SweetSpot first-step path / Step 03 / $250 working guide

Sharper thinking before you spend on the wrong fix.

A Field Guide is a paid working tool that turns the self-assessment result into more detailed standard guidance. It gives practical fix paths, what to check first, common false fixes, and the difference between handling the issue internally and moving to an Inspection.

Direct answer: A Field Guide is a paid working tool for turning a self-assessment signal into practical next checks and fix paths. It helps before custom consulting is warranted.

Don't Know Where to Start? Start Here

Use this step when...

You completed or expect to complete a self-assessment.
You want a practical paid resource before a consulting engagement.
You need standard answers to common patterns in one problem area.

This is not for you if...

That does not mean the problem is unimportant. It means this step may not be the cleanest next step yet.

If you do not know which issue fits, start with Start Here.
If the next move involves meaningful spend, people risk, or major disruption, consider Inspection instead.

Compare the step

Use this step when the evidence fits. Move up only when the business calls for it.

Field Guide compared with nearby steps
Step	Use when	What you get	Commitment	Move up when
Self-Assessment	You need to identify the strongest signal first.	A private directional result and a custom report path.	Free diagnostic.	Move up when you want more detail on the weakest scored areas.
Field Guide	You know the likely issue and want practical next thinking before buying custom help.	Detailed standard guidance, Field/System/Infrastructure fix options, and examples.	$250 paid working guide. Self-implemented.	Move up when your specific facts need review or the wrong fix would be expensive.
Business Systems Inspection	The issue needs a custom look at evidence, roles, handoffs, or team reality.	A focused consulting review and written inspection report.	~$2,500 remote diagnostic.	Move up when the problem crosses areas or needs to be seen in the business.

If none of these feel obvious, use Start Here first. It is built for owners who know something is off but are not sure which problem deserves attention first.

Plain meaning

What this step really does

This is the low-cost paid working step. It is for owners who want useful, specific operating guidance before deciding whether the problem deserves custom consulting.

Before you use it

What to have in place

Complete the related self-assessment so the guide has context.
Block time to read it as a working document, not marketing material.
Pick one fix to implement first instead of trying to fix everything at once.

What to expect

What you should get from this step

A useful Field Guide should leave the owner with enough practical direction to take a first action, enough warning to avoid the obvious false fixes, and enough clarity to know when the problem deserves custom help.

Guidance tied to the weakest areas surfaced by the self-assessment.
Field, System, and Infrastructure fix options so the owner can match the fix to company size and appetite.
Practical examples, warning signs, and the bridge into an Inspection when the issue is too tangled for a self-implement guide.

Next step

How to know whether to move up

Move to the Business Systems Inspection when the Field Guide identifies a problem that needs evidence review, team interviews, or a more custom plan.

Don't Know Where to Start? Start Here

Choose a Field Guide

Use this step in the business issue that fits best.