Terms & Conditions

01 Services

Phase One is a strategic engagement in which the Service Provider reviews a client's existing experience, materials, and expertise and produces the Authority Blueprint — a strategic roadmap covering positioning, audience identification, framework development, and a recommended path for developing the client's intellectual property into a book, platform, or advisory asset.

Phase One is a standalone strategic audit. Continuing into further engagement — including manuscript development, platform build, or advisory work — is optional and would be governed by a separate, subsequent agreement.

02 Application & Acceptance

Submitting an application through this site does not guarantee acceptance into Phase One. Applications are reviewed individually for strategic fit. If accepted, a separate services agreement will be issued outlining the specific scope, fee, timeline, and terms of the engagement.

03 Fees & Payment

Phase One is offered at a fixed engagement fee, currently $2,500, as stated on this website. Payment terms will be confirmed in the individual services agreement issued upon acceptance. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due upon invoice receipt and prior to the commencement of Services.

04 Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all work product created for a client under Phase One — including the Authority Blueprint and any associated materials — is owned by the client upon full payment for Services rendered.

This website, its content, design, and all associated materials not created specifically for a client engagement — including but not limited to copy, graphics, and the Authority Architecture methodology itself — remain the property of G. Mick Smith, PhD and may not be reproduced without permission.

05 Confidentiality

Any non-public, proprietary, or sensitive information shared during an application or engagement is treated as confidential and used solely for the purpose of evaluating fit and, where applicable, performing Services.

06 No Guarantee of Outcomes

Phase One is a strategic advisory engagement. While the Service Provider brings extensive experience to the process, no specific business, financial, or publishing outcome is guaranteed as a result of Phase One or any subsequent engagement.

07 Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither party shall be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use of this website or any engagement with the Service Provider.

08 Independent Contractor

The Service Provider operates as an independent contractor. Nothing on this website or in any engagement creates an employment, partnership, or agency relationship between the Service Provider and any client or site visitor.

09 Governing Law

These Terms & Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

10 Changes to These Terms

These Terms & Conditions may be updated from time to time. Continued use of this website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.