Encouragement
Great time to be a consultant…
Here is a quote from Dr. Alan Weiss (the Million Dollar Consultant) in his recent newsletter. I could not agree more!
“Businesses of all sizes need external expertise these days.
They can’t solve their own problems or ensure their own innovation any more than a patient can operate on his or her own appendix or write a prescription for medication.“
In spite of the gloom and doom of the media and all the other Negative Ninnies, opportunities abound. Yes, we have problems in the world.
But problems are what we, as consultants, work on. That, and helping clients achieve their dreams. It’s all about helping clients succeed, and making the world a better place.
If you have the “itch”to consult (or launch any business), start NOW to scratch it.
But don’t jump in without preparations. No matter how exciting, you wouldn’t just hop into a sail boat and head for Hawaii without making plans (including backup plans) and stocking enough provisions.
Stick around here, and we’ll help. Check out the almost 300 blog posts. Search by category if specific interests. Join us for the free monthly teleconferences, starting again in November.
Watch the blog for future events. Head over to the free webinar, which I’ll be doing live at the Minnesota EMC Event.
Bill Kimmel (my late business partner) and I started the EMC Event in 1986 to make a pre-launch splash for our engineering consulting firm.
Read about it here — maybe the best $500 we spent. The show is still going strong after 33 years, after producing thousands in consulting and training business.
An example of what a little creative thinking can accomplish.
Don’t want to start a mini trade show? How about writing tutorial articles or blog posts in the trade press? Editors are hungry for simple relevant material, and you can be in print in weeks. Keep it up and in a few months you will recognized as an expert.
We used writing when starting out. Still moonlighting, we offered to do a simple column for a local business magazine.
Eight hundred words every month on how to use the new fangled personal computers. The editor loved it, and within months we even picked up some small projects. (If still employed, be sure to avoid conflicts of interst.)
That first writing effort gave us both confidence and future credibility. We eventually wrote over 200 articles, three books (one with over 130,000 “sales”), blog posts, and a regular magazine column that ran almost 30 years.
But nothing happened overnight. It started simple and grew. More marketing ideas here.
So think NOW how to ramp up YOUR marketing. You can even do this prior to going full time. We moonlighted for nine years before making our JumpToConsulting. Planning and preparation made the jump easier – even when the stock market crashed the first day in business!
My 1987 jump to full-time consulting was like hitting a squall while leaving the harbor. But the preparation paid off, and we succeeded. You can too, but don’t expect smooth sailing all the time. Just be prepared — and you can even start TODAY!
Back in the saddle here after the summer sabbatical. Plans are to post twice a month, and host the free teleconference once a month. Still working on the multi-module class.
Be sure to sign up for the free newsletter, as I may tweak a bit. You can also get a feed on an RSS reader like Feedly.
© 2019, https:. All rights reserved.
More on dealing with critics (and trolls)…
This post was written in response to a recent troll attack on Bob Bly, fellow engineer turned highly successful copywriter and author.
This is also an update to a favorite post done way back in 2012, when first trolled at JumpToConsulting.
Trolls, by their very nature, are unsuccessful losers. If they were successful, they would not need to attack others. Rather, they would be helping others.
Here is a summary of Bob’s recent trolling:
Dear Direct Response Letter Subscriber:
DZ writes:
“Bob, … I downloaded your ‘book’ from Amazon — your book is a joke.
“Your writing reminds me of dog sh*t. It was a complete waste
of $10.“And you are trying above to sell your ‘services’?
“Amazon should know as much — they shouldn’t sell such waste to
an unsuspecting public. Watch for my short review.“And I even pity your clients that buy your ‘finished
copy.’ You don’t have any talent for writing — only
spelling.”Upon reading DZ’s email, my associate JV sent me an email that
says: “Jackass … I certainly hope you won’t let this ruin
your day!“Someone can express that they are disappointed or dislike
something — but this is rather juvenile and downright
ridiculous.”I could not agree with JV more.
Sincerely,
Bob Bly
Incidentally, Bob has a money back satisfaction guarantee. If not happy, you can even keep the book. We adopted the same policy at Kimmel Gerke Associates year ago.
Here are my comments sent to Bob:
Hi Bob,
Here is one of my favorite blog posts, written in response to a simple minded troll. I did not post his comment, but wrote this instead. Best of all, he unsubscribed to my newsletter 🙂
https://jumptoconsulting.com/why-critics-dont-count/
Please note the second personal story, regarding the book by a colleague. I loved my late biz partners comeback to the critic ” better than your book.” The critic, of course, had not written one, and never did.
Recently ran across a story by a very successful businessperson, who pointed out that many critics are losers who lash out at the nearest perceived success.
As a result, I now consider BS like your critic as a compliment – they are obviously jealous of your success.
Best regards,
Daryl
More on the recent story on critics, told by former Navy SEAL Brandon Webb in his book “Excellence Matters.” Seems Mark Harmon (television show NCIS) wrote Webb because he enjoyed his books, and they ended up sharing lunch. BTW, Mark has a reputation for being one of the nicest people in Hollywood.
