Joshua Oakes

About Joshua

Joshua Oakes created the Who First Framework and Value Path methodology that serve as foundational thinking for the entire Value-First approach. Through The Value Path bi-weekly series, he provides comprehensive education on the 8 stages of natural human progression (Audience → Researcher → Hand Raiser → Buyer → Value Creator → Adopter → Advocate → Champion), teaching how to replace industrial-age funnel thinking with recognition of authentic customer behavior.

Expertise Areas

• The Value Path Framework: Deep expertise in 8-stage progression methodology
• Path to Value Toolkit: Practical implementation of traps, gates, and signposts
• Natural Progression Support: Enabling rather than forcing customer movement
• Customer-Centric Pipeline: Architecting systems around actual human behavior
• Funnel Replacement: Moving from control to recognition-based approaches

Why Listen to Joshua

Joshua provides the foundational methodology that enables everything else Value-First teaches. His Value Path framework replaces funnel thinking with recognition of how humans actually discover, evaluate, and create value together, offering practical tools for implementing customer-centric transformation.

Framework Philosophy

Joshua believes business success comes from supporting natural human progression rather than forcing people through artificial stages. His Who First Framework teaches organizations to design systems, processes, and communications around how customers actually move—creating competitive advantage through authentic partnership rather than manipulative qualification.

Host of The Value Path - Foundational methodology for natural customer progression and funnel replacement.