Lodestar Media · Internal Strategic Document · Q1 2026
Tactical Advisory &
IP Extraction Master Plan
Stream VI — Consulting & Advisory Division · 3-Year Operating Roadmap
Stream VI · Advisory · IP Engine · Consulting-to-Product Pipeline
Document Navigation
Table of Contents
Section 00 · Foundation
Executive Summary & Strategic Logic
Stream VI is a deliberately small, deliberately expensive consulting operation. Its primary value is not the revenue it generates—it is the intelligence it extracts from real-world client problems and feeds back into Lodestar's scalable product ecosystem (Books, Frameworks, Courses). Think of it as a paid R&D function disguised as a premium service.
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The Core Thesis
Every client engagement is a research project first. Client fees fund the intellectual work; the resulting frameworks, case studies, and pattern recognition fuel Streams II and V. Advisory is the fastest path to uncovering what the market actually needs.
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The Constraint Principle
Scarcity is the pricing mechanism. Four to six clients is not a limitation—it is the product. Institutional-quality advisory cannot be mass-produced. The capacity ceiling validates the premium rate and prevents Lodestar's attention from drifting from scalable assets.
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The Sunset Discipline
When consulting revenue exceeds 40% of total Lodestar revenue, the division has outgrown its tactical mandate. The Sunset Policy is not a failure mechanism—it is a success signal. It means scalable products are underperforming and must be accelerated, or rates must rise to reduce volume.
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The Conflict Wall
No advisory engagements for companies held in the Lodestar Capital portfolio. This is a non-negotiable structural firewall. Any lead triggering a portfolio overlap is declined at the intake stage, before a Discovery Call is scheduled.
3-Year Horizon at a Glance
| Year |
Phase |
Revenue Target |
Active Clients |
Primary Objective |
IP Output |
| Year 1 |
Build & Filter |
$20,000 |
4 clients |
Establish intake process; set rate floor; generate first case studies |
2–3 newsletter frameworks; 1 course concept |
| Year 2 |
Systematize & Extract |
$28,000–$35,000 |
5 clients |
Productize top 3 offerings; deploy SOPs; activate IP Engine |
Full case study library; 2 course updates; 1 framework book chapter |
| Year 3 |
Leverage or Sunset |
$35,000–$40,000 |
4–6 clients |
Enforce Sunset Policy; transition retainers to licensed products; rate escalation |
Retainer clients transitioned to Stream II licensing |
Section 01 · Strategic Pillar I
Premium Lead Qualification & The Filter Funnel
The goal is not to find more leads. The goal is to aggressively disqualify everyone who cannot or will not pay $2,500 minimum, so that the 4–6 ideal clients self-select through a rigorous institutional intake process.
The Four-Stage Filter Funnel
Passive Signal Capture (Stream I + IV)
Inbound interest arrives through two primary channels: (a) Readers who finish a Lodestar book and use the "Advisory Inquiry" link in the back matter; (b) Social media followers who respond to a periodic "advisory availability" post with a specific signal phrase. No active outbound prospecting. The practitioner does not chase—they are found. This posture alone filters out 70% of price-sensitive leads before any human contact.
Passive
Written Pre-Qualification Form (The Application)
All inbound leads are directed to a one-page written application—not a calendar link. The application includes: (a) Describe your current portfolio/business situation in 200 words; (b) What specific outcome are you seeking in 90 days?; (c) What is your current investable AUM or advisory budget?; (d) Have you read [specific Lodestar publication]?; (e) What is your decision timeline? Any lead unwilling to complete a written form is a lead unwilling to pay $500/hr.
Friction Filter
Application Scoring & Lead Tiering Decision
Each application is scored against the Lead Tiering Matrix (see below). Leads scoring in Tier 3 receive a Discovery Call invitation. Leads scoring Tier 2 receive a personalized email directing them to the appropriate course in Stream V. Tier 1 leads receive a courteous declination with a book recommendation—preserving brand goodwill while maintaining capacity discipline. This step takes under 15 minutes per application.
