One page, five boxes, one afternoon. Each box is a decision — if you can’t fill a box, that’s the plan telling you exactly what to work on next. Every figure you write in box 3 is a planning assumption or a market benchmark, never an income guarantee.
Which specific buyer owns the expensive problem?
A strong answer: a named role at a named kind of company. Red flag: “small businesses” or “anyone who needs X.”
Which outcome, at what scope and price?
A strong answer: one sentence with a number attached. Red flag: “consulting services” or hourly availability.
Does the floor rate × honest hours clear your expenses?
A strong answer: a floor rate inside the market band, runway counted in months. Red flag: “$10k months by month 3” — a hope, not math.
Which channel, how many touches, what cadence?
A strong answer: a 50-name list and a daily outreach plan. Red flag: “networking” or “they’ll find me online.”
What happens this month, measurably?
A strong answer: weekly targets you can count — conversations booked, proposals sent, pilots closed. Red flag: “build brand awareness.”