Lead Change Blog

MARCH 11, 2020

If you’re tired of scrambling to find yet another client after a contract ends, it’s time for you to take your consulting, coaching, or facilitating business to the next level and gain some serious traction. Chris Taylor, founder of Actionable Books, spends his daylight hours helping consultants and employees alike find meaning in their work and discover rich team relationships. The post The Consultant’s Paradox appeared first on Lead Change.

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N2Growth Blog

JULY 7, 2019

You also remember the Consultants. As a consumer of consulting services for more years than I care to admit, I have developed a well defined view of a typical engagement. To illustrate the viewpoint of a consumer of consulting services, I want to present a satirical view of a typical engagement. Disclaimer: This article is intended to be a satirical depiction of a consulting engagement. The first item on the agenda was a proposal by ACME Consulting.

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Resistance Consultative Cooper Proposal 251

Lead Change Blog

APRIL 18, 2017

With over 35 years under my belt as an independent consultant, I’ve learned much about how to make life work and make work come alive. In that sense, I wish everyone could be a consultant. But, I have noticed that employees who assume the style and manner of a successful independent consultant are the ones that get ahead and seem to have a great time doing it! Still, there are features of work life as an independent consultant that can be embraced by anyone in a work role.

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David A Fields

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

You can create the perfect dashboard for your consulting firm by combining two ideas we’ve explored previously. The post The Perfect Dashboard for Consulting Firms appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Tools Article 92

David A Fields

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

The post Are You Making this Rookie Mistake at Your Consulting Firm? All Articles Consulting ConsultantsPlenty of athletes earn fame and recognition for their brilliant, first year (a.k.a., their rookie year).

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Consultative Career Planning Article 85

David A Fields

AUGUST 25, 2020

Every decision maker who’s regularly in conversation with your consulting firm is a high-potential source of projects and revenue. The post How to Rekindle Relationships with Your Consulting Firm’s Buyers appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Project How To Article 108

David A Fields

APRIL 14, 2020

Many of your consulting firm’s prospects are caught in the eddies of crisis and battling to stay afloat. On the other hand, you know who’s in the same boat as your consulting firm and casting about for … Continued. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Crisis Article 142

N2Growth Blog

JUNE 24, 2014

GLOBAL CONSULTING & DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION. All this got me thinking about another industry and disruptive innovation: Consulting. At one time there were a few large and highly professional consulting firms who provided advisory services and business expertise. As a result the big consulting firms ended up producing “solutions” and new approaches that were complex, expensive, and highly invasive. By John R. Childress.

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Disruptive Innovation Consultative Innovation Christensen 286

David A Fields

AUGUST 18, 2020

Imagine how fun this would be at your consulting firm: you and your colleagues launch every day with a towering pile of valuable gifts that will make the hours more productive and effective. The post The 7 Greatest Gifts You Can Give Your Consulting Firm appeared first on David A.

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David A Fields

JANUARY 7, 2020

You know a rain barrel full of reasons why your consulting firm is better than other firms that do what you do. Hence, when Bethany Buttonwerk asked you why her company should work with your consulting firm instead of others she’s … Continued. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Course Company Article 146

David A Fields

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

Consulting is an enormously fun business. The post Your Consulting Firm’s Critical, Oft-Ignored Strategic Guidewire appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Politics Article 85

David A Fields

MAY 26, 2020

You could answer a debate my team and I have engaged in: the best way to create a quantum leap in a small consulting firm’s performance. Plenty of folks are chattering about how your consulting firm can survive or stabilize in the face of an economic downturn.

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Consultative Team Article 112

David A Fields

FEBRUARY 11, 2020

Two quick questions for you: What are your favorite marketing tactics to promote your consulting firm? What marketing tactics should you use to promote your consulting firm? The post The #1 Marketing Tactic for Your Consulting Firm appeared first on David A.

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Tactics Consultative Marketing Article 114

David A Fields

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

Sambar “Sam” Whitetail, CEO of Ungulate Chocolates asks your consulting firm to facilitate a one-day work session. The post 9 Steps from a Small, One-Off Gig to a High-Value Consulting Engagement appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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David A Fields

JULY 21, 2020

What could be more discouraging for you and your consulting firm than promoting a fantastic solution… that prospects and clients don’t adopt? Virtually every day, your consulting firm offers a powerful answer to … Continued. Improve Adoption of Your Consulting Firm’s Solutions appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Power Article 83

David A Fields

FEBRUARY 4, 2020

The post Your Comprehensive Guide to Marketing Tactics for Consulting Firms appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting ConsultantsYour Challenge: Can you come up with even one tactic that’s not on the list below? Bonus points if you post two or more tactics.)

