Consulting for Geeks…
Just gave a talk titled “Consulting for Geeks – So You Want to be a Consultant?” at DesignCon2012 in Santa Clara, CA. With over 100 attendees, it confirmed my suspicion that many of my technical colleagues are considering consulting — at least secretly anyway.
And why not? If you are a professional (engineer, architect, accountant, lawyer, doctor, nurse, etc.) and are tired of being micro-managed (or mis-managed), consulting can be the way to go. You can gain some independence (the biggie for me), and you get to keep the profits you generate too.
You may not get filthy rich, but in the long run, you may do better that staying in the corporate world. Plus you may have a lot more fun. After 30+ years (25 years in full time practice), that is how it has worked for me. No regrets whatever for making my own JumpToConsulting. Well — maybe one — that I didn’t do it sooner!
The decision to go out on your own is not without risks. Ask your self, “What is the worst thing that could happen? ” Sure, you might have to grovel and go back to a “real” job. I did that when the first try at full-time consulting didn’t work. But like Bob Parsons of GoDaddy says in his Rule #4, “Well … if it doesn’t work, they can’t eat you.”
The biggest hurdle for many is how to get started. Hopefully, my blog can help. But for more details, I’m planning a five part webinar series on consulting later this year. Topics will include:
- Introduction – An overview with four key questions.
- Marketing – Defining your niches and getting the leads.
- Sales – Collateral, contracts, and closing the deals.
- Financial & Legal – Fee setting, advisors, professional licenses, & more.
- Getting Started – Part time/full time, setting up your office, and commencing your marketing.
The series won’t be free (still gotta pay the JumpToConsulting project expenses), but the cost will be nominal, and the series will include group Q&A sessions to further enhance learning the “nuts and bolts” of consulting.
Watch my blog for more details on the upcoming webinars. Better yet — sign up for personal notifications (eNEWS…) or drop me an email (daryl at jumptoconsulting dot com) for more details on the webinars.
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Fantastic information. I think for a lot of people interested in consulting, marketing is the hardest part. In addition to your great suggestions, I would highly suggest joining an Expert Network like Gerson Lehrman Group, Maven Research, or CognoLink. Expert Networks are a good way to connect with people interested in your industry, and a great way to hone your presentation skills.
Thanks for the comment. I’ve been with Intota for many years, and have found it useful. Like the term “micro-consulting…”