Time for another interview with another successful consulting engineer — Kellie Hedrick, PE, of Environmental Process Solutions PLLC. Kellie is a Civil Engineer and a Registered Professional Engineer (PE), and specializes in wastewater treatment. How about that for a unique consulting niche? She has been in full time practice since 2010, and is located in […]
Here is a reply I posted over at RainToday.com on an article by Michael W. McLaughlin titled “Should You Really Take On That Client?” In my 30+ years as a consulting engineer, I’ve had to “fire” a couple of clients. Like you, I apply the “life is too short” rule to put up with deadbeats […]
This question was posted recently on LinkedIn. Can’t help myself … I just had to jump in… marketing a consulting practice is a favorite topic! I am a CPA who would like to would like to own my own CPA firm, but clients have been hard to come by. Any ideas on a proven marketing […]
Using a sales agent sounds like the ideal method for those who don’t like sales and marketing. Just pay someone else to do it, right?. Unfortunately, nobody cares for your business like you do, so I do NOT recommend this as a primary source of business. To be blunt, if you are not ready and […]
Here is an interesting comment recently posted on LinkedIn that I thought might be of interest: Do You Own a Business or Do You Own a Job? This question was posed to me not long ago. I have often considered whether “I owned a Business or it Owned ME!” But when I was asked the […]
Thinking about consulting, but not ready to go full time? Then consider consulting as a side hustle. You will learn a lot, and it will be much easier if/when you make your full-time JumpToConsulting. First heard this phrase back in 2010 from fellow Arizona blogger Pam Slim at Escape From Cubicle Nation. I’ve sung her […]
Just got this e-mail from “C,” who you have already met in previous posts. We kept her name private, but she is now happy to share some details of her brand new consulting practice. Catherine helps organizations better organize, analyze, and use their client/member databases using mapping technology. This is based on her years of […]
No doubt about it, referrals are a leading source of leads for established consultants. But how do you get leads and testimonials when just starting out? Simple… ask for them! Yes, I know that asking for something scares a lot of people. What if they reject you? Don’t worry — most people won’t. If they […]
Or, one reason I finally became an independent consultant… I chuckle to myself every time I’m reminded of this story. Recently posted this as a reply at Perry Marshall’s blog. Incidentally, Perry is another engineer who broke the corporate bonds and went on to found a very successful Internet marketing business. Thought I was in […]
In my last post, I discussed how consulting eventually led me to Financial Independence. The primary focus was prior to making my JumpToConsulting. In this post, I’ll elaborate on things done at and after my break for freedom. First, I put away a startup stash. This is key, as there is nothing worse than having […]
Since it is the Fourth of July, a rant on independence seemed appropriate. After all, it was my overwhelming desire for Occupational Independence that got me into consulting in the first place. When I started my consulting practice, I was NOT Financially Independent (FI) — which I define as being able to quit one’s job […]
Here is a question from Cheryl at the Business Consulting Buzz group: Has anyone had luck at using workshops as a sales tool? I am considering this in my area at no charge to increase my client base. Has anyone been successful doing this? If so, what have you found to be the best time […]
Here is my first “interview” — Jacob Beningo of Beningo Engineering. It was his newsletter that provided the humor in the previous post. Jacob speciaizes in the “development and design of quality, robust embedded systems.” He has a degree in Electrical Engineering (another gEEk), started consulting in 2009, and has been on his own since […]
10 Signs You Might Be A Consultant… (1) Your largest expense is socks from never leaving the house. (More wear and tear) (2) Business casual is khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt (3) 3 months of vacation a year just doesn’t quite feel long enough (4) Bean counters panic when they see you (5) Afternoon […]
Should you pay referral fees? That question was recently posted at LinkedIn on the Business Consulting Buzz group: Referral Fees for Independent Consultants? Interested in your opinions: As an independent Consultant, would you be willing to pay and/or receive referral fees? Here is my reply: As consulting engineers, we are concerned that referral fees might […]
Another quick question from reader C, that generated the grist for this post. Thanks, C! I’m going to a networking event for small business/non-profits, and it has occurred to me that I need a quick elevator speech. Like “Hi I’m C from … we help people view and analyze their data by using maps” Most […]
As a follow up to an earlier post on LLCs, reader C asked about fees. Here is my response: Hi Daryl, Thanks for the advice on LLCs… Another quick question — how do you go about setting up your fees? C Hi C, Glad my advice helped. Still remember the questions I had many years […]
Can’t believe we just hit 100 blog posts! Who would have thought there were a hundred things to say about starting and building a small consulting practice? Well, after two years, there are still plenty of ideas to share and explore. In fact, my original list of possible posts has actually grown. As soon as […]
One of my favorite stories, I often share this with wanabee or newbie consultants. It goes like this: Pat and Mike are out in the woods hunting. They hear a lot of noise in the brush, and suddenly a bear appears fifty yards away. They decide to run. But after a few yards, Pat stops, […]
As a consultant, you can’t know everything. Sometimes you need to bring in other experts. When you do, it is much easier if you have greased the skids ahead of time. Here is a geek story from my college days. Ernie was an ME (mechanical engineering) student, and a good one at that. However, he […]
