Two Field Guides.

Reference

Scripts, curriculum & formulas

The Complete Masterbook · pages 268–275

Outreach and follow-up scripts

Adapt honestly. Personalization means relevance, not inserting a name into a message sent without thought.

Research request

Subject: 20 minutes on [specific workflow] at [segment]

Hello [Name]—I am researching how [specific segment] handles [specific workflow/problem]. I found your [work/talk/role] while mapping the process. I am trying to understand the last real occurrence, the current workaround, and what makes change difficult.

Would you be open to a 20-minute conversation? This is research before building, not a disguised demo. I can share an anonymized pattern summary afterward. No problem if the timing is poor.

—[Name]

Warm introduction request

Hello [Connector]—I am testing a narrow thesis about [problem] for [segment]. I am looking to learn from an [exact role], not asking you to sell on my behalf. If you believe the conversation would be relevant, would you be comfortable forwarding the three-line note below? Please feel free to decline.

Post-interview confirmation

Thank you for reconstructing [specific workflow]. I heard three important points: [A], [B], and [C]. I may have misunderstood [uncertainty]. Is this summary accurate? I promised [resource/ action] by [date]. If the summary is right, would [specific next commitment] be useful?

Paid-pilot invitation

Based on the evidence so far, the current process creates [measured consequence]. I propose a [duration] paid pilot limited to [scope]. We would record the baseline, measure [outcome], keep [safety/quality/data controls], and decide on [date] whether to stop, revise, or expand. The fee is ₹[amount] plus applicable taxes, with [payment terms].

I have attached a one-page scope. If the result, responsibility, dependency, or risk is misstated, I would prefer to correct it before we proceed.

Proposal decision request

Hello [Name]—our proposal was intended to support the decision about [specific outcome]. The open questions at our last conversation were [A] and [B]; the attached note addresses both.

Is the right next step to (1) approve for [date], (2) revise a named term, (3) revisit after [real trigger/date], or (4) close this for now? A clear no is useful and completely acceptable.

Referral after earned value

We aimed to move [baseline] to [measured result], and your team observed [result plus limitation]. Who are one or two [roles] dealing with a similar workflow? If you are comfortable, would you introduce us with that exact context? Please do not overstate the result.

Clean close after silence

I have followed up a few times and do not want to create noise. I will close this thread for now. If [problem/trigger] becomes a priority, I am happy to revisit. Thank you for the earlier context.

RED LINE Never automate a message you would be embarrassed to send manually to a respected person. Respect consent, confidentiality, opt-outs, and applicable communication rules.

· SALES pp. 4–13, 20–25 · TABLE pp. 13–16 · GE Field Manual C. Scripts are templates; truth and context must be supplied by the sender.

A twelve-month learning curriculum

Learn around live work. Every month ends with an artifact, a field test, and one operating habit that changes.

Month FocusArtifactField test
1 Customer observationTen reconstructed workflows and one pattern memoAsk operators to correct the pattern
2 Written and spoken salesICP, message, discovery guide, call reviewRun real conversations and record stage evidence
3 Personal and business cashPersonal command centre and 13-week forecastReconcile forecast to actual cash weekly
4 AccountingThree-statement close for a fictional or real small businessTrace five transactions through all statements
5 Unit economics and pricingCohort economics plus one controlled price hypothesisCompare revenue and gross profit, not response alone
6 Delivery and systemsOne complete SOP with exceptions and quality checksGive it to another person and observe failure points
7 Negotiation and contractsBATNA/trade grid and antions notated contract ques packages before a live nePrepare two equivalent gotiation
8 DistributionChannel chain from target to retained customerRemove one unmeasured stage and test one owned asset
9 Hiring and leadershipOutcome scorecard, structured questions, 30/60/90 planRun a calibrated work- sample review
10 Capital and ownershipFunding/dilution scenario pack dependExplain the downside, rights, and control cost to a sceptic
11 Strategy and competitionBusiness engine, ency map, moat evidence for a funded competitorIdentify the easiest path to parity
12 Synthesis and allocationAnnual owner letter and next-year operating plan and a disinterested rePresent it to an operator viewer

The knowledge-purchase gate

Before paying for a course, community, mentor, data product, or adviser, write the answers:

1. Is this the current constraint? 2. What specific output will exist by what date? 3. Is the person’s evidence relevant to my market, model, geography, and stage? 4. Can credentials, conflicts, references, and claims be checked?

5. Is the mechanism explained, or only the lifestyle result? 6. What is the full cost in money, time, upsells, data, and dependence? 7. Which cheaper primary source or real-world experiment should come first?

· ASC pp. 41–48, 132–141 · TABLE pp. 72–81 · LG pp. 89–115 · GE Field Manual J. The months are a sequence, not a credential or guarantee.

Formula and definition reference

A formula is a compressed relationship. Check the period, units, definitions, and assumptions before trusting the result.

