discernment

March 6, 2007 by  

This headline grabbed me because I very recently blogged about it here.

The Lot of the Consultant: Explaining What You Do

But I was disappointed to find it mostly a collection of trite quotes that add up to a whole lot of nothing. Right. Its a fact that there are a lot of solo professional services firms (psf’s) out there making it all the more important to be remarkable in everthing we do for our business and for our clients. We know this, so we hold this intention, ignore what contradicts it, and refuse to counter-intend.

Most of the so-called ‘expert’ advice out there will have you focused on everything but being creative and remarkable, such as, the pros and cons of the word ‘consulting’.

While multinational companies have turned consulting into a big money maker, the term can be an albatross for individuals. Consultants, defined as experts who charge a fee for advice or opinions — versus something tangible like completed tax returns — tend to face more questions because they are not attached to a company. The skepticism is high “when it’s about work that people create themselves,” said Ms. Norman, who is based in New York and Miami.

Or, on the statistics about incorporated solo consultants. Incorporated?!:

The government does not keep statistics on the number of independent contractors, but the Society for Advancement of Consulting, a group based in East Greenwich, R.I., estimates that about 200,000 solo practitioner consultants are incorporated in the United States, at least double the number from the 1970s. About 5 percent of the current total make high six-figure or seven-figure incomes, the group estimates.

I checked out this Society’s site and thought, hmmm..the experts on solo practioners? Looks like the main benefit is that for your $300 fee they do some background check to make sure you’re squeaky clean. Made me think of a famous CEO’s (can’t remember who) quote I read somewhere: “nothing to hide, nothing to offer”.

Or, and here’s some wisdom that will knock your socks off..what to put on your answering machine!

Consultants who work from home should have an answering machine message that refers to the business, not the family. Present the company “as an entity that looks like an independent business,” said Deirdre MacCallen, a recruiter and partner at Butterfass, Pepe & MacCallen in Mahwah, N.J., an executive search firm that specializes in the investment industry.

I’m not saying that this advice is untrue or totally worthless, but its “duh” and old school and distracting for the truly creative p.s.f. If it gets to you, or God forbid, makes you doubt your value or renegade spirit – try channeling Neil Young (works for me):

“Don’t let it bring you down
It’s only castles burning,”

“Vintage video”

(Via NYT > Job Market.)

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