Their discussion turned to unfair public attacks, which both have experienced. Mark was philosophical, and noted “you are always going to have people who are miserable in their own lives and just lash out, out of their own insecurities. And they always lash out at the brightest targets. It comes with the territory.”
I found this story strangely liberating. As a member of an HOA board, I’ve been repeatedly hit with vitriolic emails and verbal abuse from a few homeowners. Would have left a long time ago, but we have many good people in the community who appreciate the board’s efforts.
Still, the negatives can grind one down – if you let them.
Mark’s advice on critics was like a light bulb. He reminded me the attacks are not personal, but are a manifestation of the critic’s own problems. As such, I no longer let the trolls bother me. If anything, I feel pity for them as they are obviously very unhappy.
In closing, ignore the trolls, or take their comments as jealousy of YOUR success.
Remember — Those who try to tear you down are already beneath you.
— Author unknown
© 2019, https:. All rights reserved.
Check out the new ride…
Courtesy of my consulting gigs… 71 VW Convertible…
Although semi-retired here, I still teach classes in my engineering speciality. Very satisfying to share my experience and knowledge, plus it brings in “fun money.”
So when I parked next to this VW (with a for sale sign) earlier this week, I decided to act. My very first car was a red 1966 VW sedan, and I always lusted after the convertibles. 52 years was long enough to wait.
Was it a mid-life crisis? If so, still much cheaper than a Corvette (or a girl friend — but after 51 happy married years that ain’t gonna happen 🙂 )
Thanks to the continuing consulting gigs, there was no negative impact on the budget for this little splurge. And thanks to my full time JumpToConsulting 33 years ago, I’m set for retirement anyway.
Not bragging — just sharing some happiness here and offering encouragement. Don’t delay — life is short — be sure to enjoy the trip!
P.S. Read more of my VW adventures here.
© 2019 – 2021, https:. All rights reserved.
On joining the “Laid Off Twice” club…
Here is a reply to a post by Cubert at Abandoned Cubicle regarding layoffs… which somehow seems appropriate for Labor Day…
Best damn thing that happened to me – twice. The first time got me thinking about starting my own business — the second time (a dozen years are) cinched it.
Thirty+ years of running my own consulting engineering firm was great – much better than another thirty+ years of cubicle life!
The first layoff came two years out of college, with a very pregnant wife. Fortunately, soon found another job, but the experience profoundly affected me. I became a frugal Mr. Money Mustache (a fellow blogging engineer) of the 1970s.
I also started planning my escape – whatever it was going to be. Dropped the MSEE studies. Got practical — took a class on TV repair (not practical today), followed by getting a Master Electrician’s license (a bit more practical.) The goal — be able to put food on the table for a now growing family.
Stepped in up a bit when a friend (who became my business partner) and I started moonlighting. Got my PE (Professional Engineer) license, something I had blown off in school. Spent time learning and doing, not wasting time on TV or sports events.
Even made a career change to Sales Engineering to hone my business skills.
The second layoff came twelve years later with a startup. After providing much needed help with sales and marketing, got laid off (OK – fired) after 18 months when the founder’s buddy joined the company. (The buddy that did not have the cojones to do so at the start. )
Oh well — it was a “learning experience.” That means it cost me, was painful at the time, but in retrospect worth it for the experience gained. Plus it vastly improved my BS detector.
So I hung out my consulting shingle. Bad way to start a business — I lasted about three months before climbing back into the corporate womb. Was not FI (Financially Independent) and could not generate income fast enough. But even more determined to have my own consulting business.
Socked money away, and started creating credibility and visibility via writing and teaching. When it became apparent layoff number three might be on the horizon, I made my JumpToConsulting.
That was in October 1987 — the day the stock market crashed. But once again I survived, and was now OI (Occupationally Independent.) Thanks to hard work, frugal living, a very supportive spouse, and a bit of luck I achieved full FI status a few year later.
The last 30 years have been a blast. I’ve traveled the world solving problems and teaching classes in my engineering speciality. In 2010 I started a blog (JumpToConsulting) to help guide others who might be so inclined to pursue this path to independence.
In 2015, my business partner and good friend of 40 years passed away, and I decided to wind the consulting practice down. I still do about 6-8 projects a year, mainly training which I love to do.
Now semi-retired, I split my time between MN (where there are grandkids) and AZ (where there is no snow.). With LI (Location Independence), I achieved the “hat trick” of FI/OI/LI.
Those are MY layoff stories. Last fall, Cubert and I met for coffee in MN. I encouraged him (and encourage all of you) to make your dreams real. Frugal living and focused hard work pay off.
Independence rocks — Uncle Daryl
Join us for our next FREE monthly teleconference.
“Ask Daryl Anything About Consulting”
Register Here
© 2018 – 2019, https:. All rights reserved.
Do You Have The Courage To Quit Your Job?
So asked fellow blogger Cubert at Abandoned Cubicle in a recent post. Cubert is a 40 something engineer who is (by design) a year from Financial Independence and retirement.
In this post, he expresses concerns about being bored and more in retirement. Perfectly normal to get the jitters as one approaches the cliff. Remember the same feelings myself, but with the parachute strapped on my back, I JumpedToConsulting and never looked back.
