Day 1 of 14

Offer Architecture + ICP Lock

Define your ideal customer and structure your 3-tier offer ladder with AI assistance

Time: 2h manual OR 30min with tools
Deliverable: ICP profile + 3-tier offers + team approval
Dependencies: None (starting point)
✓ Pre-Flight Checklist

Day 1 has no dependencies (you're starting fresh), but verify these logistics before diving in:

📍 Your Starting Point

You're targeting early-stage coaches, consultants, fractional execs (0-2 years in business, $0-$100K revenue) who struggle to monetize their expertise. Their core pain: "I have expertise but don't know how to package/price/scale it."

Today you'll VALIDATE this ICP with research, write it as a compelling profile, and structure offers that solve their pain. If your network is different (e.g., Nico knows agency owners, not coaches), adjust the ICP - but keep the framework.

Day 1 is about clarity. You'll define WHO you're serving (ICP), WHAT you're offering (3-tier ladder), and WHY they'll buy (pain → transformation). By end of day, you'll have a research-backed ICP profile and priced offer structure ready for validation.

Target ICP

Early-stage coaches, consultants, fractional execs ($0-$100K revenue) who need to monetize their expertise

Core Pain

"I have expertise but don't know how to package/price/scale it"

Your Deliverables

ICP profile (polished) + 3-tier offer ladder ($0/$97-300/$1,500-3K) + team approval recorded

Success Criteria

ICP documented + offers priced + team sign-off by 5pm

Jason's Lens: What's the Domino?

Before you start researching, ask: "What's the ONE thing that unlocks everything else in this 14-day sprint?"

Answer: Knowing exactly WHO your ICP is. If you get this wrong, everything downstream fails - wrong fishing holes (Day 2), wrong pain language (Day 3), wrong validation page (Day 4). Get this right, and Days 2-14 flow naturally because you're speaking to a SPECIFIC person with a SPECIFIC pain.

Don't settle for "coaches struggling to grow." That's everyone. You need: "Executive coaches, 0-2 years in business, coming from corporate, charging $500/month for 1:1s, want to package expertise into $3K group offer but don't know how to price it without imposter syndrome."

The more specific your ICP, the easier everything else becomes.

Leading Indicators: Real-Time Checkpoints

Don't wait until 5pm to discover you're behind. Track these checkpoints throughout the day:

11:00am
ICP research complete: Tool 1A ran, reviewed 3-5 profiles, picked best match for your network
1:00pm
ICP draft written: Bullet points → narrative profile using Tool 1B (or manual), shared in Slack
3:00pm
Offer stack complete: Tool 1C generated 3-tier ladder, pricing locked, posted for team review
4:00pm
Feedback incorporated: Team comments addressed, final edits made
5:00pm
✓ LOCKED: ICP + offers approved, saved to shared drive, ready for Day 2
If You Only Have 30 Minutes (Tool-Powered)
  • 🔥 CRITICAL (15min): Run Tool 1A → pick 1 ICP profile → paste top 3 pains into Tool 1C → get 3-tier offers → post in Slack "thoughts?"
  • ⚡ IMPORTANT (10min): Use Tool 1B to polish ICP into narrative format
  • ✨ POLISH (5min): Get team approval, archive to drive
If You Have 2 Hours (Comprehensive Approach)
  • 🔥 CRITICAL (75min): Research → Draft → Offers (same as 30min but with manual validation: read 20+ threads yourself, extract verbatim quotes, cluster patterns)
  • ⚡ IMPORTANT (30min): Polish narrative, format beautifully, add "day in the life" story
  • ✨ POLISH (15min): Create offer comparison table, test pricing psychology, add guarantee language
⚠️ Don't Confuse Motion with Progress

Motion: Spending 90min perfecting ICP doc formatting, adding fancy graphics, rewriting the same paragraph 7 times
Progress: ICP profile that's "good enough" (7/10) with team approval by 3pm

Remember: You'll refine this ICP throughout the sprint as you get market feedback. Day 1 goal = directionally correct, not perfect. Ship it.

