Consulting 101: So You Want to Be a Consultant?

by Allison Friederichs

Thinking of starting a consulting business? Knowing how to craft an effective business plan is the first step. What’s next? Finding clients and knowing how much to charge. Plus, the consultancy must be properly marketed. And don’t forget other aspects of consulting, from answering an RFP to knowing when to walk away from a problem client. This business course from The Teaching Company and lecturer Dr. Allison Friederichs delivers all this and more.

There’s a lot to think about and plan when it comes to being a consultant. In building her own successful consulting business, and in her teaching career, Dr. Allison Friederichs has learned many lessons and best practices—sometimes the hard way. In these 10 lectures, she’ll help spare listeners that trial-and-error anxiety and instead provide the essential tools and strategies required to start a successful independent consultancy.

Consulting 101: So You Want to Be a Consultant? guides listeners step by step through the process of turning dreams of consulting into a reality. Listeners will:

• Develop a solid understanding of what key differentiators are and what services to provide
• Learn how to connect past work experience and expertise to clients through communication and brand development
• Discover what it takes to find a great consulting gig, to rock it, and to learn from any mistakes that might happen along the way
• Tap into powerful tools and solid tips to ensure a win-win through the use of rewarding exercises and activities that can be easily modified to a particular industry.

Get ready to share learned skills and experience with the world…and get paid! Listeners will be fully prepared to launch their consultancy after taking this course.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Education

5 pages, Audiobook

Published March 17, 2020

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the advice may seem basic. But if you're considering to be a consultant and don't know anyone who has done this, you'll need all the detailed step-by-step guidance on starting a consulting business. The author also provides good examples of how things can go wrong and explains why it is important to do your due diligence. A good example was when a client told her that they had audio/video capability and she could do team exercises with the participants. It turned out the equipment projected poorly against a wall. The windows along another wall and the small room meant there was not enough space to put up large post-it paper nor have discussions and be heard by the other team members.

[Max Patiiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+

Short, but full of useful lessons, applicable well outside of Consulting

Tip:
- When presenting, begin with the end goal, and explain how you got them, rather than leave people wondering what you are leading up to

Main takeaway:
Consulting is freelance + personal brand

Favorite quote:
"No matter your niche, you will likely be called upon to engage in all manner of skills that sit at the intersection of people and process. Most consultants at some point must engage in things like facilitation, collaboration, conducting focus groups, interviewing, leading brainstorming sessions, strategy formulation, coaching, counseling, lifting morale, creating buy-in, conflict resolution and dealing with challenging people"

[Chad Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although it's hard to imagine that 5 hours is enough time to tell people what they need to know, this really seems geared at giving people a variety of solid tips for starting a consulting practice and getting corporate clients. It touches on networking, public speaking, professional dress, accounting, websites, business names and more. Best of all, it's created by someone that has consulting experience herself. I think for anyone wanting to offer consulting services to businesses, it would be good for them to go through this before getting further along.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems like someone who wants to go into the business of running training seminars, but it could be used for many other purposes. The lectures are general enough that most people could get something out of it. The professor is very professional and enthusiastic. She is someone to emulate.

I doubt I will listen to this audio course again. I have no plans to go into consulting, but I'm glad I listened.

[Fountain Of Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got more out of this than I had expected after the initial sections. She gets into details of the actual consulting process in the back half that are often overlooked in similar materials. A solid introduction.

[Nacho Bassino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good tips to starting a consulting business

[AttackGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, why, what, when, where and how with outline and step by step process with follow up.

Great desk reference for all professionals.

[Ceciliana Chispa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful. Check this one out and become a strategic communicator.

[عدنان العبار · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is your typical self-help book with little good advice scattered around, and so many repetitive facts that every self-help book throws around. Meh.