Here are my comments of encouragement:
Quit my corporate job 31 years ago to start an engineering consulting practice. It has been a blast, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Was it retirement? No, but it WAS freedom from the cubicle and all the attendant corporate BS. On second thought, maybe it was a form of early retirement.
And while now winding down in my 70s, I still do 6-8 projects a year — of my choosing. Keeps me professionally engaged and brings in fun money.
Did I miss the paychecks? No. While the business income fluctuated, I drew a modest fixed salary and watched expenses like a hawk. Banked the profits in investments and tax deferred retirement accounts.
To begin, I stashed away enough to go six months without pay, but never needed it. Was back to my old paycheck level in a year, and exceeded it soon after. Was fully financially independent in a few short years.
Did I miss the routine? Hell no. As a consultant, every day brought something new and challenging. No more boring and useless meetings. No more cleaning up messes created by higher-ups in the food chain.
Rather, interesting work that helped improve things for my clients.
Did I miss the prestige? Are you kidding? Never needed it, and am often bemused by those who do. Maybe that is why I was never a good corporate rat.
Not bragging — just offering some encouragement for everyone.
And trust me, Cubert — you won’t be bored. Rather, you will wonder when you ever had the time for a full time job. You may even wonder why you didn’t do so earlier. Best wishes as you transition to your new life!
In a reply, Cubert expressed a specific concern about health insurance. With a young family, a very legitimate concern. My advice here was to purchase the highest deductible policy available, and self-insure the nominal stuff. More below:
The Affordable Care Act makes that simpler, as you can not be denied coverage. I know several independent consultants who have taken advantage of that — one with a congenial heart defect. (Please — no comments from political trolls.)
Cubert also expressed possible interest in consulting in his retirement. As an engineer, that is very doable as his skills and experience are already in demand. More below:
- Top 5 Reasons to Consult in Retirement
- Retirement Success Story – Don the Engineer
- Retirement Successs Story – Karl the Engineer
- Doing Well by Doing Good – Lynn the Nutritional Consultant
Finally, I invited Cubert, and anyone else interested in consulting, to join us for my new FREE monthly teleconference on consulting. Register Here.
Join us for our next FREE monthly teleconference.
“Ask Daryl Anything About Consulting”
Register Here
© 2018, https:. All rights reserved.
Happy July 4th…
Once again, it is time to reflect on Independence., and the price others have paid to secure it for all of us. It is why we celebrate the Fourth of July.
Consulting can also lead to Personal Independence (PI.) It has for me in three ways:
—Occupational Independence (OI) – This was the big attraction for me. Chafing under the corporate bit, I finally set myself free 30 years ago.
It has been a most satisfying ride, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Never looked back.
—Financial Independence (FI) – Although not FI when I started, I reached the goal in just a few years. Nothing like running a business to sharpen you financial focus.
Fortunately, I had the support of a willing spouse, and enough money stashed to cover my expenses for a six months to a year. Never had to touch the stash.
–Location Independence (LI) – This let me move to AZ with minimal disruption. The kids were grown, weary of cold MN weather, and ready for a new adventure.
Even better, after a few years we ended us splitting our time between MN (where there were now grandkids) and AZ (where there was no snow.). All possible thanks to LI.
Not bragging — just offering some simple encouragement. Happy Fourth of July!
Remember — Uncle Daryl want YOU… to find your Independence too.
© 2018, https:. All rights reserved.
It seemed like a good idea at the time…
Wonder how many times I’ve said that? Enough that I told Mary (my wife) that she can add that to my headstone 🙂
Yes, not everything I’ve tried worked out as hoped. But enough worked more than well enough. Had I never tried, however, I would not be where I am today.
Support helps. More than once Mary egged me on with “Well, why don’t you try it, and see what happens?” That included starting a consulting business. I’ve suggested this phrase might be fitting for her headstone.
So don’t fear taking chances. After seven decades on the planet, I’ve learned “You won’t regret what you have done as much as what you have NOT done.”
But manage risk. Don’t gamble more than you can afford to lose. Have a backup plan. Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best. Then roll the dice, and see what happens.
And remember, not doing anything is still a decision. And it may not be the best one.
In closing, one of the first big chances I took was asking my wife to marry me. We hardly knew each other, but we both decided to “try it and see what happens.” Yes, “it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
And it was. We celebrate fifty years together next week. We share two sons and six grandchildren. It has been one grand adventure!
Thanks Mary, and Happy Anniversary. With my love and gratitude — Daryl
More here…
© 2018 – 2022, https:. All rights reserved.
Jumping ship as a path to Consulting…
Here is a comment I made over at Abandoned Cubicle regarding making more money from your cubicle job. I mentioned Cubert once before, as he quietly (and anonomously) plots his course towards Financial Independence.
In this post, Cubert recommends negotiating your salary. Many people (particularly engineers like Cubert and me) can be reluctant to do so. But if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
He also recommends jumping ship if you are still unhappy. It took me a while to figure that out, but once I did it made a big difference. Thus, my story on jumping ship:
The bottom line. We are all responsible for our own careers. If unhappy, take charge — don’t wait for others. And don’t be afraid to stretch yourself (as I did when I went into sales engineering — and later into consulting.)