Triage
The Discovery Call (30 Minutes, Non-Negotiable)
A structured 30-minute diagnostic call. Not a sales call—a scoping interview. The call determines fit, not persuasion. By the end, either a formal proposal is generated (with a 72-hour acceptance window) or the engagement is declined with referral. The rate is stated plainly in the first five minutes to eliminate time waste on both sides.
Conversion Gate
Lead Tiering Matrix
Tier 1 · Redirect
Curious Reader
$0–$297
- Budget under $1,000
- Vague outcome description
- No investable assets mentioned
- Seeking general financial education
- Decision timeline: "someday"
→ Route to Stream V Course ($97–$297)
Tier 2 · Nurture
Informed Prospect
$297–$2,499
- Budget $1K–$2.5K range
- Specific but limited scope
- $100K–$500K investable AUM
- Read at least one Lodestar publication
- Needs process, not practitioner access
→ Offer Premium Course + IPS Template Bundle
Tier 3 · Advisory
Institutional Client
$2,500+
- Budget stated $2,500+ or open
- Specific, high-complexity outcome
- $500K+ AUM or business revenue
- Engaged with multiple Lodestar works
- Decision timeline: 2–4 weeks
- No portfolio conflict
→ Schedule Discovery Call
Discovery Call Script Template
Design Principle
The script positions Lodestar as a practitioner with a waiting list, not a consultant seeking engagements. The opening anchors authority. The diagnostic questions establish the consultant's analytical rigor. The close is binary and time-limited to maintain leverage.
Discovery Call Script — 30 Minutes · Structured Diagnostic
Opening [0–3 min]
"Thank you for making time. I want to be direct with you about how I work: I take on four to six engagements per year, and I'm currently evaluating two other inquiries this month. This call is thirty minutes—I'll ask you some pointed questions, you'll ask yours, and by the end we'll both know whether this is worth pursuing. Does that work for you?"
// Purpose: Establishes scarcity, sets practitioner frame, eliminates passive drifting through a long call.
Diagnostic [3–18 min]
"Walk me through your current situation as specifically as you can—what you hold, what you're trying to accomplish, and where the current process is breaking down. I'll interrupt if I need to clarify." [Listen for 5–8 minutes without comment.] "Two follow-up questions: What have you already tried? And what does success look like to you, specifically, twelve months from now?"
// Purpose: Establish that you diagnose, not pitch. Silence is power. Taking notes signals seriousness.
Rate Statement [18–20 min]
"Before we go further—my project minimum is $2,500 and my hourly rate for advisory work is $350 to $500 depending on scope and complexity. I want to name that now so we don't waste each other's time if there's a budget mismatch."
// Purpose: The professional who names the price first, plainly, signals they don't need the engagement.
Scope Framing [20–27 min]
"Based on what you've described, here's what I think we'd actually be solving for... [2-minute verbal scope]. The way I'd structure this is a [specific offering from the Service Menu]. I'd have a written proposal to you within 48 hours. If the scope and fee work for you, I require a 50% deposit before work begins and a signed SOW."
Close [27–30 min]
"My proposals have a 72-hour acceptance window—I keep the slot open for three days. After that I move to the next inquiry. Do you have any questions before I send that over?"
// Purpose: 72-hour window creates urgency without pressure. Non-acceptance is a graceful declination by the prospect.
Section 02 · Strategic Pillar II
Productized Service Delivery & Efficiency Models
Consulting "Creep" is almost always a scope problem. The cure is pre-defined, time-capped Scopes of Work that make the boundaries visible to both parties before a single hour of work begins. Every offering is a fixed product, not an open-ended retainer.
Service Offering SOW Templates
Deliverable
One (1) completed IPS document, 15–25 pages, covering: investor profile, return objectives, risk tolerance parameters, asset allocation policy, permitted/prohibited instruments, rebalancing triggers, liquidity requirements, and ESG/conflict policy.
Inputs Required
Client completes a 4-page Lodestar Intake Questionnaire prior to engagement start. One (1) 60-minute onboarding call. Access to existing portfolio statements.
Revisions
Two (2) rounds of revisions included within the 12-hour cap. Additional revision rounds billed at the agreed hourly rate.
Out of Scope
NOT INCLUDED: Specific security selection, portfolio implementation, ongoing monitoring, tax advice, legal review of the IPS.
