The Apex Memo
For the Entrepreneur Who Is Ready To rebuild the way they think
so they can build a life and a business they don’t need to escape from
Watch the video first. It's important.
For a long time, I thought business problems were mostly tactical.
Better strategy. Better execution. Better systems. And early on, that's often true. You learn the basics, clean things up, and progress happens.
But after 25+ years of sitting across the table from 400+ entrepreneurs, something else started to stand out.
The people who stayed stuck weren't short on ideas. They weren't confused. In most cases, they already knew exactly what needed to happen.
They were just waiting.
Waiting to have the conversation they kept practicing in their head. Waiting for a partner to finally grow up. Waiting for clients to pay without having to ask. Waiting for the business or the relationship to change so they wouldn't have to.
At first, it looks reasonable. Responsible, even.
But over time, that waiting adds up. It becomes a tax. And nothing really moves until you do.
That's when I started to realize this mattered more than any tactic I could teach. More than any framework or tool.
Because nobody has to change for you to win.
Not your partner. Not your team. Not the market. Not your spouse.
You do.
And when it's you, you can actually do something about it.
When you finally realize that this is all up to you...no one is coming to save you, and you move in a real way, things begin to reorganize around you.
Sometimes others come with you. Sometimes they don't. Either way, the business gets cleaner. Sharper. More honest.
Not because you learned something new, but because you stopped lying to yourself.
You stop using the business to outrun yourself. You stop filling every quiet moment with noise. You slow down just enough to listen and choose more carefully.
That constant need to prove yourself starts to fade.
You sleep better. You say no without explaining yourself to death. You protect your time because you finally understand what it's worth.
You start building on purpose. Not to impress anyone, but to create something that actually reflects what you value.
Your words get clearer. Your decisions get simpler. The chaos that once spilled over into everyone else begins to disappear.
You get your mornings back. Your focus. Your presence.
You get better. And your business...and the people around you...rise to meet you.
I've watched this shift happen hundreds of times.
That's why I started writing The Apex Memo.
So What is The Apex Memo?
Once a month, a black envelope shows up at your door. No logo. No branding.
Just your name. Inside: a small book. Roughly 30 pages.
You don't open it right away. You finish your coffee. Take a call. Push the feeling aside. But it stays on your desk, waiting.
One idea. One punch to the chest. No fluff. No cheerleading. No digital dopamine.
Each issue is built around one pattern I've seen cost capable people years.
A real story from a real client. Where they were stuck. What they couldn't see. The moment something cracked. What actually changed—and how.
Maybe it's about the illusion of growth. Maybe it's about how your need for control is quietly destroying your company. Maybe it's the conversation you've been avoiding for six months.
Whatever it is, you'll see yourself in it.
Not theory. Not advice I read somewhere. Thinking that comes from twenty-five years of sitting across from 400+ entrepreneurs just like you doing the work.
It's print on purpose. Your inbox is where things go to die. Your desk is where real thinking happens.
You can't swipe past it. You can't half-read it between calls. It sits there. It waits. It bothers you a little. That's not a bug. That's the point.
The best ideas don't change you because they're clever. They change you because they haunt you.
There's nothing to complete. No action steps. No framework to install. No calls. No groups. Nothing to add—because this is about deliberate subtraction.
You read it slow. You read it quiet. You read it when you're ready to face something you already know but haven't admitted out loud.
This isn't something you keep up with. It's something you sit with until it changes how you see things.
You don't need another idea. You need one that cuts. You don't need more content. You need clarity. You don't need a blueprint. You need a mirror.
This is that.
Become A Founding Member
For the first 50 subscribers, who I’m calling Founding Members, The Apex Memo is $97/month or $970/year (2 months free). Plus you’ll get access to a few “bonuses”. Things I don't share publicly.
Your first issue ships Feb 1 2026. After that, a new issue lands at your door around the first of every month.
Here's what you get when you subscribe today:
The Apex Memo—delivered to your door every month. Print only. No archives. No PDFs.
Founding Member Bonus: Everyone who subscribes gets this (whether you go with the monthly or annual option)
The Small Business Profit Builders Book ($1500 value): 65 tactical lessons I've used with clients over 25 years. You'll get the full PDF the day you subscribe. No one else has this.