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Tactics Consultative Marketing Article 116

David A Fields

DECEMBER 24, 2019

The post Your Consulting Firm’s Most Important Gifts appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting ConsultantsMillions of people give gifts on the day of this article’s publication. Forget the millions of people, though. You know who’s really interesting?

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Consultative Commitment Article 95

David A Fields

JANUARY 14, 2020

Bernie’s Bagel Empire (BBE) is the perfect client for your consulting firm. They’re in an industry your consulting firm targets, and Bernie himself revealed in a recent trade magazine article that his company is struggling with the wheaty weighty challenges your consulting firm solves.

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David A Fields

MARCH 10, 2020

The post The Great, One-Day Consulting Experiment appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting ConsultantsNote: At the end of this article, you’ll be requested to join an experiment. If you’re willing to join, simply post, “Yes.” In the comments section below the article. Have you ever finished a day or a week and thought to yourself, “Holy cow, I can’t believe how insanely productive that time was”? You busted … Continued.

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Consultative Productivity Products Article 85

David A Fields

APRIL 16, 2019

What’s the ideal consulting opportunity for your consulting firm? There are myriad guidelines you could apply to pinpoint your ideal consulting opportunity. The post How to Spot Your Goldilocks Consulting Opportunities appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting ConsultantsBefore Goldilocks was eaten by the three bears (or was it the three pigs?), she fussily spotted the ideal porridge, chair and bed for herself.

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David A Fields

JULY 16, 2019

Or your consulting firm is stuck. Write a book, or track consulting project profitability, or win a consulting project from the Danish royal family.) Or some Godzilla task smashed its way to the forefront and all your (consulting firm’s) work has … Continued. The post 5 Consultant Strategies for Getting Unstuck appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting ConsultantsYou’re stuck.

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Women on Business

OCTOBER 31, 2014

Marketing free consultation pro bono work small business marketing We''ve Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: [link] If you haven''t already done so, update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. link].

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Consultative Tips Marketing 202

David A Fields

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

You may have a (reasonably) solid plan in place to win consulting business from two groups of decision makers: your current clients who could engage your consulting firm for more projects, and totally new clients who could hire your consulting firm for the first time.

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Consultative Project Planning Article 97

David A Fields

MAY 14, 2019

Sit back and imagine your consulting firm as pure, rich, creamy scoops of ice cream. Prospects and consulting opportunities are the hot fudge that pours onto your icy practice in a steady, glossy stream of chocolatey richness. When you put it that way, it’s hard not to like consulting, right? The post 5 Keys to Great, Consulting Firm Marketing appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Marketing Article 100

David A Fields

DECEMBER 11, 2018

You probably spend more time working as a consultant than you spend in any other role in your life right now. The post 10 Ways to Have Fun in Consulting appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting ConsultantsHoley shmoley. Can that be true? Before and after your work day, you may focus on excelling as a partner, spouse, parent, friend, hockey coach, volunteer, or civic leader; however, roughly half your … Continued.

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Consultative Article 115

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 28, 2017

Well, by the math, consultant is an ten-letter word. And while I am biased about the role, since I have been one for many years, I do know that many people have bad experiences with consultants – both working with them and hiring them. The post Is Consultant a Four-Letter Word? Personal & Professional Development consulting results hiring consultants

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Letter Consultative Leadership Development 104

David A Fields

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

When a prospect invites you to present your consulting firm’s capabilities, you know you’ll walk into an uber high-potential meeting. And that’s why so many consulting firms’ capabilities presentations fail … Continued. The post Nailing Your Consulting Firm’s Capabilities Presentation appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Article 89

David A Fields

DECEMBER 31, 2019

It’s the first week of the year and one thing you’re probably wondering is what you and your consulting firm should do first. Your consulting prospects are asking the same question. The post What Your Consulting Firm Should Do RIGHT NOW appeared first on David A. Happy New Year!

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Consultative Article 98

David A Fields

JULY 7, 2020

How do you consistently create powerful ideas that stimulate every aspect of your consulting firm? The post 3 Steps to Develop Big, New Ideas for Your Consulting Firm appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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David A Fields

JULY 23, 2019

I know this because your consulting firm wins consulting projects. I know this, too, because your consulting firm loses some consulting opportunities and some of the projects you win are smaller than they could be. The post Consulting Proposals: Bad, Good, and Very Good appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting ConsultantsYou write good proposals. You could write better proposals.

