When the Problem Is Specific, the Engagement Should Be Too
Some situations do not fit a standard engagement: a specific decision that needs senior judgment, a defined problem that needs focused attention, or a moment where leadership, a board, or an investor needs an independent commercial view.
The approach does not change. The work still starts by identifying where growth is breaking down and which constraint is causing it. The scope is then built around the situation, not selected from a menu.
If the need is clear, the fastest path is a direct conversation.
Situations that tend to fit
- a specific growth decision that needs senior judgment before capital is committed: a channel, a market, a platform, a hire
- a vendor or agency relationship that needs an independent evaluation and a clear recommendation
- reporting that leadership does not trust and needs restructured around decisions rather than activity
- a defined stretch of the revenue journey, such as follow-up or conversion, that is clearly leaking and needs focused attention
- a board, investor, or leadership moment that calls for an independent commercial view of where growth is breaking down
If the situation is broader than one problem, the better fit is usually Growth Advisory or a Fractional CMO engagement. Part of the first conversation is deciding which shape actually matches the need.
Frequently asked questions
How is a custom engagement scoped?
It starts the same way every engagement starts: with a diagnostic view of where growth is breaking down and which constraint is causing it. The scope is then built around that finding, with a defined outcome, a defined timeframe, and a clear definition of done.
How is this different from hiring a consultant for a project?
The difference is the starting point. A project consultant executes the scope they are handed. A custom growth engagement first tests whether that scope is actually the constraint, because solving the wrong problem well is still solving the wrong problem.
Can a custom engagement turn into an ongoing one?
Yes. Focused engagements often surface that the business needs ongoing advisory or embedded leadership. When that happens, the transition is straightforward because the diagnostic work is already done.