Economic and decision formulas

MeasureDefinitionDecision caution
Opportunity costValue of the best forgone alternativeInclude time, learning, control, and downside; do not force them into false rupee precision
Expected valueΣ(probability × outcome)Scenario inputs are judgments, not facts; survival constraints can override a positive average
Revenueprice × quantityRevenue does not reveal contribution, collections, refunds, or capacity
Contribution per unitprice − variable cost per unit fixed cost ÷ contribution perDefine the unit and include payment, service, refund, and channel costs that vary with it ca
Break-even unitsunit [(Q2−Q1)/((Q1+Q2)/2)] ÷Step-fixed cost, mix, bad debt, and pacity can make the simple answer incomplete re
Midpoint price elasticity[(P2−P1)/((P1+P2)/2)]Use controlled segment tests where sponsible; compare gross profit and customer quality too
Exact real rate(1 + nominal rate) ÷ (1 + inflation) − 1Inflation relevant to the goal may differ from a broad index
GDP identityC + I + G + NXAn accounting structure, not a business forecast

Personal money and time value

MeasureDefinitionDecision caution
Net worthassets − liabilities take-home inflows − all cashUse conservative, realizable values and separate liquid from illiquid assets
Monthly free cashoutflowsInclude irregular obligations on a monthly equivalent or schedule
Liquid runwayunrestricted liquid reserve ÷ essential monthly outflowA larger number is not automatically better; choose the buffer from fragility and obligations
MeasureDefinitionDecision caution
Future valuePV × (1+r)^nThe return is a scenario, not a promise; use the same compounding period throughout
Present valueFV ÷ (1+r)^nThe discount rate must reflect timing and risk; small changes can alter long- duration values materially
EMIP × r × (1+r)^n ÷ ((1+r)^n − 1)r is the periodic reducing-balance rate; include fees, insurance, and prepayment terms separately
Required corpus scenarioannual after-tax spending ÷ chosen sustainable withdrawal horizon, tax, fees, inflation, and rateDo not use a universal rate; sequence, flexibility matter

Business model and sales

MeasureDefinitionDecision caution
Gross margin(revenue − direct cost) ÷ revenueClassification and product mix affect comparison
CACattributable acquisition spend ÷ new customersCalculate by cohort/channel; attribution and sales-cycle lag matter
Gross profit per customerrevenue per customer × gross marginUse collected/recognized revenue consistently and include service burden
LTV scenariorevenue per period × gross margin × expected lifetimeImmature retention cohorts can make lifetime an optimistic guess
CAC paybackCAC ÷ monthly gross profit per customerLong payback can exhaust cash even when LTV looks attractive
Churncustomers lost ÷ customers at startDefine voluntary/involuntary and logo/ revenue churn consistently
Sales velocityopportunities × average deal value × win rate ÷ cycle lengthAll terms must use the same period and evidenced stages
Win ratewon ÷ decided opportunitiesReport no-decisions separately; define “decided” consistently
No-decision rateno-decisions ÷ total closed outcomesKeep no-decisions visible instead of quietly treating them as active pipeline

Three statements and working capital

MeasureDefinitionDecision caution
Accounting identityassets = liabilities + equityBook value is not necessarily market or liquidation value
MeasureDefinitionDecision caution
Gross profitrevenue − cost of revenueRevenue recognition and cost classification require accounting judgment
Operating incomegross profit − operating expensesRepeated “one-time” items and capitalization policies need review
Closing retained earningsopening retained earnings + net income − distributions ± prior-period or statement note other permitted adjustmentsEvery adjustment needs a cited
Ending cashopening cash + CFO + CFI + CFFRestricted cash, classification, and timing still matter
Free cash flowcash from operations − capital expenditureMaintenance versus growth CapEx, supplier finance, capitalization, and working-capital timing matter
Working capitalcurrent assets − current liabilitiesNegative working capital can signal strength or distress depending on the cash cycle
DSOaverage trade receivables ÷ credit sales × days in periodIf credit-sales data are unavailable, label and keep any stated approximation consistent
Inventory daysaverage inventory ÷ cost of sales × daysObsolescence and mix can be hidden by the average
DPOaverage trade payables ÷ relevant credit purchases × days in periodIf purchases are unavailable, disclose the consistent cost-base approximation; stretching suppliers can damage resilience
Cash-conversion cycleinventory days + DSO − DPOCompare with the same model over time, not an unrelated industry

Capital, ownership, and returns

MeasureDefinitionDecision caution
Post-money valuationpre-money valuation + new investmentHeadline valuation does not describe preferences, control, option-pool effects, or future dilution
New investor ownershipinvestment ÷ post-money valuationModel on a fully diluted basis and read the actual documents
Existing holder after roundexisting percentage × (1 − new investor percentage)Only valid absent simultaneous pool top-ups or other issuances
DSCRcash available for debt service ÷ scheduled debt serviceDefine numerator with lender/accountant; stress cash timing and covenant terms
Net debtinterest-bearing debt − unrestricted cashNot all cash is excess or available; leases and guarantees may matter
MeasureDefinitionDecision caution
ROICafter-tax operating profit ÷ average operating invested capitalAdjust excess cash, non-operating assets, acquisitions, leases, and accounting policy carefully
Enterprise valueequity value + debt − cashSimplification; preferred claims, minorter ities, leases, and other items may mat
Bond valuepresent value of coupons + present value of principalCoupon rate is not yield; credit, liquidity, optionality, and reinvestment affect value

RED LINE No ratio has a universal “good” value. Compare a consistent definition with the same business over time, a relevant plan, and genuinely comparable peers. Escalate unexplained changes.

· EF pp. 9–19, 26–27, 50–59, 69–82, 86–109 · FS pp. 8–27, 52–55 · RM pp. 22–31, 61–100, 168–171 · SALES pp. 31–36. Corrections and assumptions follow the consolidated corpus audit.