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Proposal Consultative Project CEO 85

David A Fields

MARCH 12, 2019

It’s easy to imagine your consulting firm’s worst nemesis is a competitive consulting firm, a procurement department, your prospects’ internal staff, or gingivitis. However, the biggest threat to your consulting firm’s growth is much closer to home and much more personal. The post Your Consulting Firm’s Worst Enemy appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Article 96

David A Fields

JANUARY 21, 2020

Imagine this: You meet with the analyst and subcontractors working on a consulting project, and after a couple of precious hours pass, there are only powdered sugar donut holes left in the box and you’ve somehow achieved a disappointing fraction of what you intended.

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Consultative Project Article 97

David A Fields

AUGUST 11, 2020

If you love data and can gaze lovingly for hours at a well-crafted spreadsheet, then you may hanker for a vast array of meters to judge the progress of your consulting firm; something like an airplane cockpit. The post The Three Vital Signs Your Consulting Firm Should Track appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Article 65

David A Fields

SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

Your consulting clients walk into each engagement holding bouquets of helium balloons they want to release to the sky. [ ] Consultants ConsultingMetaphorically, unless your clients are clowns.)

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Consultative 121

David A Fields

AUGUST 4, 2020

Your consulting firm, whether big or small, thriving or struggling, is a manifestation of your intention and commitment to create value for others. The post 10 Impressive, Consulting Firm Achievements that Require Only One, Small Act appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting ConsultantsYou deserve congratulations for your accomplishments so far.

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David A Fields

MAY 21, 2019

What’s the heaviest chain restraining your consulting firm’s growth (in revenue or margin, lifestyle, or all three)? You may believe, and even eloquently argue, that your consulting firm is limited by your capabilities, the size of the market you serve, your buyers’ … Continued. The post What Your Consulting Firm Needs Most: Perspective appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Marketing Article 89

Strategy Driven

JANUARY 13, 2020

Many companies hire consultants but how widespread is the practice? The consulting market across the world is valued at 262 billion dollars. Are you trying to figure out why companies hire an external consultant? A consultant can share industry best practices with you.

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Consultative Decisionmaking Company Proposal 86

David A Fields

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

If your consulting firm’s plate is overflowing with client work, you’re probably hustling long hours and stressing over deliverables, capacity and quality. On the other hand, if your consulting firm’s workload has dipped, you’re fretting over the new business pipeline and combatting fears about cash flow, expenses, and the effects of a recession. The post How to Make Your Consulting Joyful (Again) appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting Consultants

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Consultative Stress Quality How To 81

David A Fields

APRIL 28, 2020

Consultants would frequently travel thousands of miles, sardined next to strangers (crazy, right?). Even then, your consulting firm’s best, everyday outreach tool was your telephone. The post 10 Common, Avoidable Mistakes Consultants Make on Video Calls appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting ConsultantsAre there video call-specific rules of etiquette? Of course. Remember the old days, when people left their houses?

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Consultative Travel Video Tools 78

David A Fields

JULY 30, 2019

The post Haiku for You and Your Consulting Firm appeared first on David A. All Articles Consulting ConsultantsChange of pace today.Only haiku, not advice.You deserve some fun. One more week gone, andthe proposal isn’t signedShould I call again? Hooray, they said yes!Let’s Let’s review the task timeline.Uh We owe what?! She greets me warmly.The flight attendant knows me.Another Monday. The client requestsan extra analysis. More work? Aaack. Scope creep.

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Consultative Proposal Analysis Review 89

David A Fields

DECEMBER 3, 2019

You throw your best efforts into delivering value for your consulting clients, improving your consulting firm’s marketing, and creating a rewarding consulting environment. The post Signs Your Consulting Firm is Operating on Faulty Assumptions appeared first on David A.

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Operations Consultative Environment Marketing 90

Strategy Driven

FEBRUARY 3, 2020

One option that you have is to hire a business growth consultant. Hiring a business growth consultant can help you see these results you’re searching for, however, you’re not sure if this is the right step for you. Choose a consultant who’s reputable.

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David A Fields

JUNE 23, 2020

News Flash: Mental and emotional distance between you and your business bolsters your health, happiness, and the success of your consulting firm. As a consulting firm leader, this issue is magnified. The post Do You Practice These 7 Tips for Proper, Consulting Firm Distancing? All Articles Consulting ConsultantsThese days, maintaining physical distance preserves your health and protects those around you.

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