David A Fields
JULY 11, 2017
Want to achieve the next big step up for your consulting firm? You’ve undoubtedly written goals, and I’ll bet you’ve crafted plans, too. But to generate a quantum leap in consulting revenue and profit, you need an Engineering Vision. Answer the seven questions in this article, and you’ll be poised for explosive growth.
Successful Independent Consulting
FEBRUARY 22, 2017
Everyone in business recognizes strong brands and understands their importance. Coca-Cola. Nike. Apple. These brands represent certain values. Their branding helps drive sales by keeping their products or services fresh in the consumer’s mind. Independent consultants need to think the same way. You need to be top-of-mind when the need for your expertise pops up so the client thinks to call you, or their colleague thinks to refer you.
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Consulting Success
MAY 22, 2017
We recently asked over 25,000 consultants about their approach to pricing and fees as part of our 2017 Consulting Fees Study. Below you’ll find the results from our survey as well as my commentary and observations. Pricing Structure. The most common pricing structure and approach for consultants is project based pricing. However, when you combine hourly rate and daily rate pricing (both are often, but not always, driven by number of hours involved) the ‘Hourly’ driven approach
Clarity Consultants
SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
Games have long held a position of power in the world of online content. Even before mobile devices became a popular form of game consumption, computer games were an excellent way for a user to interact with the online world. Gamification is so powerful because it is fun and addictive. People want to keep playing, they want to compete, they want to win prizes, and are happy to learn some important lessons along the way.
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.
Consulting Matters
DECEMBER 21, 2017
One of the most hilarious Saturday Night Live skits is the one where Christopher Walken demands from the “Don’t Fear the Reaper” band (Blue Oyster Cult) that he needed more cowbell from Will Ferrell. I was watching this skit the other day with a good friend of mine who is an actor. When we finally got a hold of ourselves and wiped the tears from our eyes after laughing so hard, he explained that this was so funny because Christopher Walken was just so committed to his role.
Management Consulting Connection brings together the best content for management consulting professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Management Consulted
MAY 21, 2017
For the last 4 years we’ve been running our popular Black Belt interview training courses – with tremendous success. Compared to a 3% acceptance rate at top consulting firms, 55% of our Black Belt Supreme participants have received 1 or more offers from top 10 firms. That means our Black Belt Supreme clients are 1800% more likely to receive an offer as opposed to going through the process alone.
Markovitz Consulting
JUNE 26, 2017
I was at a conference for internet retailers two weeks ago and was overwhelmed by the software and hardware solutions promising to solve all their operational problems and turn their ecommerce businesses into a highly profitable, eight figure monsters. They’re lying. Technology is not, by itself, the answer. If you have a broken process and you add technology, all you get is a faster (and more expensive) broken process.
Jacq Hackett Consulting
NOVEMBER 5, 2017
As a business owner, you’re going to have a better chance of winning business if you have a memorable, recognisable and professional brand. For those of us who’ve moved from the public sector into consulting, thinking of ourselves as a ‘business’ might be counter-intuitive, and the concept of ‘developing a brand’ for our business, daunting.
Steve Shu Consulting
DECEMBER 8, 2017
Just wanted to share a Harvard Business Review post by my colleague, Shlomo Benartzi. In a nutshell, the digital world opens up many possibilities to apply behavioral economics to help people. Shlomo mentions some research that he, Hal Hershfield, and I recently did with Acorns, a robo-saving app. How Digital Tools and Behavioral Economics Will Save Retirement.
Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System
Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Duke Heninger, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.
David A Fields
FEBRUARY 22, 2017
The third most common question I’m asked by consultants of all stripes from all types of firms is, “Where do you get the ideas for your articles week after week?” I keep hoping that will be followed up with, “May I donate a new Tesla to your collection?” but no one’s popped that question. Yet.
David A Fields
DECEMBER 26, 2017
Quick quiz! Which of the following is more useful: reading about how consultants should write emails, or listening to a flight attendant instruct you in buckling a seat belt. You’ve practiced both activities roughly a jillion times. But even if you’re strapped in tight, chances are your emails need some help.
Consulting Success
JUNE 26, 2017
I was about 25,000 feet up and seated on the right side of the DCH-8 plane. Looking out the window below, I could see beautiful turquoise water and the sea speckled with islands. The flight was short. Only 30 minutes to reach my island destination. I was meeting one of my first business mentors. A man named Kyoji, who had grown up on this island but had spent 40+ years travelling around the world building several international brands and businesses.
Successful Independent Consulting
AUGUST 16, 2017
"As an independent consultant, does it matter how I get paid?” Absolutely! In the U.S., being paid on a 1099 tax basis as a business instead of on a W-2 tax basis like a temp worker makes a huge difference to your profitability for two key reasons: You pay less tax. You save more for retirement. Here’s how I figured this out. Several years ago, as an independent consultant I did my taxes two ways using TurboTax® software.
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Mastering data visualization in PowerPoint will help accelerate your career because it positions you as someone who can present data that drives business decisions forward. think-cell's PowerPoint Best Practices eBook was created specifically for professionals aiming to master the art and science of data-driven storytelling. What’s inside: Practical Insights: Uncover valuable tips for crafting engaging and persuasive presentations.
David A Fields
MARCH 14, 2017
Writing a proposal’s easy when the prospect’s head over heels at the thought of procuring your services. But most prospects aren’t giddy at the thought of engaging you. That’s why you need a killer proposal. One that generates excitement and desire and overcomes the prospect’s natural reluctance to open his wallet.
