Book Description

Consult your way to a new career! Reviewed by Booklist and Foreword magazine, this book provides a roadmap to starting your own business as an independent consultant. It’s a great resource for professionals who want to become a master of their own fate. This book shows you how to set your rate, select the legal form of your business, market on the Internet, understand basic record keeping, and much more. It includes a recommended resource list and sample worksheets to help you start and maintain your consulting business. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Okay, but....
This book is okay. But, I have used "Strategic Organizational Change" by Beitler as a reference guide in my work as an organizational change consultant. It is full of checklists, examples, etc. Beitler captures 25 years of experience in one book!

A tremendous help!
This is an excellent guide for anyone new to starting independent consulting and a good refresher to established consultants. After going through several similar books, this one, by far, is the best written, most helpful of the lot. He guides you through basic and more advanced steps in making your idea a reality in a clear, concise, and "user friendly" way. His approach is realistic and not stuck in the mundane as so many other "start your own business" books seem to be. While another book insults your intelligence by emphasizing the importance of street lighting for your new office (no kidding!) or devotes boring paragraphs on the evolution of their own business card logos, this author guides the novice entrepreneur effectively and intelligently from concept to practice. This book is highly recommended for professionals who do not have a background in business and who find "business speak" confusing and want a cogent initial guide. So if you are thinking of expanding your career path through independent consulting, and if you think "starship" when someone says "Enterprise," then you need this book to start thinking clearly about your new endeavor.

"Must" reading for anyone wanting to become a consultant.
In Successful Independent Consulting: Turn Your Career Experience Into A Consulting Business, Douglas Florzak draws upon his considerable experience and professional skills to create a practical, informative, "reader friendly" guide providing professionals in any field with a detailed "how to" plan for setting up and maintain a consulting business. Florzak explores the types of consulting work available, how to create a business plan, set up an office, and surveys the issues of contracts, law and taxes, fees, basic record keeping, retirement fund and insurance selection, and even offers marketing tips for utilizing the Internet. Successful Independent Consulting is further enhanced with a recommended list of resources for independent consultants and worksheets to help launch and maintain a consulting business. If you are contemplating becoming a career of professional consultation in your chosen field, begin with a thorough reading of Douglas Florzak's Successful Independent Consulting.

A practical content-rich guide!
"Successful Independent Consulting" is the best straight-forward, practical and content-rich source for the novice or the experienced consultant. For the experienced, it is an affirmation and a review of the necessary basics to being an independent; for the novice, it is the very mentorship Florzak himself recommends beginners seek. His book is the beginners' mentoring guide to becoming a successful independent consultant.

Freelance Journalist (Consultant!)
"Successful Independent Consulting" is the best straight-forward, practical and content-rich source for the novice or the experienced consultant. For the experienced, it is an affirmation and a review of the necessary basics to being an independent; for the novice, it is the very mentorship Florzak himself recommends beginners seek. His book is the beginners' mentoring guide to becoming a successful independent consultant. ... Read more

Book Description

Looking for a highly effective alternative to traditional change models?
Finally, an alternative to traditional change models-the science of complex adaptive systems (CAS). The authors explain how, rather than focusing on the macro "strategioc" level of the organization system, complexity theory suggests that the most powerful change processes occur at the micro level where relationship, interaction and simple rules shape emerging patterns.
* Details how the emerging paradigm of a CAS affects the role of change agents
* Tells how you can build the requisite skills to function in a CAS
* Provides tips for thriving in that new paradigm "Olson and Eoyang do a superb job of using complexity science to develop numerous methods and tools that practitioners can immediately use to make their organizations more effective."
--Kevin Dooley, Professor of Management and Industrial Engineering, Arizona State University ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Best Practical Guide to Using Complexity
This is the best practical guide in existence for using Complexity to transform an organization. The authors give valuable tools and techniques for concrete processes which promote Complexity transformation, along with examples of real business situations where the tools have worked. Especially valuable for those who have a background in organization development. Highly recommended.

