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 […]
This blog in not focused solely on Consulting, but also in achieving Independence (Occupational, Financial, and/or Locational). Consulting is but one way to achieve any or all. It has worked well for me, and why I share my personal experiences in hopes it may help others. Here are two books I recently read — memoirs […]
With the COVID pandemic, many businesses have seen drastic reductions in revenues. This includes consulting firms. So what do you do? Don’t panic. OK, maybe for a moment or so, but then put on your consulting thinking cap, and start figuring out some alternate plans. After all, that is what we do as consultants — solve problems […]
Time for another success story. This one is about Bill Gnan (PE) who started his engineering consulting firm 16 years ago. Obviously, he has been a success, and proof that it can be done. Engineers, take note! Met Bill at an engineering seminar I taught last week. Even in semi-retirement, I remain involved through teaching. […]
According to a recent survey of clients seeking technical consultants, these were the top four areas of need: Robotics Block Chain Cyber Security Artificial Intelligence This information courtesy of Michael Bryant in a webinar last week, Building the Consultant Practice of Tomorrow Using Today’s Online Tools. Fellow engineer Michael founded Software Synergistics, a successful software […]
Time for another success story. This one is about Ken Wyatt, who started his engineering consulting business upon early retirement, and who consults in the same area as me. Do I consider him a competitor? No more so than a doctor considers another doctor a competitor. He is a friend and valued engineering colleague, and […]
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 […]
It gives me great pleasure to introduce our latest success story, Dr. Susan Kimmel – the daughter of my late business partner Bill Kimmel. Susan received her PhD in Business from the University of Michigan. After trying teaching, Susan decided academia was not for her, so she pursued a career in market research. This eventually […]
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, […]
Bill Schweber is a fellow member of the Laid-Off-Twice club. When it happened the second time two years ago, he decided to hang out his shingle and has been having a ball ever since. Bill is an Electrical Engineer who specializes in technical communications. His quick success is no surprise. Engineers who can communicate effectively […]
As promised in a recent post, here is Marty Zwilling’s “success story.” His story should be of special interest to boomers, as he started his consultancy after he retired – the first time. Geeks too – he was part of the team behind the IBM PC. Marty specializes in helping new entrepreneurs get started. Thus, […]
Always love it when a former engineer does well! And Bob Bly, a chemical engineer by training, has done very well as a marketing consultant who specializes in copywriting and related services. Bob also shares his knowledge and ideas through a free e-mail newsletter, which I have received for several years. He has written 80 […]
This recently arrived in my mail box, and I wanted to share it. It certainly made my day! This is from Catherine at ViewThatData.com, who I featured a few months back in an earlier post. Sounds like she is making great progress towards her goals of both occupational independence and financial independence. Hi Daryl, I hope this finds […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Boomers and geeks take note! Close to retirement, and wondering about consulting? My long time friend Don shows you a way. Fresh out of engineering school, Don and I worked together in the late 1960’s at Collins Radio. In addition to both being EEs (Electrical Engineers), we shared a common interest in amateur (ham) radio […]
As the Boy Scouts say… be prepared! Because Dave was prepared, he was able to make a rewarding career change to consulting after unexpectedly losing his job. Dave’s experience was a actually a catalyst for Kimmel Gerke Associates. I knew Dave casually, and my business partner was pretty good friends with him. It was the […]
Roger Boisjoly, P.E. – Truthteller This success story is a shining example for all consultants — not just engineers. Roger is best known for trying to stop the Challenger Space Shuttle Launch in January 1986 due to his concerns about faulty O-rings in the rocket boosters. Although often referred to as a whistleblower, Roger prefers […]
Gene K. Baxter, Ph.D., P.E. – Baxter Engineering I met Gene a dozen years ago through a professional group in Phoenix. A mechanical engineer, Gene specializes in forensic consulting (accident investigations, product failures, etc.) Typical clients are attorneys or insurance companies that need a professional to investigate and assist in legal proceedings and, if it […]
