Success
shouldn’t feel like a never-ending climb.
You’ve built something incredible, yet the demands of your business keep eating up all your time.
Instead of feeling free, you’re consumed by responsibility.
Maybe worst of all, the joy you once had for your business is fading.
You’re in the Middle Zone—where sustaining what you’ve built takes more effort than ever, and scaling to the next level feels frustratingly elusive.
Your time isn’t your own
constant interruptions, feeling guilty about unplugging, being a bottleneck.
Your team relies on you for too much
decisions, approvals, and problem-solving still land on your plate, keeping you stuck in the weeds instead of leading at a higher level.
You’re constantly torn between business and life
every step forward demands more of you, not less, and the freedom you envisioned keeps getting pushed farther into the future.
You may have tried time management tools, delegation, or even stepping back—but nothing seems to stick.
The business you’ve built to give you freedom has become the thing keeping you stuck.
And the worst part? You don’t see a way out that doesn’t risk everything you’ve worked so hard to create.
The Key to More Freedom Isn’t More Grind—It’s Intentional Leadership.
The Impossible Freedom Equation is the missing link between the success you’ve built and the freedom you crave.
It’s the proven path out of the Middle Zone—designed to free your time, align your team, and ensure your business thrives without consuming you.
You’ll step away without worry, your team will make good decisions without you, and your success will no longer depend on your constant presence.
At its core, it’s about mastering the two biggest factors that shape your success—your time and your team—these are the leadership forces that power the Impossible Freedom Equation—creating balance, momentum, and lasting success.
For true Impossible Freedom, Time & Team must work in harmony. But this doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intentional leadership and key amplifiers: Wild Wisdom, Brave Decisions, and Courageous Conversations.
Wild Wisdom → The Foundation of Self-Trust
Clarity on what truly matters so you can align your time and team accordingly.
If you don’t trust yourself, you’ll hesitate to delegate.
If you lack clarity, you’ll waste time on the wrong things.
When you listen to Wild Wisdom, you stop second-guessing and start leading with conviction.
Brave Decisions → The Lever That Creates Unstoppable Momentum
Making bold, aligned choices so time and team work in your favor—not against you.
If you’re holding on to too much, your time suffers.
If you’re not leading your team boldly, they will keep relying on you instead of stepping up.
Brave Decisions ensure you shift your leadership approach in ways that create freedom and avoid decision fatigue and overthinking.
Courageous Conversations → The Glue That Holds It All Together
Clear, direct, and values-driven communication that strengthens your team and protects your time.
Without Courageous Conversations, you’ll keep absorbing your team’s challenges instead of guiding them to solve problems on their own.
If you’re not setting clear expectations, your time will always be at risk.
Mastering these conversations ensures your team steps up so your time stays yours while your business grows.
When you lead yourself, your time, and your team through this equation, your business thrives without running you into the ground.
Without Time Mastery, you stay stuck in the weeds.
Without a United Team, you’re carrying more than you should.
When they work together—That’s where freedom begins.
Each element of the equation works together to transform how you lead—yourself, your time and your team—so your business thrives without consuming you. When you apply it, scaling becomes simpler, success becomes more fulfilling, and freedom finally becomes your reality.
The Impossible Freedom Equation is how we’ve distilled our combined 60+ years of combined business and leadership experience running $10MM+ corporate portfolios, leading large teams, and building our company into an approach that teaches you how to:
Reclaim your calendar, free up your time, and confidently step away to unplug and recharge without guilt.
Confidently build and lead a united team who are engaged in your vision and drive your vision forward.
Hit new levels of sales, revenue and results with 10 times more ease than it took to get you here.
When we work with you, we’ll apply this framework in a customized way that is specific to your business and life.
We’ll be right beside you, guiding you to boldly take back your time for what matters most—while reaching the next-level business milestones that fire you up.
Time
is the most valuable currency any of us will ever have.
Today, we stay in integrity with our values by spending time in nature, actively working on our relationship with each other, staying present with and for our teenage son, and delivering impeccable service to our clients.
But our life didn’t always look like this.
We were each raised by parents who modelled and praised “hard work.” Each with their own business, our fathers were frequently away, working, entertaining clients, or driving long hours to and from work.
We began to believe that working really hard to be successful meant sacrificing time with family and one’s own health...
Nadine’s Story:
I was at the peak of my career in corporate communications, leading a team of 100+ and earning international recognition—yet I barely saw my two-year-old son for more than 30 minutes a day. Sitting by the Bow River, exhausted and questioning everything, I asked myself, “Why am I doing this? What is all this for?”
Weeks later, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Just 21 days after his diagnosis, he was gone. As he took his last breath, I felt what I can only describe as a rush of energy—like he was passing on his final life lesson to me. In that instant, I made a promise: I wouldn’t waste another moment on things that didn’t truly matter.
I would put my well-being, my family, and my life purpose first.
That promise changed everything. It became the origin story of Ascend Leadership Co.—helping powerhouse leaders like you create the freedom you once thought was impossible.
Derek’s Story:
Becoming a father changed everything for me. Holding my son for the first time, I realized that the current moment was all that mattered. The way I led—both in business and in life—would shape the kind of person he would become.
Then, I lost both of my parents in the span of seven months. My dad, always working, quite literally died working at his business. My mom, always putting others first, ignored her own health until it was too late.
I saw the cost of sacrificing too much for success. And I made a decision: I would lead differently.
I committed to simplifying how businesses and teams operate—so leaders don’t have to choose between success and the life they actually want to live. That commitment became a driving force behind Ascend Leadership Co.
Nadine and I know firsthand that the success you’ve built doesn’t have to come at the cost of your time, energy, and well-being. We’ve walked this path, and now, we help powerhouse leaders like you do the same.
Impossible Freedom
isn’t a dream—it’s a decision.
For too long, success has come at the cost of your time, energy, and freedom. But it doesn’t have to.
The Impossible Freedom Equation shifts how you lead—so you can drive business growth and create a fulfilling life at the same time.
This isn’t about doing more or working harder—it’s about leading differently.
: : Your time is yours again.
Instead of being trapped in back-to-back meetings, you’re finally in control of your schedule.
: : Your team is engaged and optimized.
They don’t just wait for your direction—they lead alongside you.
: : You make more money with ease, not exhaustion.
Your business runs at a high level—without running you into the ground.
The truth? The path to the summit of Impossible Freedom has been right in front of you this whole time, you just can’t see it—yet.
Clarity starts here.
Nadine Nicholson | TIME Architect
Expert in Time Mastery, high-stakes decision-making, and executive leadership—helping powerhouse leaders reclaim their time and expand their impact.
Former corporate executive leading teams of 100+, now a sought-after, trusted advisor to top entrepreneurs and business leaders across North America.
Master Certified Coach, Harvard Business School alum, and 100 Women to KNOW in America winner—recognized for her work in transforming how high-achievers lead, scale, and create freedom.
Derek Nicholson | TEAM Architect
Specializes in simplifying complex operations, optimizing team performance, and strengthening sales strategy to drive sustainable business growth.
Internationally trained team leadership and sales coach with deep expertise in change management, facilitation, and revenue-generating team structures.
The stabilizing force behind many of Ascend’s clients—bringing calm, clarity, and tactical solutions to leadership, team dynamics, and high-impact sales decisions and contract negotiations.