Timeline
Draft delivered within 10 business days of deposit receipt and completed questionnaire.
Deliverable
One (1) institutional-grade equity research report on a single publicly traded company. Covers: business model analysis, competitive moat assessment, financial statement review (3–5 years), 3-scenario DCF model, risk factors, and a formal BUY/HOLD/SELL recommendation with price target range.
Inputs Required
Company ticker, specific investment thesis the client is testing, any existing research the client has reviewed (to avoid duplication).
Revisions
One (1) round of model assumption adjustments included. Thesis changes or new company requests are new engagements.
Out of Scope
NOT INCLUDED: Ongoing monitoring post-delivery, trading execution advice, portfolio position sizing, competitor comparison (available as add-on SOW).
Timeline
7–10 business days from engagement start. Rush delivery (3–5 days) available at 40% premium.
Deliverable
Diagnostic report assessing current portfolio against stated IPS (if exists) or stated investment objectives. Covers: concentration risk, factor exposure, correlation analysis, sector/geographic allocation, liquidity profile, and actionable rebalancing recommendations.
Inputs Required
Complete current portfolio holdings (position sizes, cost basis optional), stated investment goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon.
Out of Scope
NOT INCLUDED: Tax optimization, specific security replacement research, implementation support, ongoing quarterly reviews (separate retainer SOW).
Deliverable
A 10–15 page strategic macro briefing covering the current macro regime classification (overheat / goldilocks / stagflation / deflationary bust), its implications for client's specific asset class mix, and a proposed tactical allocation shift with ETF-level implementation suggestions.
Out of Scope
NOT INCLUDED: Real-time market monitoring, daily/weekly updates, individual stock picks, execution assistance.
Deliverable
A custom trading rules document covering: position sizing methodology (ATR-based or Kelly-adjusted), entry/exit criteria, stop-loss framework, maximum drawdown limits, sector concentration limits, and a position management SOP for the client's specific instruments (equities, options, or ETFs).
Out of Scope
NOT INCLUDED: Algorithmic/automated implementation, broker integration, backtesting services, ongoing trade signal generation.
Deliverable
Ongoing monthly advisory access including: two (2) structured 45-minute calls per month, one (1) written research update or analytical memo per month, asynchronous Q&A via designated channel (48-hour response SLA), and one (1) ad hoc review of a time-sensitive decision per month.
Contract Term
Minimum 3-month commitment. Monthly renewal thereafter with 30-day cancellation notice by either party.
Rollover Policy
Unused hours do not roll over. Unused advisory outputs do not carry forward. The retainer compensates for reserved access and priority response, not guaranteed deliverable volume.
Out of Scope
NOT INCLUDED: Unlimited access, real-time trading signals, portfolio management authority, legal or tax advice, calls exceeding 45 minutes (billed at hourly rate for overages).
Sunset Trigger
Retainer clients are subject to the Sunset Policy transition at Month 12+ (see Section 04 and Appendix A3).
Equity Research Deep Dive: 15-Hour SOP
Design Goal
Institutional quality at 15 hours requires a rigid phase structure. The mistake is starting with the financials. Start with the business model—everything downstream flows from that foundation. Time-box each phase and stop when the box closes.
