8-Week Consulting Framework · 2026
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Stop & Think 2.0

A structured 8-week process to diagnose the real problem, design the right solution, and deliver measurable change.

Stop (Diagnose) + Think (Design) + Act (Deliver) = Real Strategic Change
A message from the creator
You are busy operating.
You are not building strategy.
I've walked into hundreds of boardrooms across Latin America. Family businesses, scale-ups, mid-size firms — all of them deeply operational. Brilliant leaders running from meeting to meeting, with no time to lift their heads and ask the question that actually matters.

The hard truth is that most consulting engagements fail not because of bad analysis — but because no one forced the organization to stop, confront the real problem, and make a genuine commitment to change.

Stop & Think 2.0 is the framework I use in every engagement. 8 structured weeks. Three phases. One non-negotiable commitment gate before moving from thinking to acting.
"Strategy is not a deliverable. It is a decision. And decisions require courage — not just analysis."
F
Felipe Afanador Cortés
Founder & Principal Consultant · AFCO Consulting & Associates
Felipe Afanador Cortés · Why I built Stop & Think 2.0 · 30 sec

See the 8-week journey

Explore the complete engagement flow — click any week to see the key questions, activities, and deliverables for that phase.

View Interactive Journey Map →
Wk 1 · Stop & Listen Wk 2 · Map the Terrain Wk 3 · Define the Bet Wk 4 · Design the Solution Wk 5 · Test Assumptions Wk 6 · Build the Plan Wk 7 · Align & Commit Wk 8 · Launch & Learn
Choose your format
Three ways to use the canvas
Reference Edition
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Canvas with Questions
Full prompts for every week
  • All 8 weeks with strategic questions
  • Deliverable defined for each week
  • Phase gates and quality tests
  • Best for: consultant preparation
Open Reference Canvas →
Blank Edition
✏️
Canvas to Print
Clean space for workshops
  • 8 weeks with titles and questions only
  • Writing lines in every section
  • Client / dates meta row
  • Best for: client workshops
Open Blank Canvas →
Interactive Edition
💡
Canvas to Fill Online
Type, save and export
  • Type directly in every week block
  • Auto-saves to your browser
  • Export and reload as JSON
  • Best for: remote engagements
Open Interactive Canvas →
The Framework
8 weeks. 3 phases. 1 commitment gate.
Week 1 · Stop
Stop & Listen
What is the real problem — not the symptom?
Week 2 · Stop
Map the Terrain
Where are you competing and what does the landscape look like?
Week 3 · Think
Define the Bet
What is your strategic intent and what are you willing to prioritize?
Week 4 · Think
Design the Solution
What is the framework and approach to solve it?
Week 5 · Think
Test Assumptions
What are you assuming — and how do you validate it?
Week 6 · Act
Build the Plan
What is the implementation roadmap and who owns what?
Week 7 · Act
Align & Commit
Who needs to be aligned — and how do you get real commitment?
Week 8 · Act
Launch & Learn
What does the first sprint look like — and how do you measure progress?
How to use it
Three phases. One gate.
1
Stop — Diagnose
Weeks 1–2. Stop operating and start observing. Use the reference canvas to diagnose the real problem — not the symptom. Map the terrain honestly.
2
Think — Design
Weeks 3–5. Define the bet, design the solution, test your assumptions before committing. Pass the commitment gate before moving to execution.
3
Act — Deliver
Weeks 6–8. Build a real plan, align the people who matter, and launch the first sprint. Measure relentlessly. Learn faster than you fail.

About AFCO Consulting

We help mid-size organizations in Latin America build competitive advantage by transforming the way they think, decide, and grow. Stop & Think 2.0 is our core consulting framework — free to use for non-commercial purposes.

www.afcoconsulting.com  ·  felipe@afcoconsulting.com

Reference Canvas Blank Canvas Interactive Canvas Journey Map Contact