Your business isn't broken, it's just tired.
Strategically necessary. Strangely thorough.
You built something real. Somewhere along the way, the systems underneath it got messy, and you're the one holding it together. I come in, find or confirm what's actually broken, and fix it, without dismantling everything you've already built.
What I Do
Every business hits a point where the day-to-day outgrows the systems holding it up. I help you find the gap and close it, whether that means a clear-eyed look at what's broken, documented processes your team can actually rely on, or a full hands-on rebuild.
The Tell-Tale
A written report on what's working, what's broken, and where the real gaps are.
The Codex
Undocumented processes are fragile. I turn what you already do into clear, trainable systems your team can lean on.
A Strangely Thorough Package
The full lift. I embed in your business, do the hands-on work myself, and leave you with trained systems that don't need me anymore.
How It Works
Book a Free Call
No pitch, no obligation. We talk through what's actually going on in your business and figure out if working together makes sense.
Get a Clear Diagnosis
Whether it's a full Tell-Tale or just figuring out which service fits, you get an honest, outside read on what's actually broken, not a guess.
I Do the Hands-On Work
I build the systems, train your team, and handle the heavy lift myself. When I leave, you've got a self-sufficient team, not a dependency on me.
[ Client logos and testimonials — coming soon ]
You built this business. Let's make sure it runs the way you meant it to.
Not sure which service fits? Let's talk it through.
About Me
Strategically necessary. Strangely thorough.
Bio
I'm Shayne, founder of Strangely Strategic. I've worked across an unusually wide range of industries, shipping, biotech labs, live theatre, customer service, and I currently work as an Operations Manager handling hiring, staff management, client communications, and billing day to day. That range taught me what it actually feels like to run the chaos, not just advise on it from the outside.
I've seen it from the ground up: when management is detached or disorganized, the workforce feels it first, and so do your clients. A background in science and humanities, plus certificates in bio manufacturing and cybersecurity, shows up in how I work, methodically, curiously, and without assuming there's only one right way to fix something.
Strangely Strategic exists because most small businesses don't need a new strategy. They need someone to come in, see what's actually breaking, and fix it, without dismantling everything you've already built. I'm not here to change your identity, I'm here to brush away the administrative dust so your business can genuinely shine.
I don't hand you a report and walk away. I embed in your business the way a new hire would, do the heavy lifting myself, and leave you with trained systems and a team that doesn't need me anymore. That's the whole point.
How I Work With You
I don't come in with a template. Every business I work with keeps its own culture, its own way of doing things, I'm not here to replace that.
What I do is get close to the actual day-to-day, the way a new hire would, so I can see exactly where the friction lives. Then I build the systems, documentation, and training that hold it together, and I do the hands-on work myself instead of handing you a to-do list.
When I leave, your team should be more capable than when I arrived, not more dependent on me.
You built this business. Let's make sure it runs the way you meant it to.
Not sure which service fits? Let's talk it through.
Services
Every business is different, small businesses carry the culture and vibe that's deeply personal to the people who built them. You don't need a whole new strategy. What you need is someone to step in, find what's actually broken, and fix it, without dismantling what you've already built. Here's how I work with you.
The Tell-Tale
Before anything gets fixed, it needs to be understood. I start with a conversation to hear your perspective, then spend time on-site observing how your business actually runs day to day. You get a written report on what's working, what's broken, and where the real gaps are.
- Initial call with owner or manager
- On-site visits to observe operations firsthand
- Written report with clear findings
- Timeline: 1–4 weeks depending on business size
The Codex
Undocumented processes are fragile, susceptible to miscommunication and differences in understanding. If the one person who knows how something works leaves, the knowledge leaves with them. I turn your existing processes into clear, visual, trainable systems your whole team can use.
- Written documentation plus visuals and flowcharts
- Team training session on how to use them
- Available individually or in bundles
The Undertaking
You already know what's broken. What you don't have is the time, the in-house skill, or the bandwidth to actually fix it. This isn't about diagnosing or documenting, it's about someone stepping in and doing the work itself.
- Scoped to a specific, already-identified problem
- Hands-on execution, done personally, not handed back as a to-do list
- Can incorporate an existing informal diagnosis or SOP you already have
- Timeline scoped to the specific fix
A Strangely Thorough Package
Flagship · "The Full Exorcism"
Sometimes you just need more support. I come in, learn your business the way a new hire would, and embed in your day-to-day admin and management processes, smoothing out the contradictions and locking in the foundations that have become muddy.
- Includes The Tell-Tale
- 30 SOPs built and documented
- On-site training and embedded process work
- Access to The Keeper and Hail Mary
Your Startup's Starter Package
For early-revenue startups making their first hires, before the chaos sets in. I work with you to build the operational foundation your business needs before you actually need it: hiring processes, client systems, and documentation habits established from day one.
- 10–15 foundational SOPs covering core processes
- Setup guidance for foundational tools
- On-site or remote embedded work building systems directly
- Optional add-on: HR compliance basics for first-time hiring
The Keeper
Once your systems are built, they need to stay maintained. I'm around to provide support while you're still getting your bearings with the revamped processes, a standing relationship with regular check-ins.