For therein lies the path to Independence (Financial, Occupational, Location, and more…)
P.S. Interested in consulting? Check out my FREE webinar recently done for the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), my technical society. Watch it Here.
© 2018, https:. All rights reserved.
Just Say No…
Sometimes just saying NO is the best thing you can do. It worked for me when at a career fork in the road 33 years ago.
The post was inspired by Cubert at Abandoned Cublicle. Cubert is a young family man on his quest to financial independence, who blogs about his journey. For obvious reasons, he keeps his identity private.
Here is my reply to his most recent blog post on saying NO:
Here is a favorite personal “NO” story:
Started a new job with a great boss. Like me, an engineer, and who also had an MBA. He kindly encouraged me to do the same, as the company would fully reimburse for the MBA. The school had an excellent reputation, and many years later my older son got his MBA at the same school.
But I had this terrible itch to start my own engineering consulting firm. Not yet FI (financially independent,) I was seeking OI (occupational independence.) BTW, the OI soon led to FI. It also led to LI (location independence.) Funny how those things work out.
Back to the story. After one class, which I enjoyed, it was apparent my fellow students were primarily interested in climbing the corporate ladder. I was not. So I said “NO” to the MBA, and devoted my time to learning how to start my own firm while beginning to build a client base through moonlighting. (BTW, I was VERY careful to avoid conflicts of interest.)
Three years later, about the time I would have received the MBA, I hung out my consulting shingle. That was 30 years ago, and I NEVER regretted saying NO the the MBA. Instead, I said YES to what I wanted to do. Not only satisfying, it has been financially quite rewarding.
Finally, this is not a knock on MBAs or any other degrees. (Both sons have advanced degrees that have served them well.) But just make sure they will take you where you want to go. And don’t be afraid to say NO.
I had the pleasure of coffee with Cubert recently when in MN* – he is well on his way to independence. Way.to.go. If you are interested in independence (FI, OI, FI, or ???) hop over to his blog. Stick around here and I’ll share my advice too.
* For 20 years , LI for me has meant winters in AZ and summers in MN – another bonus of saying NO.
Today’s Take-away – Saying NO to something means saying YES to something else…
Here are some past posts you may find relevant to this post:
- Consulting As a Choice
- Jump TO… Not FROM…
- You Don’t Need an MBA to Consult…
- Read About the Goofy Hat…
© 2017, https:. All rights reserved.
An Interesting Quote…
Picked this quote up from a consulting blog I follow:
We learn from the top 10% of our highest performing clients. For the other 90% of clients, we need to lead.
While the author is a management consultant (and self-proclaimed non-technologist), it also applies to technical consultants.
P.S. Keep learning. And remember to feed BOTH bank accounts.
© 2017, https:. All rights reserved.
Consulting Fee Study – 2017…
Here is a link to a recent fee study by Consulting Success.
While this blog focuses on general business consulting, technical consultants should find this of use as well.
FYI, typical fees at Kimmel Gerke Associates were project based. Typical projects were in the $5,000 – $20,000 range and up. Typical annual compensations exceeded our corporate salaries, plus providing retirement funding, profits, and tax benefits.
As such, we did better than staying “employed.” Plus we had a lot more fun and freedom.
Not bragging — just saying it can be done. But it doesn’t happen overnight or without some work. You first need to build “credibility and visibility.”
Never too soon to start the process, so ask “What can I do TODAY?” Best wishes…
Here are three posts to help you start…
P.S. May slow down here for the summer, but stay tuned as I continue to share thoughts on making your own JumpToConsulting.
© 2017 – 2018, https:. All rights reserved.
On handling “stumbles”…
Here is a reply I left at one of my favorite blogs/web sites — Pamela Slim — a champion of starting and building small businesses (not just consulting.)
In her post, Pamela discusses how to react after a “stumble,” including her own examples.
She asked for comments, so I shared mine:
One of the best pieces of advice I got on “stumbling” was shared with me almost forty years ago. As a brand new sales engineer (I had pivoted from ten years of design work) my boss sent me to a sales training class.
During a break, I asked a a more experienced classmate how he handled losing a sale.
His reply was “Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on. ”
He went on, “Furthermore, if you’re not failing (stumbling), you are not trying hard enough. Every failure is a learning experience. After twenty years, I still lose sales but I’m doing just fine. ”
Ten years later, that advice was invaluable when I started my own engineering consulting firm. Actually, I started twice, and the first time I stumbled badly.
But I tried again later, and then the first day in business (1987) the stock market crashed. Scary, but I succeeded anyway.
That same advice sustained me again when my late business partner and I started a training operation in conjunction with the consulting. It took us four times to get that right.
We eventually ended training over 12,000 students in hundreds of multi-day classes around the world. What a blast! Glad we didn’t let a few stumbles stop us from that adventure.
Pam is so right! Don’t stop – just step back and figure out what to do next — and next — and next. It took Thomas Edison hundreds of trials until he got the light bulb right. But when he did, he lit the world.
Yes, I’ve discussed this topic here before, but it is worth hearing again. Remember the jingle we all heard as kids, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
But before you do, back off and evaluate. You may need to try something different. As Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.”
© 2017, https:. All rights reserved.
