WHY did you start this blog?

A comment from my older son, combined with an unscratched itch.

Last year, my son (the same age when I started consulting full time) said, “Dad, we should talk about consulting…”  He is only one of many people over the years who have inquired about consulting.  Most were just curious, but several have made a successful JumpToConsulting.

Well, I’d been harboring the idea of a introductory book on consulting (the unscratched itch) for several years anyway.

• A book aimed at the novice thinking about consulting — not necessarily the expert already in practice.

• A simple primer on consulting, based on my own experience — sharing things learned over 30+ years of starting and running a successful engineering consulting business.

• A guide for those who might want to follow the same path — or at least, those who want to check it out.

The book has been outlined, and there is even a big fat file of notes.  But having written/co-authored a couple of successful technical books, and remembering how much work went into those books, I kept putting it off.

Then, the blog idea struck.  Why not just start writing small pieces, and share them right away?  Furthermore, a blog can provide feedback through comments and questions from readers.

Will I still write the book? That’s the plan.  It will be a small legacy and a big “thank you” to those who helped me begin my consulting journey.  It will also be a “thank you” to you, dear readers, who will have become part of the process too.   And “thank you”, son, for getting me started.

WHO should read this blog?

Anyone curious about the mysteries of consulting.  Here are some examples of what I envision as a typical blog reader:

• You’re a frustrated corporate (rat) engineer (like I was 30+ years ago), and you wonder what its like to be a consultant, and how to get there.

• You’re a “big firm” accountant (like my accountant was 30+  years ago), and you’ve thinking about hanging out your own shingle.

• You’re an architect (like an ex-neighbor), and you want to do some  moonlighting.

• You’re a lawyer who just wants to do something else (like an airplane seat mate who started her own firm on jury selection and is now having a ball.)

• You’re a retiree who wants to stay involved ,like a friend who volunteered her skills to a local Native American school, and who ended up getting paid to travel all over the state — providing her immense satisfaction and enhancing her retirement.

Or maybe you are just thinking about joining the consulting/coaching ranks, and you’re seeking some practical information from someone who has actually been there.

WHAT  will you cover?

A wide range of topics.  The blog follows two parallel tracks:

• The first track  focuses on the “nuts and bolts”  of the consulting business — marketing, sales, finances, fees, operations, and more.

• The second track is more general, and includes  success stories, resources, anecdotes, and perhaps even an occasional rant.

Initially, I’ve identified over 200 topics to discuss.  That should keep us going for a while.  With your feedback, I’m sure we’ll find even more.

WHEN will you update your blog?

The goal is to post once or twice a week, alternating between tracks.  Since I’m still involved with my full time engineering practice, that may occasionally slip if my schedule gets too hectic.

As such, you may want to subscribe to the RSS feed if you don’t want to check in.

WHERE will this take us?

Who knows? But life is a journey — and you’re invited to ride along with me for a while.

In closing, here is a favorite quote that captures the spirit of my blog.  This plaque has hung on my wall for years:

“It is good to be a seeker,
But sooner or later you have to be a finder,
And then it is well to give what you have found,
A gift into the world,
For whoever will accept it.”
– Jonathan Livingston Seagull (by Richard Bach), one of my favorite books.

May you enjoy the gift of my blog…

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