Monthly Archives: January 2021
A new consultant makes the JumpToConsulting…
This just showed up in my email –it made my day! I hope it makes yours too…
Hi Daryl,
I had a video chat with you quite a few months ago. I finally have a moment to breathe and thought I would give you an update (whether you want it or not…haha). I decided to resign from my steady job and paycheck in September and started consulting.
The day I gave my notice, I was taken out to dinner and offered a job to work for someone else. I declined and have had to decline several other job offers. I have been so busy doing jobs for my own business that I haven’t hardly had time to think.
I’m about to get a pretty good sized contract to provide site support for a mine that just fired it’s engineer. I’m in tight with the corporate guy running the job and he’s thinking it’ll be a good 6-12 months at 20-30 hours a week. It’ll be good to have a steady income but it will also be good to be able to do other jobs as well with extra hours in the week.
Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update and give you a giant THANK YOU!!! for the content on your website as well as the time you gave me during our chat – both of which pushed me to make my decision to Jump to Consulting…
Thank you,
Ryan Perkins, PE
Here is my reply…
Hi Ryan,
Congratulations! And welcome to the wacky world of consulting!
It sounds like you are off to a rousing start. The part time contract is great, as it will give you both steady business and a cushion without tying you down so you can still develop other business.
I followed the same path with a commitment to use me for training and a commitment to use me for backup at a test lab. Both assured me at least 40 hours a month for the first couple of years.
But keep on marketing — too many people don’t and then fail when the jobs stop. And work to develop a number of clients so you are not too dependent on any one or two.
I’m not surprised about your job offers. I had the same thing happen—one even before I started and several more after hanging out the shingle.
I did not expect it, but soon realized that having the confidence and experience to go on your own was seen as desirable by many employers. Owners and managers are always looking for those who are self-starters and willing to take calculated risks.
IMHO best to avoid the temptation to crawl back into the corporate womb. But it is nice to know there are options if things don’t work out. Besides, an opportunity just might present itself that is too good to pass up. And even then it need not be forever. (See this blog post. )
But once you have tasted freedom, it is hard to give it up.
Best wishes,
Daryl
Always delighted to see a fellow engineer make the JumpToConsulting. It sounds like Ryan is well on his way, and I’m happy to have made a small contribution to his success.
The video meeting Ryan referred to was in conjunction with the free monthly teleconference. As I recall, it was just Ryan and me on the call. The teleconferences usually range from one to a dozen and are always fun and interesting. If you are at all interested in consulting (even if you are just sticking your toe in the water), join us here.
Although Ryan does not yet have a web site, you can reach him at Ryan@des-nv.com
The FREE Monthly Teleconference is Back!
Join us with your questions – or just listen in learn
“Ask Daryl Anything About Consulting”
© 2021, https:. All rights reserved.
2020 Annual Review…
As the year ends and another begins, it is once again time to reflect and plan.
Got this idea years ago from The Art of Nonconformity, and have done it each year since.
As always, I’ll review three categories:
- JumpToConsulting (www.jumptoconsulting.com)
- EMI-GURU aka Kimmel Gerke Associates, Ltd. (www.emiguru.com)
- Personal (www.linkedin.com/in/darylgerke)
But first, a quick overview…
The JumpToConsulting project is now TEN years old! Little did I know it would last that long — but now over 320 posts, an E-Book, and a Webinar for the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers – my professional society.)
The book and webinar were gratis, small payback to the IEEE for contributions to my career. In fact, to date it has all been gratis, although I plan a some short on-line courses for a nominal fee to help finance my blogging addiction 🙂
My primary goal has been to help interested colleagues learn how to start/build/operate a small consulting practice.
Many of the blog posts are the result of your questions, so please feel free to ask. Your questions and feedback inspire me to keep going.
The EMI-GURU project is now over FORTY-TWO years old (part time since 1978 — full time since 1987.) It has been great fun, and quite successful. I made a lot of friends, traveled the world, and am comfortably “semi-retired” – whatever that means.
EMI-GURU let me to practice my profession as an Electrical Engineer in a ways I could not even imagine as a college student or young engineer. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Much of what is discussed here is based EMI-GURU experiences. The stuff I talk about is not theory — rather, it is real world and based on those 40+ years of consulting!
LOOKING BACK on 2020…
Jump-to-Consulting – The blog is now over 320 posts. The blog has helped several new consultants. That includes both genders – consulting is a great way to break glass ceilings and stereotypes. Along with a great way to become independent and free!
Resurrected the MONTHLY TELECONFERENCE (“Ask Daryl Anything About Consulting.”) Not only has this been satisfying, it has been a great source for new blog posts. Please feel free to join us here.
The short course? Still on the to-do list. More details below.
EMI-GURU – Has morphed into a part-time training firm. No longer consulting, I refer almost all inquiries to colleagues.
Thanks to COVID, switched to on-line classes this year. Been considering this for several years, and they all went well. Also attended two on-line conferences, and joined a program to learn more about on-line training. It is a HOT topic.
Teaching is a long time passion – nothing like seeing a student suddenly “get it.” And it adds great synergy to consulting.
Personal — COVID kept us hunkered down in AZ this year, but we look forward to heading north to MN as soon as the vaccine makes us feel save to travel. We missed grandkids (and two high school graduations) but hopefully better times are ahead.
Sami the rescue mutt continues to bring joy as a “personal therapist”, along with daily exercise as a “personal trainer.”
LOOKING FORWARD to 2021…
Jump-to-Consulting – Continue with the free monthly teleconference, along with some on-line classes.
The first topic is “So You Want To Be a Consultant” (an expansion of the free webinar) envisioned as five or six one hour modules. (Scroll down to “Courses”for details.)
Thinking a pilot class with live webinars. The pilot will be interactive, at a reduced fee. Attendee feedback and ideas will help refine the class.
Watch the blog for more details. Better yet, drop me a line if you are interested in participating in the pilot.
EMI-GURU –No more live on-site classes- all future classes will be on-line. Both in-house and public offerings. No more travel, plus classes available to a wider audience. Two multi-day classes, reformatted for on-line:
- EMC in Military Systems – currently offered via the Applied Technology Institute
- Design for EMC – currently exploring with a sponsor/partner
Over 12,000 students have attended these classes. I’m excited about the move to on-line. Watch EMI-GURU for more details, or contact me here.
Personal – Still on the HOA board. Had planned to leave, but decided to stay to protect my interests. Happy to share my consulting skills and experience, but still weary of dealing with a few self-centered “terminally unhappy” homeowners. Tempted to sell, but the property remains a good investment.
Plans are to continue to continue learning and implementing on-line programs; spend time reading/writing; and travel again in our little RV. Fire up the ham radio; play with Sami the Shih Tzu mutt; and just goof off.
Wishing you all the best in 2021 — and THANK YOU for reading my blog
The FREE Monthly Teleconference is Back!
Join us with your questions – or just listen in learn
“Ask Daryl Anything About Consulting”
© 2021, https:. All rights reserved.