| Phase | Task | Hours | Output | Hard Stop Rule |
|---|
| Phase 1 | Business Model & Competitive Moat | 2.5 hrs | Moat classification, revenue model map, primary risk statement | Stop at 2.5 hrs regardless of depth |
| Phase 2 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3.0 hrs | 3-year income, balance sheet, cash flow summary; ratio table; red flags log | Use template; no custom formatting |
| Phase 3 | DCF Model Construction | 3.5 hrs | 3-scenario DCF (Bear/Base/Bull); sensitivity table; implied multiple analysis | Use Lodestar standard DCF template |
| Phase 4 | Qualitative Risk Assessment | 1.5 hrs | Regulatory, management, competitive, macro, and ESG risk flags | Max 5 risks per category; no novels |
| Phase 5 | Report Writing & Formatting | 2.5 hrs | Full HTML/PDF report in Lodestar design system; executive summary first | Use report template; no new sections |
| Phase 6 | Internal Review & QC | 1.0 hr | Logic check, math audit, IP clause review, deliverable packaging | One pass only |
| TOTAL | Full Deep Dive | ≤ 14.0 hrs | 1-hour buffer for client-specific complexity | Never exceed 15 hours |
Standard Intellectual Property Clause
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & WORK PRODUCT OWNERSHIP. All research, analysis, frameworks, methodologies, proprietary scoring systems, written content, and derivative works created or developed by Lodestar Media ("Consultant") in connection with this engagement shall remain the exclusive intellectual property of Lodestar Media, regardless of the source of funding or direction for such work. Client is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, personal license to use the specific deliverables identified in this Scope of Work for Client's own internal investment purposes. This license expressly does not include the right to reproduce, republish, distribute, sublicense, or commercialize any deliverable or the methodologies embodied therein. Lodestar Media retains the right to use anonymized, aggregated, and substantially modified versions of engagement insights, problem patterns, and framework applications for publication in books, newsletters, courses, and other commercial works, provided that no personally identifying information is disclosed without Client's written consent. Client acknowledges that the analytical frameworks applied in this engagement were developed independently by Lodestar Media prior to this engagement and constitute pre-existing intellectual property of Lodestar Media.
Section 03 · Strategic Pillar III
The IP Research Engine Workflow
This is the highest-leverage activity in the entire Stream VI operation. Each client engagement is a real-world experiment that generates proprietary intelligence unavailable through desk research. The IP Engine is the system that captures it before it evaporates.
The Knowledge Extraction System
01
Engagement Debrief Log
Within 24 hours of each client deliverable, complete a structured 15-minute debrief: (a) What was the core problem? (b) What was surprising about the situation? (c) What framework or tool was most useful? (d) What was missing from existing Lodestar frameworks? Log to the IP Vault (encrypted, anonymized from Day 1).
02
Anonymization Protocol
Replace client identifiers immediately: Company → "a mid-cap industrial holding." AUM → "a $2M retail portfolio." Geography → regional descriptor only. Any specific security discussed is referred to by category ("a high-yield ETF") unless it is publicly discussed in the deliverable. Never log client names, dates of engagement, or identifying financial figures.
03
Pattern Tagging
Each log entry receives up to 5 tags from a controlled vocabulary: #IPS-gap, #concentration-risk, #macro-timing, #position-sizing, #tax-drag, #behavior-bias, #rebalancing-trigger, #alternative-allocation, etc. Tags accumulate across clients over time, creating a frequency-ranked problem map.
04
Quarterly Pattern Review
Every quarter, review the tag frequency table. Any tag appearing 3+ times across separate clients in a rolling 12-month window is flagged as a "Validated Market Need." This triggers one of three outputs: Newsletter framework, Stream II module update, or Stream V new course topic proposal.
05
IP Output Routing
Validated Market Needs are routed by complexity: tactical/quick-answer → Monday Newsletter case study; structural/multi-step → Stream II framework update; educational/foundational → Stream V course module. Each routing decision is logged with the originating tag cluster.
The Content Gap Auto-Detection Rule
The "Rule of Three" Trigger
If the same substantive question arises from three or more separate clients during any engagement phase—regardless of client type or engagement category—this constitutes a Validated Content Gap. It is automatically logged as a "New Course Topic Candidate" in the Stream V development queue. The logic: if three sophisticated, fee-paying clients don't know the answer, thousands of non-client readers also don't know. That gap is a product opportunity, not just a client service gap.
Newsletter Case Study Template
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Section 1: The Setup
Describe the anonymized scenario in 100 words. "A self-directed investor with a concentrated tech portfolio came to us with a specific problem..." Frame the stakes, but never the identity.
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Section 2: The Diagnostic
What did the analysis reveal that the client didn't already know? This is the value-add paragraph. Show the framework in action. This is what makes the newsletter worth reading.
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Section 3: The Framework
Extract the generalizable principle. "The core issue was [X]. The framework we applied was [Y]. You can apply this yourself when you encounter [Z condition]." Make it teachable.
