Climbing Without a Ladder Day · Pilot Spring 2027

The Experience.

A full-day program for high school students, built on the four-force framework from Joe T. Holt's book. Designed for students building careers without inherited leverage.

The four forces
01
Legacy
What stays when you stop.
02
Intention
Why you're moving in the first place.
03
Vision
What you see that others don't yet.
04
Execution
The one that doesn't care how you feel.
Two formats
Full Day

The flagship

7.5 HOURS · 150–300 STUDENTS

Four stations, lunch with mentors, business simulation, capstone, closing ceremony. The complete experience.

Half Day

The on-ramp

3.5 HOURS · 60–120 STUDENTS

Two force stations plus a compressed business challenge and capstone. The right first hosting for a new school partner.

A day at a glance

What a full day looks like.

Each student rotates through the four force stations, sits with mentors over lunch, works through a team-based business simulation, and leaves with a written commitment.

8:00–8:30 AM
Arrival & opening. Breakfast, name tags, team assignments.
8:30 AM–12:15 PM
The four force stations. Students rotate through Legacy, Intention, Vision, and Execution.
12:15–1:15 PM
Mentor lunch. Structured tables. Real adults, real conversations.
1:15–2:45 PM
The business simulation. Teams work through five chapter-driven rounds.
2:45–3:30 PM
Capstone & closing. Written commitments, sponsor recognition, one student per table reads aloud.
Two $1,000 scholarships
Music

The Ms. Forrest Music Scholarship

For a graduating high school student pursuing music — an instrument, private lessons, or a music education. Named for the orchestra teacher whose relentless "again" taught Joe how skill actually gets built.

Vision

The Ellen W. Holt Scholarship

For a student whose family income is below $75,000, no GPA requirement, pursuing any path they can articulate — trade school, certification, college, business. Named for Joe's grandmother.

Bring the program
to your school
or sponsor a day.

Whether you're a principal exploring a program day, a sponsor considering a funded event, or an organization interested in a partnership — start here.