Operator notes
Frameworks built in the work.
Frameworks, playbooks, and lessons from 15+ growth engagements. Every article teaches something you can use this week.
Operator library for CEOs and PE operating partners at $10M-$100M companies: revenue cadence, KPI trees, and product strategy from real engagements.
Start here
The five frameworks I install in every engagement. Start with one. Install the rest as the cadence takes hold.
The KPI Tree Framework
KPI tree template for CEOs at $10M–$100M companies. Map North Star, drivers, and named owners to the P&L in 90 minutes. Fix scorecard ownership gaps.
Read the framework →The Shipped Revenue Framework
Features ship but revenue stalls? Map every roadmap choice to a P&L outcome with the Shipped Revenue Framework: four layers and a weekly operating model.
Read →Revenue OperationsRevenue Operating Rhythm: 1:1s, Team Reviews, Forecast Calls
Build a revenue operating rhythm with weekly 1:1s, team reviews, and forecast calls. The three-layer system: 30 min tactical, 90 min strategic, quarterly planning.
Read →Browse by topic
Seven topics. Pick the one you own this quarter.
Fractional Leadership
When to hire fractional. Operator vs consultant.
View articles →16Product Strategy
KPI tree, shipped revenue, prioritization.
View articles →31Revenue Operations
Pipeline velocity, cadence, unit economics.
View articles →8PE Value Creation
100-day plans, EBITDA levers, diligence.
View articles →8Industry Playbooks
Healthcare, fintech, retail, telecom.
View articles →10AI Transformation
AI strategy for $10M-$100M companies.
View articles →5Pricing and Monetization
Value metrics, packaging, price increases.
View articles →The library
Search and filter the full set. Start with featured, or sort by date when you want what shipped last.
95 articles in the library
Healthcare Revenue Stall: Diagnose and Fix Flat Growth at $10M–$100M
Healthcare revenue stalled at $10M–$100M? Diagnose ownership gaps, install KPI tree and weekly cadence, and break the stall. Book a Revenue Strategy Call.
- healthcare revenue stall
- stalled revenue growth healthcare
Fractional Executive Firms vs. a Single Embedded Operator
Fractional executive firms and marketplaces vs a single embedded operator: cost, accountability, and fit for $10M-$100M companies. Choose before you sign.
- fractional executive firms
- fractional leadership firm
The Healthcare AI Question Boards Can No Longer Delegate
Healthcare AI is a board mandate now. McKinsey (Apr. 2026): 50% of US healthcare orgs implement gen AI, 80%+ deploy to end users. Link AI to handoffs and P&L. Book a diagnostic.
- healthcare AI board governance
- healthcare AI handoffs
Is a Fractional CMO Worth It for B2B SaaS? Cost and Payback
Is fractional CMO worth it at $10M-$100M? Use payback math, scope rules, and pipeline KPIs before you sign. Ranges, cadence, and when to book a diagnostic.
- fractional CMO
- fractional marketing leadership
What to Expect From a Fractional CTO (B2B SaaS, $10M-$100M)
What to expect from a fractional CTO in the first 90 days: decisions owned, metrics, overlap with VP Engineering, and when to hire product leadership instead. Practical cadence for $10M-$100M SaaS.
- fractional CTO
- technical leadership
Fractional Leadership vs Advisory Board: Which Do You Need?
Fractional leadership vs advisory board: when each fits, how governance differs from embedded KPI ownership, and how to sequence both at $10M-$100M. Book a diagnostic when unclear.
- advisory board
- fractional executive
Fractional VP of Product vs. Full-Time VP: Cost, Speed, Fit
Fractional VP of Product costs $10K-$20K/month vs $250K-$400K/year full-time. Starts in 1-2 weeks vs 3-4 months to hire. When each model wins for your product team.
- fractional VP product
- fractional VP of product
Product Strategy Consultant vs. Operator: What Drives Results
Product strategy consultants cost $50K-$200K for a 6-12 week engagement. Operators cost $10K-$20K/month for 3-6 months of results. When each model wins.
- product strategy consultant
- product strategy consulting
Competitive Intelligence That Shapes Product Decisions
Most competitive intelligence fills slide decks, not product decisions. A 3-step system to collect, review monthly, and ship what the data says.
- competitive intelligence product strategy
- competitive analysis product decisions
Data-Driven Decisions Without a Data Team
Decision intelligence without a data team: five operating metrics, tools you already pay for, and a weekly review. Strategic forecasts and KPIs without hiring analysts first.
- data-driven decisions small team
- decision intelligence
AI Strategy for Mid-Market: Skip the Hype, Ship ROI
Mid-market AI strategy: 90-day pilots, CS intelligence rollouts, and measurable ROI—without chasing every GTM AI headline. Use cases, pilot scope, and P&L metrics from real engagements.
- AI strategy mid-market
- AI ROI measurement
Account-Based Revenue Playbook for Mid-Market
Account-based revenue (ABR) and account-based marketing programs for mid-market B2B: target lists, multi-channel plays, and tools that support pipeline acceleration without boiling the ocean.
- account-based revenue
- ABM mid-market
Product Strategy Frameworks for PE-Backed Companies
Product and technology roadmaps for PE-backed companies: which frameworks to install first, how they connect to the value-creation plan, and how IT strategy shows up in diligence and the 100-day plan.
- product strategy framework
- PE portfolio
SaaS Pricing Increase Rollout Plan
B2B SaaS pricing change and increase announcements: cohort tests, clear notice (including 2025–2026-style pricing cycles), grandfathering, CS talk tracks, and weekly NRR/churn reads. Pairs with the B2B pricing playbook.
- SaaS pricing increase rollout plan
- B2B pricing increase
How Much Does a Fractional Executive Cost in 2026?
What CEOs should budget for fractional executives in 2026: $7,500–$25,000/month typical bands, ROI vs full-time VP, and cite-ready ranges for $10M–$100M companies.
- fractional executive cost
- fractional VP cost
Operating Cadence That Scales
What is operational cadence? The weekly, monthly, and quarterly rhythm of reviews, metrics, and decisions—plus how it connects to your OKR cycle and revenue operating rhythm. For growth-stage and PE-backed teams. Book a diagnostic.
- operating cadence
- business rhythm
Product Strategy for PE-Backed Companies
Product growth strategy for PE portfolio companies: roadmap, productization decisions, and EBITDA. How product analysis and execution tie to the value creation plan in the first 100 days.
- PE portfolio
- private equity product strategy
Reading pathways
Three sequences for the jobs operators run into most. Read in order. Apply the same week.
Fix the revenue engine
Find leakage before sales, install cadence, then fix attribution.
Start this path →Install product discipline
Map the KPI tree, tie roadmap to P&L, then prioritize for growth.
Start this path →Hire fractional leadership
Separate operator from consultant, evaluate the hire, see the first weeks.
Start this path →FAQ
Questions before you dig in
Short answers. Then pick a starting point or book a Revenue Strategy Call.
Ready for a diagnostic?
Book a Revenue Strategy Call and I will identify the biggest gaps in your revenue engine. Prefer a written read first? Request the memo. Want the next playbook by email? 1-2 notes a month. No fluff.
Prefer a self-serve pass first? Use the Product Thinking tool.
Get the next playbook
1-2 per month from real engagements.