Sometimes the value of an outside perspective lies in asking questions those closest to the business have had little reason to ask.
Those who know your business best are usually the people inside it. That expertise is invaluable. It can also make certain assumptions difficult to see.
The “curse of knowledge” or “curse of expertise” describe one reason why: the deeper our familiarity with a subject becomes, the harder it can be to recover the perspective we had before its assumptions became familiar.
You know your business. We bring an outside perspective to the questions, the assumptions behind them, what may be missing, and what the available evidence suggests you can do next.
Tell Us What You're Facing Today. We'll independently investigate the question, challenge or opportunity and provide the information and perspective you need to address it. The fee for an initial investigation is $1,000. Within 24–48 hours, you will receive concise findings explaining what we found, what it means, what may be missing and concrete alternatives for what you can do next. A telephone consultation to discuss the findings is also included, if requested.
Some important issues you encounter — including challenges and opportunities — do not fit neatly within normal organizational responsibilities. Others benefit from discretion, external handling or more focused attention.
Some initiatives become less effective the moment they become widely known within your organization.
Some assignments benefit from experienced outside handling even when confidentiality is not the primary concern.
The assignment may not belong with your attorney, accountant, EA or chief of staff—but it still needs to be handled effectively and expeditiously.
"I have three proposals telling me three different things. Go beyond an AI comparison and explain how the differences should affect my decision."
"Something about this strategy, proposal or explanation doesn't make sense to me. What am I missing — or is the problem the way it's being presented?"
"Our competitor just did this. Tell me what they're really doing, whether we should care and, if so, how we should respond."
"Everyone here says we need AI. Determine where and how it could actually make or save us money in our profession or industry."
"We're thinking about launching this product or service. Determine whether the opportunity is viable."
"Sales says the problem is marketing. Marketing says it's sales. Figure out what's actually happening and recommend how to resolve it."
"Find out what our competitors are doing that we're not—and whether any of it is worth pursuing."
"We're considering this vendor. Find out what we should know before I commit."
"I absolutely need to understand this issue by Friday. Present it so I can grasp what matters and make informed leadership decisions."
Mike Szimanski serves as your Independent Special Projects Advisor, offering discreet, senior-level support to CEOs, Founders, Owners, and Presidents. Every engagement benefits from his direct, personal involvement; your critical projects are never delegated to junior staff. With a commitment to complete confidentiality and rigorous investigation, Mike delivers objective recommendations and actionable insights, empowering you to navigate complex challenges and seize unique opportunities with authority.
Initial conversations are confidential and without obligation.
We Solve Problems. Tell Us Yours.