If you choose to go with the annual plan, here's what I've got for you in addition to the above:
Monthly Email Coaching — Once a month on the 30th, you'll get an email from me.
The email will ask three questions:
1. What did you work on this month?
2. What are you working on next month?
3. Anything else on your mind you want to share?
Hit reply. Answer them. That's it. Shouldn't take you more than ten minutes.
I then sit down by the 10th (or so) and reply back to you.
Nothing crazy. Simple accountability. Me checking in on you.
Regardless of whether you choose to subscribe monthly or annually...
If you stick around long enough, you'll start receiving invitations. Quiet ones. Things that don't get announced.
Dinners. Private calls. Long weekends with other founders.
You'll find out—if you're in.
My Simple Promise to You
I'm not going to give you a bunch of how-to's.
I'm going to give you ways to think differently. And when you stack them—month after month—the how-to's become obvious.
12 issues a year. 12 patterns examined. 12 things that aren't problems anymore this time next year.
Your marriage stops being a background hum of tension. You stop resenting your business partner. You release control to your team before you feel ready. You start the thing you've been afraid to start.
This isn't about tactics. It's about becoming who you need to be in order to have the things you always imagined you would have. The business you run, not the other way around. The life you want, not one you need to escape from.
If you're still hoping the next ‘thing’ fixes it, this isn't for you.
If you're ready to stop pretending—I'll see you in your mailbox.
-love, Chad
Ready to Subscribe?
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Some Questions You Might Have
Here’s what you may be wondering. If your question isn't here—or you feel like it's different—shoot me an email at [email] and I'll address it.
How is this different from your Substack? The Substack is free. It's me thinking out loud. Ideas I'm working through, things I notice, stuff I want to share. It's good, and I'll keep writing it.
The Memo is different. It's one idea, examined fully. A real client story with the full arc. It's structured to confront something specific—and to sit with you until it does. It's not content. It's a tool.
And it's print. On purpose. Because if it lived in your inbox, you'd treat it like everything else in your inbox.
What if I fall behind? Good. Some issues will stack up on your desk. That's expected. They'll sit there, daring you to crack them open. You'll get to them when you're ready—or you won't, and you'll know exactly what you're avoiding.
Can I get back issues? If you're subscribed, you get what ships. If you miss one, it's gone. I might sell back issues individually down the road—but they'll cost more than your subscription. If that matters to you, don't miss one.
What if I move? Shoot me an email at [email]. I'll update your address.
What if an issue gets lost in the mail? Shoot me an email at [email]. I'll send another one.
What if I don't like it? Cancel. No hard feelings. No refund for the month you're in, but you won't be charged again.
If I cancel and come back later, do I keep Founding Member pricing? No. You pay whatever the price is when you come back. If it's the same, good for you. If it's not, you missed out.
What if I want more? My coaching is full. But I'm building a premium version—ways to go deeper with the material. I have ideas, but I'd rather build it based on what you actually want. If there's something you'd pay more to get, email me at [email]. Help me design it.
Is there a way to connect with other subscribers? I'm thinking about it. If I do something, it'll be a space for you to connect with each other—not a place where you get more of me. I might chime in, but it won't be the point. More on that down the road.
What is the difference between Monthly vs. Annual? Just savings. $97/month or $970/year. Annual gets you two months free.
I don't have time to read a 30-page book every month. If you're too busy to read 30 pages, that's exactly why you need this. The memo doesn't add more to your plate. It shows you what to take off.
How long does it take to read? Some people finish it in one sitting. Some take a week. Some read it once, then come back three more times. Doesn't matter. It's not a race.
My situation is different. I'm too far gone. No you're not. And no it isn't. You're not the exception. The only question is whether you're ready to stop pretending you are.
Is this for my industry? Doesn't matter. This isn't about your industry. It's about you.
How do I know this will help me? The proof isn't "I doubled revenue." The proof is you don't get divorced. Your kids don't hate you. The business runs without you babysitting it. Employees actually like working for you. That's the proof.
Testimonials? See below.