The Independent Operator – 8 Weeks to Clarity and Growth
Run a premium, confident, and calm business that works for you — not the other way around.
After this 8 week program, you’ll have a clear, repeatable business foundation that lets you:
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Charge premium prices with confidence.
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Know exactly what you sell, what to charge, and why clients choose you.
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Attract the right clients without endless chasing.
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Reclaim 10+ hours a week while maintaining growth.
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Feel in control of your business and your time.
Business owners who have implemented these systems routinely see a doubling of their revenue in 12-18 months while enjoying more profit, fun, and freedom in their business.
The Independent Operator – 8-Week Curriculum Overview
Build a premium, profitable, and scalable service business without losing control of your time or freedom. Stop winging it, and start running a business that runs smoothly while you focus on the work you love.
Week 1 — Clarity & Capacity
Outcome: “I know exactly where my time and money go — and I’m in control.”
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Map your real capacity (time, delivery, margin)
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Identify hidden drag, invisible time leaks, and admin chaos
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Create your “20 hours back” plan
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Mini-audit of current processes to pinpoint bottlenecks
Week 2 — Premium Pricing & Offer Positioning
Outcome: “I know exactly what to sell, what to charge, and why.”
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Package → Promise → Process: define 1–3 scalable offers
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Positioning for value-based pricing (no more commoditized rates)
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Good/Better/Best pricing framework
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Craft your client-facing messaging to reflect premium value
Week 3 — Lead Generation & Sales
Outcome: “I can attract and close the right clients without chasing.”
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Build a repeatable lead generation engine (LinkedIn, referrals, website positioning)
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Create your outreach and follow-up rhythm
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Scripts for consult calls that focus on value, not discounting
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Qualification framework for the clients you actually want
WEEK-LONG BREAK FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Week 4 — Operations & Automation
Outcome: “The business runs smoothly, even without me watching it.”
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Build your Admin Operating System: inbox, invoicing, tasks, delivery, finances
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Automate repetitive processes (proposals, reporting, onboarding)
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Weekly and monthly operating cadence
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Hand off junior-level or contractor tasks confidently
Week 5 — Client Retention & Account Management
Outcome: “My clients stick longer, and I deliver without burning out.”
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Zero-scope-creep delivery systems
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Boundaries and client communication that feel good
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Account management rhythms to increase retention
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Templates and frameworks to reduce follow-up friction
Week 6 — Implementation & Integration
Outcome: “I can run a business that scales, while focusing on work I love.”
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Integrate offers, pricing, and operations into a repeatable system
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Launch your lead gen + sales cadence
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Set first delegation or automation steps in motion
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Plan your next 90 days with clear KPIs for growth, freedom, and profit
FINAL (OPTIONAL) Q&A CALL
This 6-week framework is meant to balance strategy, operations, and client-facing skills.
At the end, you will feel less:
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Like you’re “winging it” and overwhelmed by admin
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Uncertainty around pricing and selling value
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Lack of repeatable processes for lead generation, sales, and operations
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Fear around retention and scaling without hiring too aggressively
Who This Is For
This program is for independent operators, solo entrepreneurs, and small agency owners who are ready to:
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Take control of their time and income.
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Run a business that supports their life instead of consuming it.
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Move past trial-and-error and finally have a repeatable, profitable foundation.
This is NOT for:
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Those looking for a quick fix or a “magic bullet” for growth.
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Business owners unwilling to implement a proven framework.
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Anyone not ready to invest in themselves and their business.
Meet Your Instructor
John Doherty is a veteran digital marketer turned agency owner turned business coach.
His calling is helping solopreneurs and small agency owners grow the business sanely and profitably.
How does that happen? Through proven systems that he implemented in his own agencies to grow both to successful exits, while only working 20-30 hours per week with plenty of free time and profit.
Even if your goal isn’t to exit, his process will help you build a business that you love to run and that gives you the freedom you desire.
Program Details
Here are the details.
2026 Cohort 1
Dates: January 29 – March 19
Maximum attendees: 15
Cost: $6,000
Interested in Learning More?
Let’s have a friendly chat. Use the form below then schedule a friendly Discovery Call to make sure this program is a good fit for you.