When the Process Feels Impossible, You Don't Have to Figure It Out Alone
Some situations don't have a clear instruction manual. You know something needs to happen but you're not sure what the steps are, who to call, what order things go in, or how long it will take. Meanwhile life keeps moving and the situation doesn't resolve itself.
That's where I come in. I'm Shari Wooton, founder of Mountain Compass. I provide practical research and process navigation support, helping with the research that feels overwhelming, time consuming, or just plain confusing. If you need someone to figure out what comes next and help make it happen, that's exactly what I do.
What I Help With
This kind of support looks different for every situation. That might look like:
- Researching and comparing options when the information feels impossible to sort through
- Navigating systems with deadlines, requirements, and multiple moving parts
- Doing research through records, databases, or archives that most people wouldn't know how to access
- Mapping out complicated logistics so nothing falls through the cracks
- Figuring out what the next right step is when the process itself is the obstacle
How It Works
We start with a conversation about what you're facing. Sometimes people need advice on what to try next and can take it from there. Other times they want someone to stay alongside them through the whole process, tracking details, making calls, and keeping things moving.
I bring careful research, clear communication, and steady follow through. As one client put it, her support made it possible to move forward when she couldn't find the time or energy to do it alone.
Every situation is different. We'll figure out together what level of support makes sense. I work with individuals and families across Western North Carolina including Sylva, Franklin, Bryson City, Waynesville and Asheville.
Client Stories
Choosing the Right Health Insurance Plan
When a client's insurance carrier left the state, she suddenly had to choose a new plan with no clear way to compare her options. Bronze, silver, or gold. Different deductibles, copays, and out of pocket maximums. The plans were available but making sense of them felt impossible.
I built a what-if calculator that modeled her projected costs across all four plans based on her actual health situation and usage. We walked through the results together so the decision felt clear rather than stressful.
"Shari set up a what-if spreadsheet to calculate the different scenarios. We had a discussion where she shared the different projected costs based on my health situation. I was able to make an informed choice that I feel very comfortable with."
You can see an example of this kind of tool on the Insurance Calculator page.
Piecing Together a Property Mystery
A neighborhood couldn't find out why construction on a nearby home had stopped. Nobody seemed to know and the official channels weren't giving answers.
I dug into government records, newspaper archives, and library databases to piece together the property's history and current status. What felt like an impossible dead end turned into a clear picture of what had happened and where things stood.
That's the kind of research most people don't know is possible, or don't have time to do themselves.
Planning Around the Farm
Sometimes the research is about making something already known more visible. A farming family needed a simple way to share their harvest schedule with extended family so everyone could plan around it. We mapped the year and built a simple calendar that made the rhythm of farm life easy to see and share.
You can see the Farm Calendar here.
Want to See More?
See more examples of this kind of work on the Examples page.
Ready to Talk It Through?
Book a free 15-minute intro call, no obligation, just a conversation about what you're facing and how I might help.