practical book about promising org. change approach
This is an interesting book about an approach to managing and changing organizations, which is quite different from traditional change approaches: complexity theory. You might think: "Ah, here we go again.... Is this just the next new management hype, destined to be forgotten soon?" I don't think so. I think complexity theory is to be taken a bit more serious than that. What is it? It is a rapidly developing theoretical framework that describes and explains fundamental processes of complex adaptive systems, like organizations. What is a complex adaptive system? The authors of this book, Edwin Olson and Glenda Eoyang, explain that in a complex adaptive system, a multitude of different players (called agents) held together by some cohesive force (called a container) and constantly interacting with each other in all kinds of ways (these interactions are called transforming exchanges).

The self-organizing nature of human interactions in a complex organization leads to surprising effects. Small actions, events and interactions can lead to dramatic outcomes affecting the whole system. Human interactions in complex systems lead to so-called emergent properties, which are features of the system that the separate parts do not have. (For example, brain cells don't have consciousness, but the human brain does). All of this explains why it is often impossible to understand let alone predict or control events and developments. This is a rather big departure from the traditional view, which tends to see organizations as understandable, predictable and ... controllable!

Then how exactly is the complexity theory approach to change management different from the traditional approach? Ed Olson and Glenda Eoyang summarize the main features of the CAS approach to change as follows: 1) Achieve change through connections between agents (instead of trying to control the change top-down), 2) Adapt to uncertainty (instead of trying to use predictable stages of development), 3) Allow goals, plans, and structures to emerge (instead of depending on clear and detailed plans or goals), 4) Amplify and value difference (instead of always directly focusing on consensus), 5) Create self-similarity (instead of difference between levels), 6) Regard success as a matter of fit with the environment (instead of focusing on one dimensional success measures).

It's hard to accurately summarize in a few words what's in this book. So, if you're organizational development consultant, perhaps you'd better read it yourself. What you will find is that the book is a nice mix of theory, case descriptions and practical tools which (some of which are very nice and handy). I think this is the first book that makes complexity theory so practical. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Competently managing a group of peers is unquestionably among the most difficult of workplace tasks, but key steps that produce success are laid out so clearly by consultants Patrick J. McKenna and David H. Maister in First Among Equals that even those who completely lack experience should find the process feasible and effective. McKenna and Maister focus on leading teams of professionals--often composed of people who don't feel like they are part of a team or in need of leadership--by transforming the way managers assume responsibility and direct members. "Success in helping your group succeed is mostly about you. Not them," they write. Their book starts by explaining how to prepare for the job ahead, for example, by meeting informally with participants and displaying sincere interest in things that matter to them. It then explores coaching the individuals involved (offering methods for gaining acceptance, building rapport, assisting underperformers and dealing with prima donnas) and guiding the collective group (by developing rules, building trust, invigorating meetings, and resolving conflicts). Finally, it proposes measures for continued success, such as integrating new hires and gauging performance. Dozens of self-assessment questionnaires and diagnostic tests help make this an exceptionally practical guidebook on a critical but oft-neglected topic. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Some great material that I can share & use as a refresher
Gripe no. 1 : I hope its not going to become a common occurrence in business books, but there were 7 pages of 35 advance reviews (but 5 of them were only 2 lines which said little). Let me decide for myself if the book is any good - show me the product. Also, I work in IT, but there didn't seem to be a single reviewer with an IT background?

The book looks at the leader/manager/coach of a disparate group of professionals, assuming a mix of seniors & juniors.

I think the book isn't just for the leader/manager/coach - because in many such groups today, there can be rotation (time-based or task-based) where any of the group of professionals might be called upon to perform the leadership / coaching / mentoring role. So the book should be read by all members of the team. Also the leader is human - they might not be 'doing it right as per the book', and it could be useful for the others (they are all equals after all) to be informed to provide that guidance/correction.

The Sections are laid out well : getting ready; coaching the individual; coaching the team; building for the future.

It classes individuals into 4 styles : amiable, analytical, driver, expressive (I tend more towards the expressive), and how to work with each.

