Curious about consulting? How to get started? My FREE one hour introductory webinar on consulting is now available on line. Click here. Learn some basics on how to start, build, and maintain a small part-time for full-time consulting practice. I briefly address four key questions I’m regularly asked: How do you get leads? How […]
Time for a mini-rant… While walking the dog (Sami the Shih Tzu) a few nights ago, I was struck with an epiphany of sorts. It involved a neighbor and his vehicles. Parked in his driveway were a new Cadillac Escalade and a new Audi, along with a pretty nice Harley motorcycle. Nothing wrong with that, except he […]
When trying to decide on what to consult… don’t go with the cool stuff that everybody else wants to do (and thus won’t pay for)… rather, go with the hard stuff that others don’t want to do (and will gladly pay for.) We learned that lesson thirty years ago transitioning from part-time to full-time consulting. […]
If you are a consulting firm, consider adding training to your services… if you are a training firm, consider adding consulting. There is a strong synergy between the two. I recently enrolled in a course on how to develop on-line training classes. Two goals: JumpToConsulting – Develop a multi-module course for newbies (or choose just […]
Curious about consulting? How to get started? Join me for this FREE one-hour webinar. Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 2PM EST Register Here Sponsored by the IEEE* Consultants Network *Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers – my professional society. Learn some basics on how to start, build, and maintain a small part-time for full-time consulting […]
Another year gone… and once again time to reflect… and to look forward. Got this idea from The Art of Nonconformity, and have done it each year since 2011. So 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 […]
Have a Merry Christmas … or else… Thank you for your interest in my work at both JumpToConsulting and EMIGURU. Wishing you the joy, peace, and happiness of he season, and all the best in 2018! From our house to yours — Uncle Daryl, Mary, and Sami the Shih Tzu. © 2017, https:. All rights […]
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, […]
Thanksgiving is here again, and it is good to show gratitude. Sadly, that seems to be lacking in today’s polarized world. But here are some things I am grateful for: My parents — Although both gone, they poured their love into my brother and me, and offered us the encouragement to be whatever we wanted […]
Just hung out the flag – something we do each Veteran’s Day. We do so to honor our veterans – two in particular – my brother-in law, and a college friend. Rest in peace, Sgt. Melbye. You can read a tribute to my BIL – A Veteran’s Day Story. Rest in peace, Pvt. Novak. Vietnam took […]
Ever been in a meeting where some jackass wastes everyone’s time with trivial arguments? Just happened to me at a recent HOA (Home Owner’s Association) meeting. Thus, this blog post… As consultants, it is often our job to keep meetings on track and to keep clients focused on the important issues — not the trivial. […]
As a history buff, I found some real wisdom in a recent article about General George C. Marshall, a man highly revered for his management, wisdom, and consideration of others. One week after Pearl Harbor, he placed then Col. Eisenhower in charge of military planning and operations. Here is Eisenhower’s recollection many years later. Just […]
A critical test of a business is how it handles mistakes. Done right, you will have a customer for life. Done wrong, and you will lose them forever. That is what is so perplexing about Donald Trump – who never apologizes. As a “successful” businessman, you would think he would know better. But apparently not. […]
It was 30 years ago today – the day the market crashed in 1987 – that I began consulting full time. Talk about timing! I’ve often mused the FIRST day in business was the WORST day in business. All that followed were better! No, I don’t think Kimmel Gerke Associates caused the market to crash. But […]
Good advice from a consulting newsletter by Dr. Alan Weiss, the “Million Dollar Consultant.” He graciously allowed me to reprint it here. I remember working in my early years as a consultant with a company that had a defective product problem. They responded by sending two of the products for every one returned. That’s right, […]
Here are some marketing references from Michael Katz, the Chief Penguin of Blue Penguin Development, a marketing service firm for solo professionals. Although I’ve never met Michael, I have been a fan for some time. Last summer I even supported an on-line broadcast for the Blue Penguin Content Club. Unfortunately the Content Club has been discontinued, but […]
Contemplating consulting, but unsure how to get the business? Consider a stint in sales as a bridge to consulting. That is what I did as a Sales Engineer, and am I ever glad I did. Since sales & marketing are central to starting and building a consulting firm, the experience was invaluable. Without the sales experience, […]
Time for a mini-rant… While I try to stay politically neutral, this seems particularly appropriate these days… Don’t mix business with bigotry! Last year I read about a pizza place that was under fire for saying they would not serve at a gay wedding. Then they whined that the press was out to crucify them. Really? […]
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 […]
Last week I got some lessons in leadership. Not from a client, but from a chance meeting with the mayor of a small city in Indiana. Some background… In town to teach an engineering class, I decided to stay at a Bed and Breakfast. A history buff, it was great fun to stay in a […]