Consulting Success
JULY 17, 2017
Start small and sell the end vision — how consultants can construct a valuable partnership with anyone from small startups to $2 billion companies. Description: Steve Shu is a management consultant who has worked and consulted for Vodafone, Allianz, Nortel, Lucent and Wolters Kluwer, as well as taught courses in the business school at Irvine University.
David A Fields
DECEMBER 5, 2017
Let’s say your consulting firm wants to lasso a few new clients. (Sounds far-fetched, but go with me.) You should search for companies whose number one, burning priority is addressing the problem your consulting firm solves, right? Wrong. For instance, let’s say you’re targeting the Fortune 500 newcomer ThimbleCurry, Inc.
Consulting Success
JULY 24, 2017
Set yourself apart in the consulting business by highlighting your specialty through customer stories and white papers. Description: There are few people that can consider themselves as great an expert on white papers as Gordon Graham. Gordon is a white paper writer and consultant who has has worked with Google, Oracle, Intuit, and many other Fortune 500 companies.
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Savings Consultants are needed in today’s market more than ever. With an increase in expenses, businesses are looking for opportunities to save. Often unknown to businesses are savings in expense reduction, specialized tax savings, specialized savings including medical underpayments, health benefits cost reduction, zero cost processing, and more. Blue Coast Savings, with over 20 years in business, assists Savings Consultants in helping these companies move toward more profitable businesses.
Consulting Success
APRIL 4, 2017
Would earning 100%, 200% even 300% more than you are now with your consulting fees be of interest? If you’d like to learn how to increase your fees so you can make more with every project that you take on and spend potentially less time on each project this will be relevant for you. In today’s article I’m going to explain how to establish value for your consulting fees.
Successful Independent Consulting
JULY 31, 2017
Most consultants I know struggle with business development, and it’s a top concern among those thinking about going independent. “ I don’t know how to build a pipeline of leads ” or “ I’m not good at sales ” are common refrains. Most of us never had sales training so this concern is understandable, but reframing how we think about business development can turn concern into action.
David A Fields
MAY 30, 2017
Wouldn’t you like to plant yourself across the desk from a prospect who’s dripping with extra cash and happens to be afflicted with exactly the problem you solve? Of course you would. Unfortunately, most executives don’t seem to leave puddles of money in their footsteps.
Successful Independent Consulting
SEPTEMBER 16, 2017
ID 46944176 © Dundja | Dreamstime. It takes practice to quote your consulting billing rate with confidence. The tactics in this article will help if you bill by the hour or by the day. There are other ways to bill for your talent and expertise but those will be covered in another article. Benchmark so you know your rate is reasonable. There are lots of ways to do this.
This White Paper targets opportunities for Management to develop proficiency in the Decision Framing and Analyses element of input to Decision, & Risk Analyses for Major Project Funding Decisions.
Consulting Success
JULY 31, 2017
Powerful strategies to help you build your consulting business by being consistent, relevant, and positioning yourself for success. Description: Jacob Morgan is the principal and co-founder of Chess Media Group, a management consulting and strategic advisory firm focusing on the future of work and collaboration. Jacob works with organizations that are looking to understand how changes in technology and behavior are impacting the way we work.
Consulting Success
OCTOBER 9, 2017
Transcript. Let’s talk about ideal clients for a moment and the importance of honing in and being clear as to who your ideal client is. You want to set up a very clear and specific set of criteria. The most effective marketing is marketing that polarizes. You don’t want to and shouldn’t want to try and attract the majority of the market place.
Consulting Success
SEPTEMBER 25, 2017
Transcript. There are three steps that you can take, three very simple actions you can take on a daily basis that will significantly help you to build your business if you’re not already doing something like this. Let’s get right into it. If you want to grow your business, right, essentially, there’s one thing that you always want to keep in mind and that is that you want to have more conversations.
Consulting Success
NOVEMBER 27, 2017
Transcript: Let’s talk about offers. Far too many consultants don’t make enough offers. Are you one of them? Are you finding reasons to delay? Are you allowing buyers to put you off by saying that they need more time or let’s talk in six weeks or six months or later in the year because whatever, whatever, whatever? Are you engaging, are you challenging buyers, or are you just letting them off the hook?
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Case studies are proof of successful client relations and a verifiable product or service. They persuade buyers by highlighting your customers' experiences with your company and its solution. In sales, case studies are crucial pieces of content that can be tailored to prospects' pain points and used throughout the buyer's journey. In marketing, case studies are versatile assets for generating business, providing reusable elements for ad and social media content, website material, and marketing c
David A Fields
JUNE 27, 2017
The design of your consulting firm determines your bottom line profit. If you’re a solo consultant, you might think that firm design doesn’t apply to you. You’d be wrong. It applies to you too. Reading articles should be fun, so here’s a tune to hum for the next couple of minutes: Walk Like an Egyptian.
Clarity Consultants
NOVEMBER 27, 2017
Developing the right learning programs and getting them to the right employees at the right time is a challenge almost every employer struggles with in building their learning and development strategy. Part of enabling your staff to accomplish business goals means providing them with the tools and resources they need to do their best. To help with that challenge, here are a few best practices to help you flesh out the best training programs just in time.
Consulting Success
OCTOBER 23, 2017
Transcript. Today I want to talk with you about a mindset that is incredibly important for established consultants. The mindset is what I call Foot on the Pedal. It becomes very important when your consulting business is taking off, when things are going well, when you have plenty of clients and plenty of opportunities surrounding you. The foot on the pedal mindset is essential.
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