Time-Boxed Execution (30min with tools)

0:00-0:10 (10min)
Tool 1A: ICP Research
Stop at: Reviewed 3-5 profiles, picked best 1, copied top pains
0:10-0:15 (5min)
Tool 1B: Narrative Polish
Stop at: Generated 3 story angles, picked best, did light edit
0:15-0:25 (10min)
Tool 1C: Offer Stack
Stop at: 3-tier ladder generated, pricing looks reasonable
0:25-0:30 (5min)
Post for Approval
Stop at: Shared in Slack, tagged team, set 5pm deadline

If you go over 30min: You're perfecting, not executing. Remember: Day 2 needs this by 5pm. Better to have "good enough" approved than "perfect" sitting in your drafts.

5-Minute Walkthrough Coming Soon
Tool 1A: ICP Excavator

Research Your Ideal Customer

Paste this prompt into Claude or ChatGPT with your expertise area and revenue stage. The AI will search coaching/consulting communities and extract verbatim pain language from real experts struggling with monetization.

You are a customer research expert specializing in early-stage coaches and consultants.

I need you to research my target ICP:
- Expertise area: [YOUR EXPERTISE - e.g., "executive coaching", "fractional CFO", "marketing consultant"]
- Revenue stage: [e.g., "$0-50K", "$50-100K"]

Please:
1. Search LinkedIn coaching/consulting groups, r/Entrepreneur, r/Consulting, podcast transcripts for this expertise area
2. Find 50+ posts/comments where experts are venting about monetization challenges
3. Extract VERBATIM pain phrases (10-50 words each) - exact language they use, don't paraphrase
4. Cluster phrases into categories: Monetization, Scaling, Positioning, Confidence
5. Score each phrase by emotional intensity (1-10)
6. Return 3-5 validated ICP profiles with:
   - Demographics (age range, background, tech proficiency)
   - Current revenue/situation
   - Top 5 pain points (with verbatim quotes)
   - Buying triggers ("what makes them decide NOW")
   - What they've already tried (failed solutions)

Format as structured profiles I can use immediately for messaging.
How to Use
  1. Click "Copy Prompt" above
  2. Open Claude or ChatGPT
  3. Paste the prompt and replace [YOUR EXPERTISE] and revenue stage
  4. Review the 3-5 ICP profiles generated
  5. Pick the best one and refine based on your network (Derek/Nico's people)
Claude Skill

Tool 1B: Persona Novelist

Transform dry research bullets into compelling narrative ICP profiles. This skill generates 3 emotional story angles (expertise trapped, 1:1 ceiling, imposter syndrome) written in your voice. Pick the best, light edit, done.

Installation
:persona_novelist

Install this skill in Claude Desktop, then activate with the command above. Paste your ICP research and it will generate 3 narrative variations.

How to Use
  1. Complete Tool 1A research first (get your bullet points)
  2. Type :persona_novelist in Claude
  3. Paste your research bullets when prompted
  4. Review 3 narrative ICP stories (500 words each)
  5. Pick the best angle and polish for your final doc
Tool 1C: Offer Stack Architect

Build Your 3-Tier Offer Ladder

Apply Alex Hormozi's value equation to your ICP's pains and generate a complete 3-tier offer stack with pricing, guarantees, and scarcity mechanics.

You are an offer architect using Alex Hormozi's value equation framework.

My ICP's main pains:
[PASTE TOP 3 PAIN POINTS FROM TOOL 1A]

Transformation I provide:
[e.g., "Package their expertise into scalable offers", "Go from $500/month to $5K/month same expertise"]

Time commitment available:
[e.g., "They can dedicate 5 hours/week for 12 weeks"]

Please create a 3-tier offer ladder:

TIER 0 (FREE):
- What: Workshop or playbook that solves ONE micro-pain immediately
- Why: Builds trust, demonstrates expertise, captures leads
- Deliverable: [specific outcome]

TIER 1 ($97-300):
- What: Low-friction entry offer
- Win-back guarantee: "Recoup investment in X days or full refund"
- Calculate exact win-back timeline based on transformation

TIER 2 ($1,500-3,000):
- What: Fast Track Labs core program
- Discount: "Founder pricing" for early adopters
- Scarcity: 5 spots only, expires Day 14 of sprint
- Value stack: List all components

TIER 3 ($5K+):
- Placeholder only for future upsell

For each tier, provide:
- Headline (value proposition)
- Subheadline (specific outcome)
- Pricing rationale (why this price point)
- Scarcity mechanics
- Guarantee structure
How to Use
  1. Complete Tools 1A-1B first (know your ICP's pains)
  2. Copy this prompt into Claude/ChatGPT
  3. Fill in your ICP's top 3 pains and transformation promise
  4. Review the 3-tier structure generated
  5. Adjust pricing based on your market and get team approval
After Tool 1A (ICP Research)