I also like the way it addressed underperforming members, how to correct the problem rather than try to rationalise it out of existence.

Because professionals jealously guard their autonomy, reserving the right to work as they see fit, professional groups have a greater-than-average tendency to become ill-disciplined - and thus a whole chapter is dedicate to how to run a meeting of such individuals.

I work in such a group, where there are 20 of us, probably 50:50 seniors & juniors (though we don't refer to ourselves in those terms).

Gripe no. 2 : However, one thing missing explicitly from the book is if there are any strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats from a geographically disparate or culturally diverse group?

My group is spread across 2 continents, 5 different timezones, with only 2 hours in the day when our extended workday (8am-6pm) coincides. We comprise at least 5 different nationalities & religions, and it seems many more political viewpoints. But time and time again, this material seemed to assume that this was a relatively homogeneous group, everyone was coming together physically in the same room, or at least, didn't even consider that people might be in the same geographical locations but be on the phone, and thus unable to see each others body language. My group only get together in the same room twice a year. We've evolved techniques over the 7 years we've been together to accommodate this, but I would have appreciated it more if this modern reality had been addressed?

I also liked the discussion on the maximum size of the group, and one correspondents rule of thumb that the group is too big if he can't tell you the name of everyone's spouse/significant other & what that person does for a living (assuming its OK culturally to ask for that information - in some cultures it's a no-no).

There's an excellent wrap-up where the dozens of checklist (don't let the apparent volume put you off - it's not that bad) are summarised and classified, and you are reminded in which chapters they are to be found.

Overall I think my group is doing quite well 80% of what is in the book, with maybe 10% that we wouldn't agree with, leaving us 10% that we could improve upon. I'm going to recommend it to everyone else.

I am building my futures and options practice-this helped!
I am the author of the book Futures For Small Speculators and Single Stock Futures For Small Speculators as well as the president of Liverpoolgroup.com.

Our focus is in the futures, commodities, and option business. We trade oil, cattle, gold, currency etc. And each one of our employees is an "independent" contractor. The problem with that is the fact that often times these very independent entrepreneurial group have a hard time working together. Everyone is competing against everyone else. There is little to no synergy or teamwork.

This book showed me MANY examples of how to guide and direct the individuals of the group to be more cooperative with one another I was astonished that I was doing somethings right, but the things that I was doing right were being negated by the actions I was doing wrong. This is a great book and was a joy to read. One reading is not enough. This book must be read three to four times with a highlighter and a notepad- so you can write down the numerous ideas that will occur to you as you read the book.

Packed with Knowledge!
This book is essentially a collection of practical checklists interspersed with quotations and anecdotes. It certainly meets its objective of collecting everything you need to know about managing a professional service firm's practice group. Patrick McKenna and David H. Maister present the nuts and bolts in a straightforward format. If you feel like you could use some help to do a better job of leading your group of highly trained individuals, if you've just been promoted to the ranks of management and want some guidance or, worse, if you feel like you are herding cats - in Maister's phrase - instead of leading a committed team of professional people, we are pleased to recommend this complete toolbox to you.

Not as good as the ADV
I had high expectation from this book. However, after reading the first couple of chapters, I'm disappointed. This book, in a lot of parts, repeats what other books say, in particular "Managing the Professional Service Firm". If you read Maister's book before, you will be disappointed.

Not Just Lawyers
Great book on inspiring and steering a professional group by design rather than by charisma.For the imaginative person, the book could be applied to any group of professionals working together - whether in business, government, or church/Mission. ... Read more

Book Description

Widely acclaimed as a consultant's consultant, Gerald M. Weinberg builds on his perennial best-seller The Secrets of Consulting with all-new laws, rules, and principles. You'll learn how to fight burnout, stay curious, understand your clients, negotiate effectively, and much, much more.