What if it doesn’t work? At least you tried…
Probably the NUMBER ONE QUESTION if you are standing on the edge of the cliff, about ready to make your own JumpToConsulting.
So, what if it doesn’t work? The brother of Go-Daddy founder Bob Parsons once told him, “Well, if it doesn’t work, they can’t eat you.” Parsons is now a billionaire.
Incidentally, web registration was the backup plan for Go-Daddy — the original plan was on-line tax software. Always good to have Plan B!
Full disclosure — my son (a catalyst for this blog) was their Controller when Go-Daddy was just starting out. He has great stories about working for Parsons, and might have stayed but moved back to Minnesota for personal/family reasons.
My son has since gone on to several more entrepreneurial adventures – including a stint consulting – which ended when a client made him an offer he couldn’t refuse as a VP of Finance.
Probably the simplest solution is to climb back into the corporate womb. I did that myself after a false start. Got laid off (fired actually) from a startup, so I hung out my shingle.
Not good planning. After three months, it was clear this was not going to work — at least for now. My “Plan B” was to find another job, which I did.
But the itch was still there, so three years later I tried again — and succeeded — even though the stock market crashed the first day in business. Thanks to the first try, however, I was much better prepared.
But what if you are successful, and just don’t like it? There is no law that says you must stay a consultant forever. As a bonus — you are likely valued more by your new employer.
Here are two more examples:
Dave specialized in EMI/EMC engineering (electromagnetic interference and compatibility) as I did. He started several years before me, and built a successful practice.
Shortly after I made my jump, I ran into him at a trade show. He was now working for a company. Concerned, I asked him why.
“Why the move?” I asked. “And is there something I need to know?”
“No, not at all,” he replied. “A client made me a very attractive offer. Besides, I was getting tired of having to hustle for business. This new move is a dream job for me, but I only got it due the visibility of consulting.”
Dave did quite well in his new position and enjoyed in immensely.
Steve, another engineer, was a talented writer and editor of a technical magazine. We met through my efforts to write articles (a favorite marketing method) and stayed in touch.
Several years after I started JumpToConsulting, Steve hung out his consulting shingle as technical marketer. We shared ideas, and thanks to his talent, hard work, and contacts, he was very successful within a year.
But then Steve stopped consulting. Concerned, once again I asked why.
“What happened,” I asked.
” Well,” he said, “I discovered I really like working with a team, and not all by myself. I miss the camaraderie.”
So like Dave, he went to work for a favorite client. He quickly moved onward and upward in his career.
(Edit – After his company cut back, Steve is back consulting. Much easier to start up the second time.)
Some lessons learned here:
- You don’t need to be a consultant forever.
- You may be seen as more valuable for your experience.
- You have visibility to many more opportunities than had you stayed where you were at in the first place.
The downside is that once having tasted freedom it may be tough to go back. (It would be for me.) But given the right opportunity, maybe not. Careers can be funny that way.
P.S. Tagged this post in “Success Stories.” Even though all three examples eventually left full time consulting, they did so after trying and succeeding. No doubt they could do it again!
“Better to have consulted and quit, than to never have consulted at all.”
© 2017 – 2018, https:. All rights reserved.
Consulting as a choice….
As we begin a new year, it is time to reflect. Here are some thoughts on choices.
We all make choices in life. Among other things, I chose consulting — it did not happen by chance. I’ve long been inspired by this popular quote:
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost
Choices once made rule out other choices. That is what paralyzes many – the fear of giving up options. But even if you do nothing, you have still made a choice.
Looking back on seven decades, here are some choices I’ve made:
- Chose to study engineering – As a teenager, I was interested in many things. But my fascination with ham radio let me to choose Electrical Engineering. That choice ruled out other choices that also held my interest.
- Chose to go into RF design – After graduating with my BSEE, I chose to go into RF (Radio Frequency) design. My first job was working on communications systems. At the time, computers (not RF) were all the rage. But I chose RF.
- Chose to move to Minnesota – After being laid off (and losing my engineering innocence), I chose to move to Minnesota where my wife was born and raised. This ruled out other choices in warmer places (but I eventually made it to Arizona anyway.) This choice led me into EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) which later became the focus of my engineering consulting firm.
- Chose to drop an MSEE – After seeing highly educated engineers laid off, I chose to drop an MSEE program. Instead, I chose to spend my time and efforts on more practical pursuits. This included a Master Electrician’s license and a PE (Professional Engineer) license, both beneficial for consulting. Later dropped an MBA program to focus on building my consulting firm.
- Chose to move into systems engineering – After several years as a back room engineer dealing with EMI issues, I chose to make a job change. I sensed it was time to become more involved with customer problems, not just technical problems. It was also time to break out of the comfort zone. As a bonus, met my business partner.
- Chose to teach & moonlight – After working in systems engineering, my business partner recruited me to teach an evening electronics class. I chose to accept the challenge, which led to other moonlighting projects, and eventually our own engineering consulting practice. That choice meant giving up other pursuits, such as vegetating with TV shows.
- Chose to go into sales – After the itch to consult festered, I chose to change career directions again, and became a sales engineer. It required a lot of effort, but I knew I needed the experience if I was to eventually start/run my own consulting firm.