Your chosen ICP profile should have:

  • Specific demographics (not "coaches" but "executive coaches, 40-55, ex-corporate, charging $500/mo")
  • 5+ verbatim pain quotes (actual language from threads, not your interpretation)
  • Clear buying trigger ("savings running out", "can't go back to corporate", "need revenue in 60 days")
  • Failed solutions listed (courses they bought, 1:1s they tried, referral hope that didn't work)
  • You personally KNOW 3+ people who fit this profile (Derek/Nico network test)

RED FLAG: If your ICP feels generic ("coaches who want to grow"), go back to Tool 1A. You need specificity or everything downstream fails.

After Tool 1B (ICP Narrative)

Your polished ICP doc should:

  • Read like a story, not bullet points (you can SEE this person)
  • Include "day in the life" scenario (300+ words showing their daily struggle)
  • Use emotional language from your research (frustrated, stuck, desperate - their words)
  • Make Derek/Will say "I know someone exactly like this"
  • Be scan-friendly (headers, bold key phrases, clear structure)

RED FLAG: If you read it and think "this could be anyone," it's too broad. Narrow until it feels uncomfortably specific.

After Tool 1C (Offer Stack)

Your 3-tier offers should:

  • Tier 0 solves ONE micro-pain immediately (not "access to everything")
  • Tier 1 has clear win-back guarantee ("Recoup $97 in 7 days or refund")
  • Tier 2 pricing justified by value stack (can list 10+ components worth $10K+)
  • Scarcity is REAL (5 spots genuinely limited, Day 14 deadline is actual sprint end)
  • Pricing doesn't make you cringe (if $1,500 feels too high, you don't believe in value)

RED FLAG: If you can't defend pricing with straight face, revisit value equation. "Feels expensive" means you haven't articulated transformation clearly.

❌ Avoid These Day 1 Mistakes
❌ MISTAKE: Researching for 90min, paralyzed by options
→ Result: 3pm hits, no draft, team can't review
✅ INSTEAD: Time-box research to 20min, pick "good enough" ICP, refine later based on Day 3 feedback
❌ MISTAKE: Writing ICP in vacuum without showing team until 5pm
→ Result: Major revisions needed, miss deadline, Day 2 delayed
✅ INSTEAD: Share draft at 1pm in Slack "Thoughts? Approval by 5pm = locked"
❌ MISTAKE: Pricing based on "what feels right" vs market research
→ Result: $97 offer that should be $297, leaving money on table
✅ INSTEAD: Tool 1C uses Hormozi value equation - trust the math, test pricing Day 3+
❌ MISTAKE: No verbatim quotes, just paraphrased pain
→ Result: Day 3 posts feel generic, low engagement
✅ INSTEAD: Copy EXACT phrases from threads - you'll use this verbatim language Day 3
❌ MISTAKE: Choosing ICP you WISH you had vs who Derek/Nico ACTUALLY know
→ Result: No warm network to activate, cold outreach required
✅ INSTEAD: Text Derek/Nico: "Do you know 10+ [this ICP type]?" - if no, pick different ICP
ICP Profile Examples

✅ GOOD Example (Specific & Usable)

ICP: Executive coaches, 45-60 years old, spent 20+ years in Fortune 500, laid off or retired early, started coaching 0-2 years ago. Currently charging $500-$1,500/month for 1:1 coaching (4-6 clients max). Revenue: $2K-$9K/month. Want to package expertise into group programs but:

  • Pain 1 (Monetization): "I don't know what to charge - feel like I'm guessing" (verbatim from r/Entrepreneur thread, User: CoachingCarol, 11/2/24)
  • Pain 2 (Scaling): "Booked solid with 1:1s but still making less than corporate salary" (LinkedIn group: Executive Coaches Network, Mike T., 10/15/24)
  • Pain 3 (Positioning): "Everyone does leadership coaching - how do I stand out?" (Reddit, 10/22/24)
  • Pain 4 (Confidence): "Imposter syndrome when pricing $3K offers" (Clubhouse room transcript, 11/1/24)
  • Pain 5 (Urgency): "Savings running out, need to hit $10K/mo or go back to corporate" (Facebook DM screenshot)

Buying trigger: 6-month financial runway (when savings hit $20K, panic sets in)

What they've tried: Amy Porterfield course ($2K, didn't finish), hired VA ($500/mo, fired after 2 months), hoped referrals would come (they didn't)

Network test: Derek knows 8 people like this, Nico knows 12

❌ BAD Example (Too Generic)

ICP: Coaches and consultants who want to grow their business and make more money. They're frustrated with their current situation and looking for solutions.