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Section 4: The Takeaway
One sentence: "The lesson here is..." Then a single actionable question the reader can ask themselves this week. End with the Stream V or Stream II connection: "Full framework available in..."
Section 04 · Strategic Pillar IV
Financial Governance & The Sunset Policy
The financial governance layer exists to prevent Stream VI from accidentally becoming Lodestar's primary revenue driver. Consulting is tactically valuable at $20K–$40K/year. At $80K/year, it has become a trap. The governance system makes the threshold visible before it is breached.
Quarterly Revenue Dashboard — Concept Design
Stream VI Revenue (QTD)
$8,500
vs. $10K quarterly target
Total Lodestar Revenue
$34,200
All streams combined
Consulting Ratio
24.9%
Threshold: 40% — ✓ Safe
Active Engagements
4 / 6
2 Retainers · 2 Projects
| Consulting Ratio | Status | Required Action |
|---|
| 0–25% |
GREEN — Nominal |
No action. Standard intake continues. May accept new engagements. |
| 25–35% |
AMBER — Monitor |
No new retainers. Existing retainers flagged for Sunset review at next quarterly. Rate escalation language prepared. |
| 35–40% |
ORANGE — Pre-Sunset |
Freeze new project intake. Rate escalation enacted for any renewal or new inquiry. Begin retainer transition conversations. Accelerate Stream II/V development urgently. |
| > 40% |
RED — Sunset Active |
Sunset Policy fully activated. No new engagements accepted. Rate hike enforced for all renewals. All retainer clients enter formal transition track. Immediate review of scalable product underperformance required. |
Rate Escalation Trigger Language
When to Deploy
When the consulting ratio enters the Amber or Orange zone, the following language is used verbatim with prospective clients or upon retainer renewal. The 25% rate increase is positioned as market-demand-driven, not arbitrary—because it is. High demand is the reason; the rate is the allocating mechanism.
Rate Escalation Communication — Standard Language
"I want to be transparent with you about a change in my advisory schedule. Due to strong demand on the consulting side and my commitment to maintaining the research publication cadence at Lodestar—particularly the institutional reports and the framework series—I have made the decision to reduce advisory capacity by one engagement slot and adjust rates accordingly.
Effective [Date], my project minimum moves to $[New Minimum] and my hourly advisory rate moves to $[New Rate]. This isn't a negotiating position—it reflects the actual opportunity cost of allocating time to advisory work versus publishable research. I appreciate that this is a material change. If the new rate structure works within your budget, I'm glad to continue working together. If not, I completely understand, and I'm happy to recommend the Lodestar Framework Series as a structured alternative."
Retainer Client Transition Plan
Design Principle
A well-handled offboard creates three downstream assets: a Stream II licensee, a case study for the IP Engine, and a testimonial for future lead generation. A poorly handled offboard creates none of these and may damage brand reputation. The transition must feel like a graduation, not a termination.
Month 1 of Transition — 30 Days Before Offboard Decision
Plant the Seed
In the regular monthly call, introduce the concept organically: "I want to give you a heads up that I'm evaluating my advisory capacity for the next quarter. One thing I'm exploring for some of my longer-term clients is a structured way to continue getting Lodestar research and frameworks on a self-directed basis through our institutional licensing program. I'll send you some details before our next call." No pressure, no deadline—just awareness.
Month 2 — Formal Transition Proposal
Present the Licensed Framework Alternative
Send a written proposal: "Based on our 12 months of work together, I've tailored a Stream II framework license that covers 80% of what we address in our retainer calls—the IPS framework, the macro allocation system, and the equity research protocol. The annual license is $[Price]—versus $[Annual Retainer Total] for the retainer. The tradeoff is structured self-direction versus direct access. Here's how each component maps to what we've been doing together..." Make the comparison explicit and favorable to the client's intelligence.
Month 3 — Structured Handoff
Final Advisory Call + Documentation Package
The final retainer call is a 90-minute "capstone session" (billed as part of the last retainer month). Deliverables: a custom annotated version of the IPS and framework documents with client-specific notes; a "decision tree" memo for the top 5 situations they'll encounter without real-time advisory access; and a 6-month check-in call scheduled pro bono as a goodwill gesture. The message: "You've internalized the framework. You no longer need the practitioner present for routine decisions."