- Chose to go with a startup – Along the way, a customer recruited me to join his startup. Seeing this as an opportunity to work in a small business, I jumped in. While the experience was good, this choice was not so good. Withing two years, I was replaced by a friend of the customer who lacked the cojones to jump in at the start. As is often said, it was a learning experience…
- Chose to hang out my shingle – After losing my job, chose to hang out my consulting shingle. Timing was bad, funds were short, and I soon realized there was more to learn. So back into the corporate womb I went.
- Chose to try marketing – After faltering with the initial consulting attempt, I chose to pursue a technical marketing position. It was interesting, and I learned a lot from my boss and colleagues. But I missed being in the field, so I chose to accept another sales engineering job. It turned out to be a good choice.
- Chose to hang out my shingle again – this time older/wiser – After several successful years as a sales engineer, chose to try consulting again. The itch was still there, and the timing was right. Or so it seemed, except that the first day in business (1987) the stock market crashed! But this time I was prepared, and I succeeded.
- Chose to stay with it for the next 29 years -After the scary start (the first day in business was the worst day in business), things continually got better. Sure, there were some ups and downs, but overall it has been a very rewarding way to spend a career. If you are so inclined, I highly recommend it.
- Chose to start this blog – After being asked many times about getting started in consulting, I started this blog five years ago. The goals were to share experiences and advice, and to inspire those who are truly interested in consulting. I’m happy to report that I’ve now helped several make their own JumpToConsulting.
Hope this post has given you some food for thought. The choices you make today will affect you tomorrow. But NOTHING will happen unless YOU choose to MAKE it happen!
Best wishes on YOUR choices in the coming year — Uncle Daryl
© 2017, https:. All rights reserved.
A special invitation to women…in the age of Trump…
This post was inspired by “A Letter to Young Women, in the Age of Trump”. Very well said, but sadly, too many comments by trolls reflected the bullying Trump mentality.
One piece of advice she offered:
Think about starting your own thing.
This is what’s exciting; we have the ability to start our own businesses today, in a way we didn’t in the past. Why not take our marbles to our own playgrounds and build great businesses and cultures?
Our mothers couldn’t do this because the cost was so high – but the costs of everything-about-starting-a-business, including technology, people (i.e., freelancers), real estate (co-working spaces) and support services are coming down.
And then no one can relegate you to the less-interesting jobs.
So I want to extend a personal invitation to any woman reading my blog.
Please know you are most WELCOME here, and most WELCOME to join the independent consulting ranks. In fact, many of you already have. Some examples:
- Susan Kimmel, PhD – (www.in2itioninc.com) Successful medical device market research firm (and the daughter of my late business partner.)
- Pamela Slim – (pamelaslim.com) /Successful consultant, author, speaker, and advocate for small business (and of of my favorite people in the world.)
- Kellie Hendrick, PE – (www.epscharlotte.com) Successful engineering consultant (go geeks…)
- Lynn Rausch – Successful nutrition consultant to the Native American communities in Arizona (started in retirement, but now fully retired.)
- Susan Baier -(www.audienceaudit.com) – Successful market research firm, and the organizer of Laid Off Camp Phoenix. (Hope to feature Susan here soon.)
- Joanna Hill – (JPHill, LLC) Newly minted engineering consultant. She attended my consulting talk in Ottawa, and we met again last night met at a professional meeting. (Her shingle is out… she has business… congratulations Joanna!)
A common thread among most of these successful businesswomen was not being recognized and appreciated for their contributions. So they took matters into their own hands, and build successful practices. Way.To.Go!
Nothing like the revenge of sweet success. And it drives the “losers” nuts.
I understand those feelings. Although a guy, more than once I felt the same way. I did deal with some bullying, but at least I wasn’t battling sexual harassment.
So if consulting might be your gig (check out the GIG economy), join us here as I ramp back up. Everyone is welcome — regardless of gender, race, religion, nationality, sexual preference, or ???
As it should be. After all, as consultants we should be working to make the world a better place. In the age of Trumpism, we will need to work even harder!
P.S. To my two granddaughters –You Go Girls!–To my four grandsons–You Go Boys!–And to all six of you– be kind to everyone– and NEVER be a bully!
© 2016 – 2017, https:. All rights reserved.
How big is the GIG economy???
Bigger than you think. According to a recent study by McKinsey & Company, between 20-30% of the working population in the US and Europe are free lancers (doing gigs.)
That translates to over 160 million people. Not too shabby, I’d say.
Rather than wade through the 148 page study, check out this latest post at Consultants Mind, a favorite blog of mine on consulting.
Although aimed at management consultants in both large and small firms, I find this blog well written and useful for solo-professionals too (including us technical consultants.)
To distill the data even more, here are some key points from the blog post:
- Most consultants CHOOSE to work independently. More than 70% surveyed do so because the want to — not because they have too. This group is happier too — no great surprise.
- One in six traditional workers say they would like to go independent. But many don’t because they lack the ideas, ambition, or grit. (If you have the ambition and grit, stick around and I’ll help you with ideas…)
- Digital platforms enable freelance work. Thanks to the Internet and computers, it is easier than ever today to start and run a consulting business — from anywhere in the world. But you do need to develop your on-line presence to make this work.
