Less hype.
More working
systems.
I build the things I teach — for small businesses that need leverage now, and for the towns and chambers the consultants ignore.
Proof it works.
Shade Haven: a new market system in 35 days
The problem: Wisconsin manufacturer needed to enter the sports stadium vertical. New buyer, new language, zero playbook.
What I built: The GTM spine — market research, buyer personas, positioning, landing pages, lead database, CRM automation, and outreach sequences.
The result: A complete go-to-market system, live and generating pipeline. Not a recommendation. Not a deck. Infrastructure.
I build the same systems I teach. I find overlooked information and turn it into something useful — apps, newsletters, dashboards, workflows. Order from chaos, for small businesses, towns, chambers, and the operators holding things together.
View Full Case Study →"Working with Rise Above Partners is a breath of fresh air. Most agencies offer a menu of services. Michael came in, evaluated our needs, and worked to deliver a proposal that hit the mark."
— Shade Haven
Audit. Build. Teach.
Audit
I look at your work and find what is eating your week. The point is not more software; it is finding the repeated decisions, handoffs, and blind spots that drain time.
Build
We make one workflow together. End-to-end, working, and yours. AI helps where it multiplies output; judgment stays where it matters.
Teach
I show you how to repeat it, so you do not need me forever. You leave with a system you understand, not a dependency you have to keep renting.
Is this for you?
Good fit
- You own or run a small business and your week is full of repeated manual work
- You need practical AI workflows, not a keynote about the future
- You want working systems you can understand and keep using
- You value a builder/operator over a big consulting team
Not the right fit
- You want a generic AI transformation deck
- You need a full agency team or ongoing managed service
- You are looking for the cheapest template or prompt pack
Things I've built.
Town Newsletter
Meeting packets turned into resident-friendly updates for towns and local governments.
See the system → Local DiscoverySwitchboard
Bulletin boards turned into searchable visibility for chambers, Main Streets, and members.
Visit Switchboard → Tourism InfrastructureWayPoints
Local places turned into guided trails with prizes, sponsors, and foot traffic.
Visit WayPoints → Funding IntelligenceGrant Intelligence
Scattered grant sources turned into a matched opportunity pipeline for nonprofits and municipalities.
See grants work →20 years across Trek, QBP, Specialized, Bird, Ride with GPS, and founder-led regional businesses. L3 MindStudio certified. Still building the systems myself.
"Michael is smart, innovative and relentless. He works from first principles to get to the root of an opportunity, and builds something that will actually capitalize on it."
— Jarrod Beglinger, Creative DirectorPick the door that fits your week.
Start with the free library, or book one focused strategy session and we will turn one messy workflow into a working system.
Library is free. Strategy plans are $350/session with a 48-hour written recap. Money-back guarantee if we don't unlock value together (minus Stripe fees). No retainer, no upsell.