  • Pain 1: Want more clients
  • Pain 2: Need better marketing
  • Pain 3: Struggling to scale

Why this fails: Could describe 10 million people. No specificity, no verbatim quotes, no clear buying trigger, can't picture an actual human.

Offer Stack Examples

✅ GOOD Example (Clear Value)

TIER 0 (FREE): "The 1-Hour Pricing Workshop" - Walk through 3-step pricing framework live, leave with exact number to charge for signature offer

TIER 1 ($197): "Expertise Packager Playbook" - 5 templates (ICP worksheet, offer canvas, pricing calculator, objection scripts, guarantee formula). Win-back: "If you don't have clarity on your $3K offer idea in 7 days, full refund."

TIER 2 ($1,997): "Fast Track Labs: Founder Cohort" - 14-day sprint to validated offer (includes 30 AI tools, daily implementation guides, 1:1 audit, 5 lifetime spots only, ends Dec 31). Value stack: $8K+ in tools + time.

❌ BAD Example (Vague & Weak)

TIER 0: Free PDF guide

TIER 1: $99 course with videos

TIER 2: $999 coaching program

Why this fails: No specific outcomes, no guarantees, generic pricing, unclear what they actually GET.

End of Day 1 Decision Points
✅ ICP + offers approved by 5pm, saved to drive
→ PROCEED to Day 2: You have the foundation. Day 2 will use this ICP to find fishing holes and mine pain language. Sleep well.
⚠️ Team approval delayed until 6-7pm (minor edits needed)
→ PROCEED with caution: Make edits tonight, get final sign-off before Day 2 starts. If edits are major (3+ hours), consider this a Day 1 extension.
🛑 No consensus on ICP by 5pm, team has conflicting views
→ STOP & ALIGN: Schedule 30min call tonight. Use Tool 1A to generate 3 different ICP options, vote as team, lock decision. Do NOT proceed to Day 2 without alignment - you'll waste 13 days.
🛑 ICP approved but you realize Derek/Nico don't know anyone like this
→ RESTART Day 1: Tomorrow, re-run Tool 1A with different criteria based on who Derek/Nico ACTUALLY know. Don't build for an imaginary network.
Edge Cases & Recovery
What if: Tool 1A returns ICPs that don't match my network?

→ SOLUTION: Text Derek/Nico right now: "Who do you know who's struggling to monetize their expertise?" Get 5 names. Google those people. What do they have in common? That's your ICP. Feed THAT back into Tool 1A for refinement.

What if: My ICP seems too narrow (only 50 people exist)?

→ SOLUTION: Perfect. You need 5 customers in 14 days, not 5,000. Narrow is GOOD. If Derek/Nico know 20+ people who fit this ICP, you have enough for validation. You can expand ICP later in future cohorts.

What if: Team wants to target 2 different ICPs (coaches AND fractional execs)?

→ SOLUTION: Pick ONE for this sprint. Run a 14-day sprint per ICP if you want to test both, but don't dilute messaging by trying to speak to two audiences at once. Days 2-3 will fail if you hedge.

What if: Pricing feels too high/low compared to market?

→ SOLUTION: Trust Tool 1C's Hormozi value equation FIRST, then validate Days 3-8. If hand-raiser posts get 0 response because "too expensive," you'll know by Day 3. Don't pre-optimize based on fear. Test it.

✅ Day 1 Complete → What Happens Next

Tonight: Rest. You defined WHO you're serving and WHAT you're offering. That's the foundation.

Tomorrow (Day 2): You'll use this ICP to find WHERE they hang out online (fishing holes), WHO specifically to connect with (50 LinkedIn prospects), and WHAT language they use (10 pain phrases). Day 2 builds directly on today's work.

By Day 3: You'll post hand-raiser content using this exact ICP language to validate demand. If you nailed the ICP today, Day 3 will get 20+ engagements. If ICP was off, you'll know immediately and can course-correct.

Post in Slack: "Day 1 done ✅ ICP locked: [1-sentence summary]. Ready for Day 2."