:: Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks? A few years ago, the Women In Consulting Annual Best Practices Survey unveiled some tricks by top consultants that helped improved my business’ profitability and my work/life balance. Here’s one: I learned top consultants out-source the administration of their company so they can maximize their time on generating revenue. I added a bookkeeper and a virtual assistant to the Stage2 network and could not be happier. My clients are happier too since I … [Read more...]
We’re Facing Disruption, Too
November 26, 2018 By 2 Comments
:: Consultants are not immune to the forces of disruption. It’s ironic: even as we help our clients innovate and stay competitive, we can fail to notice how much is changing in our own business model. Consultants, like most businesses, are working within a context that changes constantly. And in a world that is increasingly connected and empowered, we can no longer measure our value as consultants by what we know. The new intellectual capital is about how quickly we can learn. Critical … [Read more...]
Ever Wonder How ProFinder & Upwork Could Help your Practice?
August 26, 2018 By Leave a Comment
:: Recently, the South Bay members of Women in Consulting gathered over lunch to discuss how members can leverage Upwork and LinkedIn Profinder in their consulting practice. Co-host Angel Rampy moderated the panel and shared her own experience with LinkedIn Profinder: “It landed me a one-year coaching gig with a big social media organization. But I want to learn how to do more of that.” For those new to freelance work exchanges: LinkedIn Profinder allows companies and individuals to post … [Read more...]
How does your consulting business stack up? Take our 16th Annual WIC Best Practices Survey (open March 14-April 7) and find out.
March 13, 2018 By 1 Comment
A comprehensive analysis of the state of consulting businesses - Yes, it’s that time again. This is the 16th year for WIC’s best practices survey. Over the years, it’s offered useful insights into the evolution of Bay Area consulting businesses, such as billing and marketing tool trends, consulting expertise and specialties, structure and operations. Also over the years, we’ve found more and more consultants implementing the best practices and seeing the positive impact on their businesses. … [Read more...]
Consultant or Vendor? Pick only one!
March 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Consultants and vendors both bring expertise to the marketplace. But they operate very differently in that marketplace. Vendors typically offer thoroughly designed and tested products. It might be a course in time management or project management or a one-day team building retreat. Maybe it is a "package" of marketing materials for a new product launch. Or it might be a 3-session package on presentation skills. Role of a Vendor The biggest advantage of being a vendor is the ease of marketing … [Read more...]
Tax Change…3 Things I Now Know
January 29, 2018 By 1 Comment
:: If you were at all like me…you ignored all the tax legislation discussion in December hoping somehow it would all go away or get sorted out without rocking your own personal boat too much. If you didn’t put your head in the sand then I openly congratulate you for being proactive and informed. Luckily for the rest of us, WIC member Rebecca Cafiero organized a free conference call earlier this month for WIC members with her tax and legal expert, Scott Burnett. It was painless, informative … [Read more...]
WIC Turns 20 in 2018
January 4, 2018 By 1 Comment
:: What better way to kick off the 20th Anniversary of WIC in 2018 than sharing a WIC “aha moment” from member Mandi Toutsch: “Even traveling between the Midwest and California for the past year, I find the WIC emails and off-topic subjects very helpful. I am grateful to have met wise and resourceful women, whom are a great support to each other with their businesses and life.” While a more formal anniversary celebration is planned for the January 18th General Meeting, the blog will feature … [Read more...]
Key Takeaways to Scale Your Consulting Practice
November 14, 2017 By Leave a Comment
:: I was fortunate to be in the audience when WIC hosted a panel on how to scale your consulting practice. These amazing speakers had very consistent advice and not necessarily what I was expecting to hear. Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Founder and President, Technica Communications Sheila Hatch, Creative Director and President, Decca Design Emmy Gengler, CEO and Founder, Softjourn Kathryn Bowsher, Managing Director and Founder of Act One Healthcare These 4 women have really scaled their … [Read more...]
How Great Consultants Can Stand Up and Stand Out
November 8, 2017 By 1 Comment
:: As a strategic marketing expert, I help my clients get heard above the noise. If we think of the marketplace like a large gathering—say a cocktail reception—it seems that today everyone is trying to talk at once. They’re using old and new channels to reach us—from mass media to mobile to social to IoT. All of this chatter makes it really hard for anyone to hear—both prospective customers as well as the people who are trying to reach them. If you start to SHOUT, you just add to the … [Read more...]
It’s No Longer All About Me
October 16, 2017 By 1 Comment
:: Scale is not safe and contained. It’s worth it, but it’s also scary. My vision is the product. My reputation is in the hands of others. 30 years of scaling innovations in health, I know a few things about how to do this. But now its personal. Plus, I am making bigger claims while no longer having built in quality control. Still the process is the same. Alignment of Goals, Why’s and How’s is paramount. In the case of Act One Healthcare Mission: Make healthcare easier for people by … [Read more...]
