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Tips on Consultng
The Independent Consultant’s Guide to Institutional Trust
Did you know that even as a solo, independent consultant, trust in your brand from the client perspective is as important, if not more so, than the client's trust in you as a consultant? For larger consulting firms, this fact probably goes without saying, but among...
The Triangle of Skills for Your Independent Consulting Business
As I've mentioned in many previous posts here at the Consulting Business School Blog, to run a successful independent consulting business, you need to be proficient in a range of skills beyond a technical knowledge of your chosen consulting field. Some of those...
How to Write Consulting Proposals and Actually Enjoy It
Many consultants I know (and I've met a few in my career) wish they'd never have to write another consulting proposal. With the exception of those on the verge of retirement though, it's a pretty vain wish, since few are the prospective clients who will engage a...
How to Safely Guarantee Your Consulting Services
It goes without saying that just about any product you buy will come with some degree of guarantee as to its quality. The same is also true of most services. But how can you possibly guarantee your consulting services, when your clients' outcomes depend as much upon...
Why You Should Master PowerPoint Before Consulting
If you've ever been involved in a project with external consultants (in your previous corporate life), you probably noticed that they seem to absolutely love PowerPoint presentations. The truth is, we don't spend hour upon hour making pretty slides for the fun of it...
Should I be a Consultant or a Contractor? What’s the difference?
This is another question I get asked a lot. And most people don't appreciate that the two are quite different. The confusion is understandable, honestly. Both contractors and consultants work outside the traditional employment structure, both get paid for their...
How To Structure a Consulting Proposal
Love them or hate them (most consultants hate them); consulting proposals will become a regular feature in your career as an independent consultant. If you can get away with winning a project without a proposal, consider it a significant achievement. A letter...
Planning for the Worst: Business Continuity for Independent Consultants
If you're going to start your own business as an independent consultant, with no business partners at all, one thing you need to think carefully about is business continuity, in case you fall victim to circumstances leaving you unable to work for an extended time....
Independent Consulting Challenges: Staying Connected and Up to Date
It's always good to know what challenges await you in a new career, and as rewarding as independent consulting is, you will face your share of challenges once your new business gets under way. In this post, I'd like to help you prepare for just one of those...