Welcome to the wonderful world of Consulting. It's a world I know well, having lived it for more than 30 years. What does a Consultant do? Well I'm glad you asked. Consultants are brought into a project for the expertise, to speed the project along, and to share their knowledge with the Client. Consultants are sought more for their wisdom than for their advice. I try to help the Client come to wise decisions rather than telling them what they should do - nobody likes to be told what they should do. I get to travel, meet new people, work in various industries and feel the satisfaction of the team having done our job well. This book is about the basics of Consulting. I wrote it to help those who are new at Consulting, so they don't feel like they're flailing around on their own, not sure what they're supposed to do, act, or what's available to them as a Consultant.

Learn the fundamentals for a successful career in ConsultingFollow these 101 tips to become an expert consultant Consulting 101 is an instructional and easy to read book providing 101 tips for success in consulting. Using case studies in many of the tips, Lew Sauder provides the reader with real world situations that he has experienced and observed over his more than 25 year career. Consulting 101 provides advice on:How to develop strong relationships with clientsHow to develop a sales focus early in your consulting careerHow to become a better communicatorHow to develop your personal brand to advance your career fasterAnd much more

The Long-Awaited Update for Buildinga Thriving Consultancy Completely updated for today’s busier-than-ever consultants, this classic guide covers the ins andouts for competing and winning in this ultracompetitive field. You’ll find step-by-step advice on howto raise capital, attract clients, create a marketing plan, and grow your business into a $1 million-per-yearfirm, plus brand-new material on: Blogging and social networking Global consulting Delegating labor Profiting in a troubled market Retainer business Internet marketing Praise for the previous editions of Million Dollar Consulting: “If you’re interested in becoming a rich consultant, this book is a must read.” Robert F. Mager, founder and president, Mager Associates, and member of the Training & Development Hall of Fame “Blast out of the per diem trap and into value billing.” Jim Kennedy, founder, publisher, and editor, Consultants News “The advice on developing price structure alone is worth a hundred times the price of the book.” William C. Byham, Ph.D., author of Zapp! “Must reading for those who are beginning a practice orseeking to upgrade an existing practice.” Victor H. Vroom, John G. Searle Professor, School of Management, Yale University

Ah, the life of a consultant. Sleeping late, working in your pajamas until noon, never having to do anything you don't like. It's exactly what everyone dreams about, right? Wrong! If you've ever wondered what it's really like to be a learning and development consultant and what it takes to become a successful one, then you need this book. If you decide to go for it-or if you've already taken the plunge—Consulting Basics can help you every step of the way. You'll learn about: The four things you must have before becoming a consultant: Realities of daily work life on your own How to sell yourself, find clients, and develop proposals The client's point of view and how it impacts you Setting up your practice effectively and professionally. Along the way, you'll find charts, checklists, anecdotes, examples, and questionnaires to help you gain perspective, navigate your choices, and move forward. An appendix provides sample written agreements so that you'll have essential documents as soon as the need arises. Consulting Basics is comprehensive, yet it's a quick and pleasant read.

Consultants are called upon more and more to help implement needed organizational changes, fill gaps in workforce capabilities, and solve significant business problems. As the demand for consultants increases, it is critical that practitioners differentiate themselves and understand how they can be most successful, for themselves and their clients. The Basic Principles of Effective Consulting details what effective consultants do and provides a step by step process of just how they do it. The Second Edition of The Basic Principles of Effective Consulting is fully updated with real-life cases. End-of-chapter summaries foster both mastery and engagement, as well as providing a quick reference throughout a consultant’s career. In addition, each chapter includes a section "From the experts" written by successful consultants and users of consultants’ services. These experts share ideas and tips about their own consulting experiences that relate to chapter material. The book is written for entry level and seasoned consultants, project managers, staff advisors, and anyone who wants to learn (or be reminded of) the basic principles of effective consulting. The book is well suited as an excellent textbook for college courses on consulting, organizational training, and a lifetime go-to consultant’s resource.

From the moment of their first client engagement, consultants in all fields face communication opportunities and challenges. No matter what their focus may be-professional services, accounting, technology, operations, human resources, manufacturing, or marketing-consultants drive change. That change, from its initial definition through its development and deployment, must be precisely communicated to a variety of audiences and through a variety of mediums. Most business communication books do a good job leading professional writers and presenters through the basics of audience, organization, formatting, and mechanics. But, only few focus on a specific business role, such as that of a consultant, and give guidance for communicating during all stages of a project. From the pre-engagement process, to the actual engagement, to the post-engagement follow-up, consultants are challenged by the variety of audiences whose roles continually shift throughout a project. This book guides a current or would-be consultant through the various phases of a typical engagement and gives practical advice and direction on written and oral communication throughout a project. Current and future consultants in all fields will gain specific knowledge about writing and presenting to a variety of audiences including clients, team members, managers, and executives.

Whether you’re a beginner just starting up a consulting practice, or a veteran looking for ways to invigorate your existing business, An Insider’s Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice is an invaluable resource. Featuring real stories from consultants in diverse industries, the book offers simple yet powerful ways to: Identify a market and narrow your focus • Make a smooth transition from employee to independent consultant • Sell effectively even if you’ve never sold before • Establish visibility through speaking, writing, and networking • Build credibility by leveraging the credibility of others • Set prices based on value • Develop a marketing strategy and divide your time between marketing and delivering your services • Keep plenty of work in your pipeline • Adapt and thrive in any market condition • And much more Complete with the results of an original survey of 200 successful independent consultants, this handy guide provides the kind of real-life advice you need to build a thriving business.