- This is NOT new. According to the author, 100 years ago 45% of the population was self-employed. As small farmers in rural Nebraska, all my grandparents and great-grandparents fell into that category. Furthermore, the author predicts the percentages will rise again in the next century.
The author was pretty critical of the original McKinsey report, saying the 148 page report was about 100 pages too long. He’s right – brevity is always better.
So save yourself some time and hop over here for more details.
Finally, the author challenges “retirees, students, and caregivers” to jump back into the economy – even if partially. If consulting is YOUR gig, follow me at JumpToConsulting and I’ll share my ideas on how to make your jump.
Consulting is a great life for those who choose it. I’m glad I chose it almost 40 years ago!
© 2016, https:. All rights reserved.
Afraid of selling? Don’t be…
This post was inspired by “Fear and Loathing in Sales” at Trusted Advisor. The author addresses the irrational fear that professionals often have about selling.
I once shared that fear. But realizing that if I wanted to be in business for myself, I needed to overcome that fear – or at least get some experience. So I sought out -and landed – a job as a sales engineer (Tektronix.) And did it again later for another company (Intel.)
What a pleasant surprise. I quickly realized that technical sales was different – in spite of some canned sales training programs to which I was subjected. I discovered it was not about manipulation, bur rather about helping the customer or client.
I found it to be fun –another set of engineering problems to solve. Not unlike consulting.
It was really about having pleasant conversations with technical colleagues — about what they were doing, and how my company might help them. Sure, I had to deal with contracts and purchasing agents, but by the time they got involved, the buying decisions had been made. They were there to handle the business/legal details.
As a professional, you are like a doctor, not a car salesman. You are there to diagnose and prescribe, not to wheel and deal. You are there to help.
If you are still unsure and want to build your confidence, consider spending a year (or more) in sales as I did. No, you don’t need to be an extrovert. Many of the best sales engineers I’ve known were quiet introverts who were genuinely interested in their customers and their problems (and/or aspirations.) Just like good consultants.
But there is a process, which I first outlined in the Seven Steps of Selling. I’ll soon expand on each of those steps in a short series on selling consulting services.
Finally, don’t fear the selling process — embrace it. It is the essence of professional consulting. And remember FDR’s advice, “The only thing we have to fear…is fear itself.”
© 2016, https:. All rights reserved.
Three Favorite Lifestyle Bloggers…
Scored the hat-trick*… meeting THREE of my favorite bloggers/authors/philosophers all in one week. How great is that?
Chris Gullibeau – Art of Non Conformity – Chris was in town promoting his latest book, Born For This, already #5 on the NY Times nonfiction list.(To be reviewed in a future post.)
Like his earlier two books, this one focuses on figuring out your mission in life — and then doing something about it. He stresses the intersection of Joy-Money-Flow. Similar to my personal philosophy of Do Some Good – Have Some Fun – Make Some Money.
Chris also stresses the importance of quitting. Sometimes things just don’t work, and it is time to move on and try something else. Good advice, but counter to the conventional wisdom that “Winners Never Quit/Quitters Never Win” I agree with Chris — check this.
Along with his three books and other projects, Chris has visited every country in the world — a quest he completed by age 40. An interesting person, and worthy of reading his books and following his blog.
Pam Slim – Escape From Cubicle Nation & PamelaSlim.com – Pam was at the same book event to introduce Chris, a longtime friend. He claims her as his inspiration. I share the same sentiment, as Pam was an inspiration for JumpToConsulting.
Pam has two books under her belt, and has a third underway. Like Chris, she also focuses on careers and the world of work. As her first book name suggests, she is an entrepreneur and has helped many make their “escape” from soul sucking corporate jobs.
Her second book mellowed a bit, as she share insights about succeeding in the corporate world — at least if you are so inclined. After all, not everyone should be a solo entrepreneur. We still need big companies for big enterprises. I mean, would you fly on JumpToConsulting Airlines? I wouldn’t.
But the best part of seeing Pam again was simply getting a big hug from this very caring fellow Arizona blogger. Thanks, Pam.
Bob Lowry – Satisfying Retirement Journey – Mary and I had lunch today with another fellow Arizona blogger and his wife Betty. Bob was forced into an early retirement fifteen years ago, and started blogging about it at Satisfying Retirement Journey.
Like Chris and Pam, Bob has a book under his belt along with hundreds of advice-filled blog posts. It is one of the more popular retirement blogs, and for good reason.
In addition to blogging and writing, Bob and I share interests in ham radio and RVs. In fact, as we traded RV stories, by the end of lunch we were both ready to head out for some new RV adventures.
A common thread shared with all three — along with blogging — is that all three have been consultants in past lives.
- For Chris, it helped pay some bills starting out, but he soon moved on to group events like the World Domination Summit which now draws thousands every year to Portland, OR. Like training, he figured out how to leverage his unique talents.
- For Pam, it was a transition from corporate life to that of a solo entrepreneur. She used the consulting fees she earned to be her own venture capitalist. She loves to tell the story of being pregnant, puking in the gutter, and then getting on a plane to visit clients – multiple times. Talk about dedication to starting a business!
