Everything you need to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Solid white background

What is Ascend to Impossible Freedom?

Ascend to Impossible Freedom is a high-touch, executive leadership coaching designed for $1MM+ founders and CEOs who want to drive business growth while freeing up time, energy, and personal freedom. Using the Impossible Freedom Equation, we help leaders reclaim their time, build a high-performing leadership team, and make bold, strategic decisions—without sacrificing success or quality of life.

  • Most programs focus on productivity hacks, delegation strategies, or generic leadership advice. Ascend to Freedom goes deeper—it restructures how you lead so you can create a self-sustaining business that thrives without requiring all of your time. You’ll work directly with Nadine & Derek Nicholson, leveraging their expertise in Time Mastery, Leadership Coaching, and Team Architecture to make real, lasting change.

    • Direct, 1:1 coaching with Nadine & Derek

    • Leadership assessment & onboarding to pinpoint gaps in time, team, and decision-making

    • Custom strategy & implementation plan based on the Impossible Freedom Equation

    • Rapid-response leadership support because high-stakes decisions don’t wait. 

    • Ongoing support & accountability to ensure lasting transformation

  • Ascend to Freedom is typically 12 months because real transformation doesn’t happen overnight. However, most clients start seeing significant shifts in their time, leadership, and business results within the first 30-60 days.

  • This isn’t about adding more to your plate—it’s about freeing up time. Most clients gain back 10-20+ hours per week as they shift how they lead. The coaching and strategy sessions are designed to fit seamlessly into your schedule while maximizing impact with minimal time investment.

FIT & READINESS

Who is this program for?

Ascend to Freedom is for high-achieving founders, and CEOs running $1MM+ companies who are:

✔️ Trapped in the Middle Zone—overworked, stretched thin, or feeling stuck despite their success
✔️ Ready to scale without burnout—they want their business to thrive while reclaiming their time and energy
✔️ Committed to making bold leadership shifts—they don’t just want small tweaks; they’re ready for real transformation

  • Our clients come from a range of industries, including consulting, professional services, marketing agencies, healthcare, finance, and high-growth startups. The common thread? They’re already successful but want more time, freedom, and ease—without sacrificing business results.

  • Every business is unique, which is why Ascend to Freedom isn’t a one-size-fits-all program. Everything is customized based on your specific business model, team structure, and leadership style.

  • That’s exactly why Ascend to Freedom exists. Having a team isn’t the same as leading a team that fully owns their roles. We help you build a leadership structure where your team operates independently—so the business runs without relying on you for every decision.

ENROLLMENT & INVESTMENT

How do I join Ascend to Impossible Freedom?

The first step is to apply for a complimentary Rise Up Session where we’ll assess your current challenges, goals, and whether this program is the right fit for you. If it’s aligned, we’ll walk you through the steps to get started.

  • Yes, we offer flexible payment options to make investing in your leadership accessible and sustainable.

  • No—this program is for serious, committed leaders. We stand by our work and only invite clients who are truly ready to create change. That said, our clients see immediate shifts and typically gain far more value than their investment.

What You Might Be Thinking Right Now…

  • The real cost isn’t the investment—it’s staying stuck. How much time, energy, and revenue are lost by staying in the Middle Zone? Most clients find that reclaiming even 5-10 hours per week and making more decisive, high-impact moves quickly outweighs the cost of coaching. If financial growth and freedom are your priorities, this investment pays off in more ways than one.

  • That’s exactly why you need this. If you don’t have time to fix the problem, the problem owns you. Ascend to Freedom helps you immediately reclaim time by shifting how you lead—not by adding more to your plate. Clients free up 10-20+ hours per week while growing their business with less stress and more control.

  • You won’t. This isn’t about doing more—it’s about leading differently. We eliminate the time and energy leaks keeping you overloaded and build the systems, team structure, and decision-making process that lighten your load instead of adding to it.

  • What specifically do you need to think about? Freedom doesn’t come from waiting—it comes from deciding. If what you’ve been doing isn’t working, the real question is: How long are you willing to stay stuck? The leaders who create Impossible Freedom make bold, aligned decisions—not just for their business, but for themselves.

  • Cash flow problems are often symptoms of time and team gaps. If you’re stuck in the Middle Zone, inefficiencies are draining revenue and opportunities. Clients who implement the Impossible Freedom Equation often experience significant financial growth without working more hours. This isn’t just about freeing up time—it’s about making smarter, more strategic decisions that lead to financial expansion.

  • You’ve probably tried strategy tweaks, hiring help, productivity hacks, or delegation tips. What you haven’t tried is rewiring how you lead. The Impossible Freedom Equation isn’t a surface-level fix—it’s a complete shift in how you manage time, empower your team, and make decisions. This is how powerhouse leaders break the cycle for good.

  • Your business is a reflection of how well you lead. If you’re overworked, overwhelmed, or hesitant to make changes, that impacts your team, your clients, and your loved ones. Investing in your leadership isn’t selfish—it’s the most responsible move you can make. You are the most important asset in your business. When you step into greater clarity, confidence, and control, everyone benefits. So this is an investment in the key revenue generating asset of your company.

  • If you're waiting for the "right time," it will never come. If you’re already stretched thin, that’s exactly why this work is urgent. Ascend to Freedom doesn’t add more to your plate—it clears space. The longer you wait, the more time, energy, and freedom you lose. If nothing changes, nothing changes. Ask yourself: Will things improve if you keep doing what you’re doing? If not, the time to lead differently is now.

Man and woman smiling, sitting on stacked logs in a forest

We’re Nadine & Derek Nicholson, founders of Ascend Leadership Co. We guide powerhouse $1MM+ founders and CEOs out of the Middle Zone of time stress, guilt, and overworking—while climbing to never-before-seen levels of success.

Our clients refuse to settle for business success at the cost of their personal freedom—and are ready to embrace a new way of leading themselves, their time, and their team. NOW, not someday. 

Our signature Impossible Freedom Equation is a proven path to live your best life and drive next-level business growth. No trade-offs required.

The sooner you identify your biggest leadership gaps, the faster you step into a business that fuels your freedom—not one that drains it. In less than 5 minutes, the Impossible Freedom Quiz will reveal your best next step.