Business as Craft
Building a great business is a craft like any other.
A work of quality requires a deep understanding of core principles, the right skills, and a high level of execution.
That gnawing feeling you have. The one that says you could be doing better. Growing faster, more profitable, or feeling more in control; That’s a call to master your craft.
Zack Tomlin
I know that feeling well. I had it when leading my business. I see it in every new client. It is satisfied by only one thing, progress. Progress on two different journeys. The journey of leading your crew on the expedition to the destination you seek; And your own journey to master your craft.
We all start our ascent as novices. Learning as we go, from our failures and successes, but also from those that have made a similar journey before. The business that you are after lies somewhere on the road to mastery.
I Work With leaders who are
Growth-minded and committed to mastering their craft.
Leading businesses with 5 to 200 employees.
Certain that better is possible, and willing to do the work to get there.
The Approach
Mastering your craft means addressing all parts of the journey
Destination
Where are you going and why? Getting crystal clear on your vision and getting everyone aligned around it.
Crew
Your people are your engine. Understanding what drives performance and how to align what they want with what you need.
Leader
Developing the judgment to make better decisions faster, and the skills to get your team working at their best.
Expedition
The specific strategies, tactics, and tools that move you forward. Making adjustments. Avoiding the pitfalls.
One-Size Does Not Fit All
Every business is different. Yet business advice is filled with clichés, one-size-fits-all frameworks, and platforms designed for "the average business."
Mastering your craft means moving beyond mimicry—beyond copying what worked for someone else—and building from first principles.
Systems and strategies perfectly suited to your business, your market, your people. That's what we work on together.
Working Together
I work with a limited number of clients at a time, in two formats:
One-on-One Engagements
One-on-One Engagements: Monthly sessions focused on the decisions and challenges specific to your business and your journey. Plus ongoing access between meetings for real-time guidance.
Small Leadership Team
Small Leadership Team Work Quarterly full-day sessions with your leadership team, addressing all four parts of the journey together - Destination, Crew, Leader, and Expedition.
In both formats, I'm not a hired consultant who delivers advice and leaves. I'm a working member of your team - available between sessions, invested in your progress, and committed to the craft of building your business.
Fees are flat monthly charges. One-on-one engagements range from $500-$1,500/month. Leadership team work ranges from $3,000-$5,000/month. No deposits, no contracts.
Testimonials
“Zack provides the type of professional guidance that you must experience to appreciate. The results for our company are already paying dividends.”
President,
Current Client
“Business leaders of all levels will benefit from the sensible and clear dive that Zack will help you take into your company.”
Owner, Founder,
Current Client
“Our company knows who we are, knows who we want to be and is moving in a better direction thanks to Zack. We were operating very well before we engaged him. Now we are operating even better.”
CEO,
Current Client
The Book
What separates thriving, self-sustaining organizations from those perpetually trapped in crisis mode?
After years building, leading, and coaching businesses, I've learned it's all about understanding core principles and having better frameworks for decision-making.
CRAFT: The Business Leader's Journey breaks down the complexity of business into clear, actionable models: The four fundamental levers every business decision pulls, the forces that actually drive human behavior at work, how to move from copying others to thinking from first principles, and the common pitfalls that await every business.
This isn't a playbook of quick fixes. It's a guide to seeing your business with clarity, making decisions that lead to better results, and mastering the craft of business leadership.
Contact Us
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Contact Info
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About Zack
Zack lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife (Jackie), two daughters (Hadley & Abilene), and Bruce “the dog”.
As a former engineer and business founder who built and exited his own company, Zack brings practical, first-principles thinking to business challenges, avoiding the theoretical advice that's useless in the trenches of leading a business.
Most importantly Zack never loses sight that businesses are about people; Their leaders, their staff, and their customers; That better businesses mean better lives and a better world.
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