. We can talk about how to bring your decision-maker into the conversation afterward (see the "Send this to your team" page for a forwarding-friendly intro).
What if I'm not sure I have a real problem? Great reason to take the call. Half the calls start with "I think we might have an issue but I'm not sure." Sometimes the call confirms there's no real issue and you save yourself a wasted engagement.
How quickly can you start something after the call? Usually within 1–2 weeks of signing the SOW, depending on engagement load. The CS Audit is the easiest to slot in; the QA Build and Training Build need more sustained client engagement, so kickoff is scheduled around your team's availability.
What if I want to talk through something not on the list? Also fine. The engagements are starting points, not the only thing I do. If you have an unusual situation, we'll work out what fits.
How will I know if I'm not a fit? We have a "Who we don't take" page that lists the seven scenarios we won't take on, with alternatives for each. About a third of discovery calls end with "you're not a fit for our engagements, here's what to do instead" — and that's a fine outcome.
Pick a time that works. Calls are 30 minutes, conducted over Google Meet. You'll get a calendar hold within five minutes of booking.