- Fully remote
- Monthly touchpoint plus on-call support between check-ins
- Available after The Tell-Tale, The Codex, or A Strangely Thorough Package
- Discounted on-site visit rate
Hail Mary
Sometimes things break fast: a wave of sudden turnover, a key person leaving with no warning. Because I already know your business, I can move fast, behind the scenes, while you focus on keeping your day running smoothly.
- Available exclusively to A Strangely Thorough Package clients
- Fixed fee per engagement, agreed upfront
- Hands-on hiring, training, and admin coverage during the crisis
Not sure which service fits your business?
Book a Free CallAdd-Ons
Available alongside any service purchased.
HR Compliance Review
A first-pass review of your HR practices, with a written report and help implementing basic fixes.
GDPR Review
A first-pass review of your data handling practices, with a written report and help implementing basic fixes.
IT & Basic Security Check
A security review backed by hands-on cybersecurity training, with fixes to passwords, access controls, and backups.
Pricing depends on your business size and which service fits your situation. All services require a non-refundable deposit to book, and payment plans are available for larger engagements. Book a free call or request a quote to get real numbers.
Let's Talk
Not sure which service fits, or just want to ask a few questions first? Book a free call below, no pressure, no obligation.
Prefer Email?
If you'd rather write it out first, send a message and I'll get back to you.
Social Media
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have one after this? The free call covers it too.
Services
What services do you actually offer?+
I don't know which service I need. What now?+
Do you only work with certain types of businesses?+
Are you going to change how my business runs, or my vision for it?+
Process & Delivery
How does the work actually happen, remotely or in person?+
How long does a Tell-Tale Assessment take?+
How long does A Strangely Thorough Package take?+
What happens after the Tell-Tale Assessment?+
Do I need to sign a long-term contract?+
Pricing
How much does this cost?+
Do you offer payment plans?+
Is the free call actually free, no strings attached?+
Trust & Background
What's your background?+
Is my business information kept confidential?+
Isn't a generalist worse than an industry specialist?+
Tools I Use
I don't recommend software I haven't actually used myself. This page is a running list of the tools that keep Strangely Strategic, and my clients' businesses, running smoothly.
Some of these links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. That never changes what I recommend, only tools I'd use anyway make this list.
Scheduling
How I manage every call, from free consultations to client check-ins. Simple, reliable, and integrates with everything.
Contracts & Signatures
UK-based, secure, and priced fairly for a small business, no per-user pricing required.
Finance
Cloud accounting that actually makes sense for a small business, invoicing, expenses, and reporting without needing an accounting degree to use it.
File Storage & Collaboration
Email, docs, and calendar in one place, the backbone of day-to-day admin.
Project & Task Management
Where I track engagements and deliverables across multiple clients at once.
Simple, visual project tracking, great for smaller engagements or client teams that are new to structured task management.
My personal task list, separate from client project tools, keeps the day-to-day from falling through the cracks.
For clients with more technical or engineering-adjacent teams, tools like Jira and Confluence structure documentation and workflows at scale.
Time Tracking & Team Management
Straightforward time tracking, useful for understanding where hours are actually going before building new systems.
Built for businesses with frontline or shift-based teams, scheduling, communication, and training in one app.
Another strong option for shift scheduling and team communication, particularly useful for businesses with hourly staff.
Design
For client-facing materials, social graphics, and anything that needs to look polished without hiring a designer for every small task.
AI & Automation
What I use for research, drafting, and thinking through complex operational problems.
Connects tools together so information doesn't have to be manually copied between systems, a genuine time-saver once your tools are actually documented.
Video & Communication
For quick training videos and walkthroughs, especially useful when building out SOPs that benefit from a visual explanation.
Links & Social
A simple way to host multiple links in one place, useful for social bios and quick access points.
Professional Services
A UK accountancy firm, human and judgment-free, especially suited to creative and independent business owners who find traditional accounting intimidating.
Security
For securing connections when working remotely or handling sensitive client data on the go.
A free tool for scanning suspicious files or links before opening them, useful when reviewing anything unfamiliar a client sends over.
Website & Domain Tools
What I use to diagnose DNS, MX, and email deliverability issues when something's not routing correctly. Not something every client needs, but invaluable when troubleshooting domain or email setup.
A note on this page: I'll keep adding to this as I find tools worth recommending. If you're a client and want to know what I use for something specific that isn't listed here, just ask.
Interactives
Three quick, honest ways to get a read on your business before we ever talk.
What Does Your Business Actually Need?
Eight quick questions. No email required to see your result. At the end, you'll get a clear read on where your business stands, and which service fits.
What Is Disorganization Actually Costing You?
Answer four quick questions. This isn't a guess, it's your own numbers, turned into a real annual cost.
Which Service Fits Your Budget and Needs?
Three quick questions. No pressure, just a clear answer on where to start.
What Does Your Business Actually Need?
Eight quick questions. No email required to see your result. At the end, you'll get a clear read on where your business stands, and which service fits.
What Is Disorganization Actually Costing You?
Answer four quick questions. This isn't a guess, it's your own numbers, turned into a real annual cost.
Which Service Fits Your Budget and Needs?
Three quick questions. No pressure, just a clear answer on where to start.