Month 4 — Post-Transition
Lightweight Relationship Maintenance
Transitioned clients remain on the Monday Newsletter list and receive a 20% discount on any future project engagement if they need deep-dive research on a specific situation. They are not re-onboarded to a retainer. This creates a "consulting alumni" relationship that generates occasional high-margin project work without the ongoing capacity burden.
Appendix A1 · Operational Reference
Consulting Intake Workflow
The complete end-to-end intake process from first inbound signal to signed SOW. This is the operational document used on every engagement—no exceptions, no shortcuts.
Inbound Signal Received
Source: Book back-matter link OR social media inquiry post. Action: Respond within 24 hours with a single reply: "Thank you for your interest in Lodestar advisory. We are currently evaluating inquiries for [Quarter]. Please complete our brief intake form to be considered: [Link]. Applications reviewed weekly." No phone call, no extended email exchange at this stage.
48-hr SLA
Application Received & Conflict Check
First action before reading the application: Run a portfolio conflict check against the Lodestar Capital holdings list. If the applicant's company or primary investment is held in the portfolio, immediately send the Conflict Declination: "We appreciate your interest. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide advisory services in this area due to existing research commitments. We wish you well in your search." No further explanation required or appropriate.
Conflict Gate
Application Scoring (15 Minutes)
Score against Lead Tiering Matrix. Document score in the Inquiry Log. Route: Tier 1 → Decline with course recommendation email. Tier 2 → Personalized email with Stream V link and brief explanation of why advisory is not the right fit at this stage. Tier 3 → Proceed to Discovery Call scheduling.
Triage Gate
Capacity Check
Before scheduling a Discovery Call, confirm: (a) Current active engagements ≤ 5 (to maintain headroom for this prospect); (b) Retainer count ≤ 1 (to allow room for a second if this engagement becomes a retainer); (c) Consulting ratio ≤ 35% (Amber zone or better). If any check fails, the prospect is placed on a Waitlist with a realistic timeline.
Capacity Gate
Discovery Call (30 Minutes)
Execute Discovery Call Script (see Section 01). Take structured notes during call. Immediately after call: score the engagement on a 1–5 fit scale across four dimensions: (a) Problem Clarity, (b) Budget Alignment, (c) Intellectual Interest, (d) IP Extraction Potential. Any engagement scoring below 3.0 average is declined politely post-call.
Fit Evaluation
Proposal & SOW Delivery (48 Hours)
Draft a one-page Proposal citing: (a) the specific SOW being proposed; (b) total project fee and payment terms (50% deposit + 50% on delivery); (c) timeline; (d) explicit out-of-scope list; (e) standard IP clause; (f) 72-hour acceptance window. Send via email with DocuSign or equivalent for signature. No oral agreements accepted.
72-hr Window
Deposit Received → Engagement Begins
Upon receipt of 50% deposit and signed SOW: (a) Add client to the Active Engagement tracker; (b) Update the Quarterly Revenue Dashboard; (c) Trigger capacity check (update active count); (d) Send client the Intake Questionnaire relevant to their SOW type; (e) Schedule the onboarding call. Clock starts on the timeline commitment at questionnaire receipt, not at deposit receipt.
Active
Delivery, Final Payment & IP Debrief
Upon delivery of final deliverable: (a) Invoice the remaining 50%; (b) Log the Engagement Debrief within 24 hours (IP Engine); (c) Send a short post-engagement survey (3 questions max: What was most valuable? What could be improved? Would you refer Lodestar advisory to a peer?); (d) Update the tag frequency table; (e) Remove from Active Engagement tracker; (f) Add to Alumni list if applicable.
Complete + Extract
Appendix A3 · Enforcement Reference
Sunset Policy Enforcement Checklist
This checklist is reviewed at the end of every calendar quarter. It takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Its purpose is to prevent the slow drift toward consulting dependency before the 40% threshold is breached rather than after.
Part A — Quarterly Revenue Audit (Complete First)
Calculate total Lodestar revenue for the quarter across all 6 streams. Use actual received revenue, not contracted or deferred.