- For Bob, he ran a successful one-person consultancy for many years. He traveled all over the country as a radio advertising consultant. This was a natural for an ex-DJ and he had a great time. Joy-money-flow indeed. Then the market changed, and the business dried up. But he realized that he had enough stashed away, and that he no longer enjoyed getting on a plane every week anyway. So he switched gears, and started blogging, writing, and just enjoying life.
Three inspiring author/bloggers who have trod the consulting path, and who now share their advice and life experiences with their followers. It is a sincere pleasure to share all three with you!
When you’re done here, hop over to their blogs:
— The Art of Nonconformity – Chris Gullibeau
— Escape From Cubicle Nation/Pamela Slim – Pam Slim
—Satisfying Retirement Journey – Bob Lowry
*A natural hat trick occurs when a player scores three consecutive goals, uninterrupted by any other player scoring for either team. The NHL record for the fastest natural hat trick is 21 seconds, set by Bill Mosienko in 1952 for the Chicago Blackhawks. — Wikipedia
© 2016, https:. All rights reserved.
Time to forge a new path…
It was a year ago this month that my business partner passed away from cancer. To say the past year was stressful would be an understatement.
Bill and I were good friends and business partners for almost 40 years. I miss him every day.
But life goes on. The fog is lifting, and the paths ahead looks brighter. The big question is “Which path to take?” After much soul searching, the new path becomes clearer each day.
When a colleague recently inquired about my future plans, I gave this answer:
After much consideration, I’m winding things down here. I’ll soon be 70, so I decided to kick back. Twenty years ago I’d be a bit more motivated.
Been referring consulting jobs to several younger guys which is working fine. Still doing training, which I really enjoy (and which pays well.)
However, I limit myself to no more than one class a month. In the old days it was not unusual for each of us be on the road 30-40 times a year with consulting and training projects. Lot’s of fun, but I don’t have the energy for that anymore.
Still tying up a few loose ends, but ready to move on. I’ve been doing the JumpToConsulting blog for about five years, and plan to ramp that up.
I’ll be doing a presentation “So You Want To Be A Consultant” at the IEEE EMC Symposium in Ottawa in July, which I may expand into an on-line class. There is a book in the wings too.
My overall goal is to slow down and enjoy life. Goof off more. Travel in the RV. Spend time playing with the dog, ham radio, and the grandkids.
Bill’s passing was a reminder that life is not infinite. We had a great time with our business, but as a recently retired consulting colleague said, “It’s time to forge a new path…” That idea appeals to me too.
So how about you? Is it time to forge a new path in your life?
My consulting business was only one of several paths I forged. And I am happy to share my experience here, in the hope that it may help others forge – or at least explore – their new path as a consultant.
© 2016 – 2017, https:. All rights reserved.
What excited you at ten years old???
You’re intrigued by consulting, but you’re bored with your job. The idea of the same old grind has little appeal. So what else might you try?
Ask yourself, “What excited me at ten years old?”
Many of you pursued a career that really didn’t interest you, but did it because it was the “right” thing to do. Maybe there was pressure to follow a parent’s footsteps, or maybe you were simply advised to “be sensible.”
If you are considering a JumpToConsulting, take a look at what once REALLY excited you. After all, if you are going to make the jump, it might as well be fun. Here are two stories:
A survey of engineers…
Many years ago, my late business partner mentioned how he was intrigued by a science fiction story about a machine that could think. He was ten years old. This eventually led to a career in Electrical Engineering. He also mused how disappointing it was to find out later that computers were really dumb. But he was still hooked on engineering.
My experience was similar. At nine years old, I build a crystal radio. Hearing the local radio station in the headphones was pure magic. Like my business partner, I was hooked. I later got into ham radio, and ended up as an Electrical Engineer.
Based on this observation, we started surveying our clients and students. When asked when our fellow engineers (both men and women) first became interested in things technical, it was often around ten years old. The answer was consistent hundreds of times.
A ham radio story…
In the mid-1990s, I had a client who was also a radio ham. Both of us had recently jumped back into the hobby, so whenever we met, we discussed our latest radio adventures.
One day I asked him, “Why is the appeal of this hobby, anyway? It is really kind of dumb. Why spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to talk to complete strangers, when you can do the same thing for free on the Internet?”
He thought for a minute, and then replied, “You know, when I sit down to the radio, it only takes five minutes and I’m ten years old again. It’s the magic.”
So what excited YOU at ten? Can you turn it into a business? Give this some thought if you are contemplating a JumpToConsulting, or any other career change.
P.S. Maybe you were lucky, like me, and discovered a passion early. Only later did I realize how many people did NOT follow a passion–often to their regret. But is never too late…
© 2016, https:. All rights reserved.
Good advice. By jumping ship into my last corporate job (over 30 years ago) I doubled my income the following year. And I got to work for a great company and a great boss.
How did I double? Moved back into sales engineering. My new base salary was the same as my old salary, plus I now got commissions, bonuses, and a company car. And it was great preparation for starting my own engineering consulting firm several years later.
So I heartily agree with jumping ship if you are unhappy with your compensation. And I heartily recommend technical sales or better yet, starting your own firm. Sure worked well for me.