Three Degrees Consulting
The Smallest Shifts
The Biggest Results
Uncertainty ends here. We cut through complexity to provide the precise adjustments that propel your business forward.
About
Finding Clarity in Continuous Motion
Complex business challenges don't require complex solutions. They require clarity, commitment, and a personalized roadmap. Based in Brunswick County, NC, I founded Three Degrees Consulting after guiding organizations, large and small, through transformative shifts. My focus: strategic planning, leadership development, and an emphasis on fundamentals. The core challenge never changes, regardless of company size—maintaining focus and executing your plan when conditions shift.
In my book Prepare to Tack, I share that every business, like every vessel, must be ready to adjust its sails. Tacking isn't a retreat; it's a precise, necessary maneuver to harness the wind and keep you moving toward your goal.
I'm Brian O'Riordan, and my office is a sailboat named Samsara—a beautiful boat whose name reflects a key truth of business: everything is a continuous cycle. When I first arrived in Southport, I had an unexpected moment of clarity—I was living the story I'd written in Prepare to Tack. The marina, the challenges of business owners navigating seasonal tides and economic headwinds, the tight-knit community of entrepreneurs who understand that success here, requires both strategy and adaptability. I realized this wasn't just a beautiful place to drop anchor; this was where my work belonged. The fictional consultant in my book could have been sitting at any marina from the Cape Fear to the Grand Strand, because the challenges facing Coastal Carolina business leaders are the ones I understand intimately.
At Three Degrees Consulting, we believe the difference between drifting and thriving often comes down to the smallest adjustment—a shift of just three degrees can get you back on track or redirect your long term course entirely.
“Coming Home”
"As I write this, Samsara is still in Virginia, and my slip in Southport sits empty—waiting. That empty slip represents something every business owner understands: the gap between where you are and where you're meant to be. The journey from Virginia to Southport requires planning, preparation, and the willingness to navigate whatever conditions arise. That's exactly what I help businesses do—bridge the gap between current state and desired destination."
Why Coastal Carolina?
Understanding Your Waters
The Coastal Carolina market isn't like anywhere else. Your business navigates:
Seasonal swells: Tourism cycles that can make or break your year
Hurricane season: Literal and economic storms requiring preparation and resilience
Rapid growth: Coastal development bringing opportunity and competition
Tight-knit community: Where reputation and relationships drive business
I chose Southport because I understand these challenges. Whether you're in Southport, Oak Island, Wilmington, or The Grand Strand, you need a strategic partner who knows that "going national" isn't always the answer—sometimes the best strategy is becoming indispensable locally.
I work with a select number of Coastal Carolina businesses at a time, ensuring each partnership gets the dedicated attention it deserves.
My Approach: Personal, Practical, Local
When you work with Three Degrees Consulting, you get a partner and dedicated navigator.
Relatable: I speak the language of business ownership, not just theory. I understand the weight of three-degree decisions.
Relevant: No cookie-cutter solutions. I apply deep corporate expertise pragmatically to your specific needs in Coastal Carolina and beyond.
Dedicated: I'm committed to tough conversations and to you achieving your ultimate business goal.
Services
Appraisal
Knowing Your Position:
Situational Analysis & Risk Assessment
Market & Competitive Analysis
Operational Audits & Health Checks
Financial Review
Planning
Charting the Destination
Strategic Development & Goal Setting
Mission | Vision | Values Alignment
Multi-Year Strategic Roadmaps
Financial Forecasting
Execution
Setting the Sails
Implementation & Change Management
Process Optimization
Team Alignment & Leadership Coaching
Daily & Weekly metrics against plan
Monitoring
Checking the Compass
Performance Tracking & Course Adjustments
Real Time KPI Development
Ongoing support & Advisory Activity
Choose a single engagement or a full long-term relationship—we adjust to your needs and timeline. If your challenge falls outside our focus, we'll connect you with a trusted partner.
Three Degrees Consulting
The Course Correction Series
Four focused workshops designed to help your business find its bearing, set a clear course, and sail confidently toward growth.
Are You Off Course?
Before you can fix your heading, you have to know you've drifted. This module helps you honestly assess where your business stands today — identifying warning signs, blind spots, and the gap between where you are and where you intended to be.
Chart Your Course
Every successful voyage begins with a plan. This module guides you through building a clear, actionable strategic roadmap — defining your destination, your milestones, and the resources you'll need to get there.
Tacking To Growth
In sailing, tacking is how you make progress when the wind isn't in your favor. This module equips you with the tactics to adapt, pivot, and keep moving forward — even when conditions are working against you.
The Crow's Nest
The crew in the crow's nest sees what others can't. This module elevates your perspective — helping you scan the horizon for opportunity, anticipate change, and lead your business with confidence and foresight.
Stop Guessing. Start Navigating.
Take our 10 minute Course Correction Assessment and see where you are, and where we can help.
From the Helm
Have questions? Drop us a note. We are committed to responding in 24 hours or less.
Contact@ThreeDegreesConsulting.com
(910) 880-8490
