I'm Joe,
Your Thought Partner.

I help people see their own thinking clearly enough to act on it.

You're smart, intentional, and deeply invested in what you're building. Caring deeply and working alone has a way of making every decision feel heavier than it should.

Start with “hello”. I'll guide you from there
Doodle

How It Works

Through conversation and simple hand-drawn maps, I make your thinking visible—so you can see the pattern you've been standing too close to see and move forward with confidence.

The Details

60 – 90 minute sessions are $400.

A map of what needs to be made clear is sent within the day.

If you're ready to invest a fraction of what you'd lose by staying stuck, making the wrong move, or walking away from something that actually matters, book a free introductory call.

Book a Free Call

People don't just find these conversations useful. They look forward to them.

Jasmine, Founder, WithJasmine

Jasmine
“Joe helped me see how my existing skills could evolve into what I wanted to do next—I used that positioning to land my biggest contract to date.”

Adam, Founder, Sacred Bean Coffee Co.

Adam
“I found it difficult to stick to my own vision. Joe helped me keep it centered, and I feel that spark again.”

Sam, Co-Founder, Forest & Trees

Sam
“My business partner and I were swirling around our young company's vision. Joe brought us to alignment and clarity quickly so we could focus our limited energy.”

Tom, Founder, Drive, Revive, Tinker

Tom
“I thought I knew my vision until I started trying to do it all by myself—Joe's guidance led me to uncover the next chapter for my business.”
Joe Elmendorf

About Joe

I live in Wisconsin with my family. I'm curious about how things work — whether that's a rock climbing route, a pour-over, or a watercolor that isn't doing what I want it to do. I make things with my hands: paintings, furniture, maps. I practice yoga. I believe that fun makes something worth doing and that not taking yourself too seriously is how you do your best work — which is partly why I created Shitty Maps to help transform how people work.

I've spent twenty years doing this as a consultant for Fortune 500s and large nonprofits, and now as principal of Maps and Mirror. I'm the person organizations call when smart people are talking past each other and they need someone to make sense of it all.