The Time Back Assessment
On-site observation. AI-fluent analysis. A report you can act on.
A clear-eyed look at where your time and revenue are actually going — and a plain-English plan to get some of both back.
20+ years informatics·AI-powered tools designed & shipped·Enterprise informatics strategy: Abridge, Notable·$26M+ saved
What's different about this
Most AI assessments happen on a Zoom call. This one happens in your business.
I come on-site, watch how the work actually flows, listen more than I talk, and explicitly don't give recommendations in the moment — because the work deserves real thinking, not the first thing that comes to mind.
You'll get the recommendations in writing, in a report I can stand behind. And before we're done, I'll roll up my sleeves and implement one of the quick wins with you — so you don't just have a plan, you have momentum.
How AI shows up here
A note on AI
I use AI throughout this work. To help analyze what I observe. To draft your report. To handle the parts of the work that AI is actually good at.
The reason I tell you this is because part of what you're hiring me for is the judgment about which parts of your business AI should touch and which parts it shouldn't. I won't recommend it where it doesn't belong. I will use it where it does.
What if I'm not local?
The on-site visit is the heart of this offer, but it isn't the only way I work. I take on a limited number of remote and hybrid engagements when the work fits the format. Send a note anyway — tell me about your business and we'll figure out together whether this is right for you and what shape it takes.
What you get
Five steps, from first conversation to one real thing built in your business.
Free fit call
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On-site visit
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Time Back Report
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Follow-up call
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Quick win, built
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Select any step to see what it involves.
Step 01 of 5
A free 20-minute fit conversation
We'll talk for twenty minutes about your business and figure out together whether the assessment is the right next step. No pitch, no pressure.
Step 02 of 5
A 90-minute on-site visit
I'll meet you and any key team members, watch the work happen, ask questions, and capture our conversation with an AI notetaking tool so I can focus on listening rather than scribbling notes. I'll be in observation mode — no recommendations on the day. I'll tell you what I'm seeing only after I've had time to think about all of it together.
Step 03 of 5
A written Time Back Report, within 7 business days
The report includes the 3–5 biggest time leaks I observed named in plain language; for each one, what's causing it, what it's costing you, and what to do about it; a prioritized list of quick wins implementable in under a day each; a short “Bigger Opportunities” section for deeper changes worth a separate conversation; and specific tool recommendations where relevant, with honest notes on whether AI is actually the right answer.
- The 3–5 biggest time leaks I observed, named in plain language
- For each one: what's causing it, what it's costing you, and what to do about it
- A prioritized list of quick wins — things implementable in under a day each
- A short “Bigger Opportunities” section — deeper changes worth a separate conversation
- Specific tool recommendations where relevant, with honest notes on whether AI is actually the right answer
Step 04 of 5
A 30-minute follow-up call
We walk through the report together, answer questions, and pick which quick win we'll implement.
Step 05 of 5
One implemented quick win
Up to 3 hours of my time, hands-on, getting one real thing built or configured in your business. I'll also give you a short written walkthrough of what we built, so you and your team can use it confidently after I leave.
What it costs
$1,500 flat. Includes everything above.
Who this is for
Owners of small businesses (typically 1–25 employees) who feel like they're working more hours than the business should require — and who want a partner who'll do the thinking with them, not just hand them a report and walk away.
Who this isn't for
Owners looking for someone to just install AI tools without examining the underlying process. Businesses where leadership isn't open to changing how things are done. Anyone who wants the work done remotely — this one is on-site, in your business, by design.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the whole thing take from start to finish?
About four weeks. One week to schedule the on-site, seven business days for me to deliver the report, then a 30-minute follow-up call and the quick win implementation within two weeks after that.
What if I'm not local to Northern California?
Reach out anyway — we can talk about it. The on-site format is the heart of this offer, so a remote version isn't equivalent, but I can occasionally make exceptions for businesses that justify the travel.
What if I don't see a quick win I want to implement?
That happens rarely, but it happens. If the best opportunities in your business are all bigger than a 3-hour fix, I'll credit that time toward the first phase of a larger engagement if you choose to move forward, or you can use it as an extended advisory call to map out the implementation plan together.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes, if you'd like one. I have a simple mutual NDA I can send you, or I'm happy to sign yours.
What does the on-site visit actually look like?
Mostly me watching, asking questions, and listening. I'll want to see how new work comes in, how it moves through your business, where it gets stuck, and how things get tracked. I'll talk with you and any key team members, but the visit isn't a formal interview — it's closer to a working shadow day.
Will the recording be private?
Yes. The AI notetaking tool I use is HIPAA-compliant and SOC2 certified, and recordings are used only to produce your report. I'll ask for your explicit consent before starting any recording. If you'd prefer no recording, I'll take notes the old-fashioned way.
What happens if the assessment doesn't go well?
If you read the report and feel it doesn't deliver what I promised, tell me. I'll refund part or all of the fee. I'd rather have a refunded client who tells the truth about their experience than a frustrated client who never says anything.
How do I prepare for the on-site?
You don't need to. The whole point of the on-site is to see your business as it actually runs, not as a curated version. Don't clean up, don't prepare slides, don't pull together documentation. Just go about your day and let me observe.
Ready to see where your time is going?
If this sounds like a fit, the next step is a free 20-minute conversation. We'll talk about your business and figure out together whether the assessment is right for you.