From $500K Lost to Growth with Confidence
Will Johnson - Engineering Firm Owner, McDonough, GA - 25 years in business
The Challenge
For 25 years, Will Johnson's engineering firm struggled to find the right outside expertise. Like many business owners, he turned to consultants hoping they would bring fresh insight and execution. Instead, the experience left him frustrated and financially drained. Over $500,000 was lost on consultants who never delivered.
$500,000+ lost on consultants who never delivered results
Referral-based 'experts' lacking industry-specific expertise
Coaches who offered advice but no real execution
Consultants who prolonged projects, adding costs and stress without producing results
Will summed it up as "playing in traffic" and getting hit by a bus. His story is far from unique. Every year, businesses collectively waste billions on misaligned consulting engagements that stall growth and erode trust. The traditional consulting model had failed him repeatedly, leaving his engineering firm without the specialized guidance it desperately needed to scale and compete effectively in an increasingly complex market.
The Sobo Solution: Data-Driven Transformation
Will turned to Sobo, a platform designed to eliminate costly guesswork decisions. Instead of relying on luck and referrals, Sobo applies a structured, data-driven model to match owners with exactly the expertise they need. This combination gave Will something he had never experienced before: confidence that every consulting dollar was tied to clear outcomes.
AI-Powered Diagnostics
Identify true underlying business challenges before starting any engagement
Verified, Vetted Consultants
Access to the top 1% of fractional experts across industries with proven track records
Engagement Assurance
Clear deliverables, timelines, and accountability to prevent scope creep
Dedicated Engagement Manager
Ensures business owner and consultant stay aligned from start to finish
The Results
With Sobo, Will transformed decades of wasted spend into a new era of growth. Financial efficiency replaced costly mistakes, with impact measured in weeks rather than years.
| Metric | Before Sobo | After Sobo | ROI / Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consulting Spend | $500K+ lost on bad consultants | $0 wasted on misaligned experts | 100% ROI-focused engagements |
| Expert Quality | Referral-based, unvetted | Top 1% verified experts | Industry-specific expertise |
| Accountability | No clear deliverables | Engagement Assurance model | Measurable outcomes guaranteed |
| Engagement Management | Self-managed, high-risk | Dedicated Engagement Manager | Aligned from start to finish |
Will's transformation from skeptical business owner to confident partner demonstrates the power of a data-driven, outcome-focused consulting model. By combining AI diagnostics with verified expertise and engagement assurance, Sobo delivered what traditional consulting couldn't: predictable results, transparent processes, and measurable ROI.
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