Quarterly
Calculate Stream VI revenue for the quarter including all project invoices received and retainer payments cleared.
Quarterly
Compute the Consulting Ratio: Stream VI ÷ Total Revenue. Record in the Quarterly Dashboard log with date.
Quarterly
Classify current status: Green (<25%), Amber (25–35%), Orange (35–40%), or Red (>40%). Record classification.
Quarterly
Verify active engagement count: Confirm no more than 6 active engagements and no more than 2 concurrent retainers.
Quarterly
Part B — Amber Zone Actions (Required if Ratio 25–35%)
Freeze new retainer intake. If a retainer inquiry is in the pipeline, pause the Discovery Call until the next quarterly review confirms status has improved.
Amber
Flag existing retainers for Sunset review. Note each retainer client's contract renewal date in the Sunset Tracker.
Amber
Prepare Rate Escalation Language. Draft the standard rate escalation communication and stage it for deployment if ratio crosses 35%.
Amber
Review Stream II and Stream V pipeline. Identify the top 2 scalable product initiatives that, if completed this quarter, would reduce the consulting ratio below 25%.
Amber
Part C — Orange Zone Actions (Required if Ratio 35–40%)
Freeze all new project intake immediately. No new Discovery Calls scheduled. New inbound leads receive the Waitlist response.
Orange
Deploy Rate Escalation Language on all active renewal conversations and any new inquiry that bypassed the freeze (grandfathered exceptions only).
Orange
Initiate Transition Conversations with all retainer clients whose contracts renew within 90 days. Use the Month 1 Transition Script ("Plant the Seed").
Orange
Accelerate one Stream V course release within 60 days. Deprioritize any non-revenue generating activities in other streams to free capacity.
Orange · Urgent
Conduct IP Engine quarterly review. Pull top 5 tags by frequency. Assign each a product routing decision (Newsletter / Stream II / Stream V) and set completion deadline.
Orange
Part D — Red Zone Actions (Required if Ratio >40%)
Sunset Policy fully activated. Document activation date and consulting ratio in the permanent operational log.
Red · Critical
All new engagements declined for 90 days minimum, regardless of fee size or strategic appeal. No exceptions to this rule.
Red · Critical
All retainer clients enter formal transition track. Begin Month 1 ("Seed"), Month 2 ("Proposal"), Month 3 ("Handoff") sequence for every active retainer simultaneously.
Red
25% rate hike enacted on all project renewals and any engagement that continues beyond the 90-day freeze review. Deploy Rate Escalation Language.
Red
Mandatory business model review: Identify which scalable streams are underperforming their targets, and why. Create a 90-day corrective plan with specific revenue milestones for Streams I, II, III, IV, and V.
Red · Strategic
Re-evaluate Sunset threshold applicability. If Lodestar total revenue has grown 3× since policy inception, the 40% threshold may be recalibrated upward—but only with a documented strategic rationale and explicit decision recorded in the operational log.
Red · Review
Part E — IP Engine Quarterly Maintenance (All Status Levels)
Review the Engagement Debrief Log for all engagements completed in the past 90 days. Confirm all debriefs were completed within the 24-hour window.
Quarterly
Pull tag frequency table. Flag all tags with 3+ occurrences as Validated Market Needs. Assign product routing and owner.
Quarterly
Confirm all active SOWs include the standard IP clause. No engagement should be in progress without a signed contract containing the IP language from Section 02.
Quarterly
Review the Monday Newsletter content calendar. Confirm at least one case study derived from an engagement debrief is queued for the next 60 days.
Quarterly
Confirm portfolio conflict list is current. Update with any new Lodestar Capital positions added in the past 90 days. Brief all intake screening against the updated list.
Quarterly
The Core Principle of the Sunset Policy
The Sunset Policy is not a cap on revenue—it is a cap on the proportion of revenue derived from Lodestar's own time and labor. Consulting revenue can grow without limit, but only if scalable product revenue grows proportionally faster. The discipline the Sunset Policy enforces is not austerity—it is leverage. Every consulting dollar should eventually produce ten times its value through the frameworks, courses, and publications it generates.