Consultants need more than technical skills—they need self-awareness and a strong set of personal abilities. Weinberg helps computer consultants identify and strengthen each aspect of their performance using a "consultant's tool kit" of seventeen memorable symbols. He devotes a chapter to each of these symbolic tools, from The Wisdom Box to The Fish-Eye Lens to The Oxygen Mask. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very good, but a harder read than "Secrets"
The original "Secrets of Consulting" is probably one of the most important books in my collection, and I had great expectations of this follow-up volume. However, where the first book focuses outwards, largely on what a consultant does, the second book focuses in, much more on what a consultant is, and to my mind makes much less comfortable reading.

Don't get me wrong. This is not in any way a bad book: it's still as well written and humorous as Weinberg's other books, and chock full of amusing stories and "laws" derived from them. Anyone involved in consulting of any sort will still get a great deal out of it. But if, like many men, you're uncomfortable talking and reading about "feelings" you may find this less easy to read.

The "Consultant's Tool Kit" of the subtitle is actually a complex metaphor. Each component of the toolkit is a metaphor for a certain aspect of your personality and personal capabilities. For example, the wishing wand is a metaphor for understanding, and being able to ask for, what you want from a professional relationship. The chapter around this metaphor first explores why most people either don't know what they want or are unable to express it, and suggests ways to make your wishes clearer. It places this in a professional context, contract negotiation, and emphasises how the personal ability to express and value your wishes will help you negotiate more successfully.

In a similar way other chapters focus on developing wisdom and new knowledge, managing time and information, being courageous with your decisions, learning how to say yes and no, understanding why you and others are in the current situation, and keeping yourself in balance, avoiding burnout and other self-destructive conditions.

These are all important not only to consultants, but to anyone trying to establish a more satisfying professional or personal life by managing problems, by self-improvement and by better handling their relationships to other people.

Weinberg could have presented much of this material in a style much closer to the earlier book, but instead chose a more introspective approach which demands a greater investment on the part of the reader. Only time will tell how this investment is repaid, but I believe it will be for me.

Problem solving techniques for consultants
If you've ever had problems in an engagement, and you've already read Secrets, read this too. Weinberg includes numerous know-yourself ideas to become a better consultant.

A common consulting mistake is to spend time on work that shouldn't be done at all, or that the the client doesn't want or doesn't value. But, it's sometimes difficult to detect those problems. Two of the tools, the Wisdom Box and the Mirror can help you address these problems.

The WIsdom Box helps you determine when you shouldn't bother doing the work. As Weinberg says, "Anything I shouldn't be doing, I shouldn't be doing. Period." Easier said than done sometimes. Weinberg helps you detect when your Wisdom Box is telling you something that you otherwise can't hear -- when you're entering a situation you shouldn't even start.

Sometimes, clients engage us to perform work they don't value. In that case, the Mirror is an asset. I used the mirror once when I was working with a management team who didn't value testing, but knew that the parent company would ask them about the testing. Instead of taking on testing for the project, I committed to help with project planning, set up testing, and look for a permanent test manager who could work the day-to-day issues. If they couldn't commit to the planning and setup work, they wouldn't actually hire anyone, but my consulting job would be complete.

With the Mirror, you completely commit to part of the project, and provide feedback to the company. You have a chance to see how the project proceeds, and if either you or the client doesn't like where you're going, you stop.

I found the patterns of consultant reactions and Weinberg's tools and suggestions for dealing with those reactions helpful. You will too.

Decent advice, but advertising is annoying
Weinberg is the master of condensing useful tidbits and advice culled from other sources into readable books. So when I saw this new consulting book I immediately wanted to read it. Unfortunately he has stepped beyond the technical or managerial material that he wrote previously. The book is full of EQ (Emotional IQ) info that is better told by others, confusing acronyms, and ceaseless self promotion.

The book is a hodge-podge of self-management (EQ) and other consulting principles such as time management and contract negotiations. If you are a well-balanced individual and know yourself you may not find much new here. If you aren't - the material only scratches the surface - you'll be better off reading somethink like Dr. Phil's book, "Self Matter" and "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" combined with some NLP books.

Weinberg has given up on his "Wisdom of the Sufi's" approach to imparting advice. The previous book was full of ridiculous stories that somehow rang true. By taking himself more seriously the acronyms that he invents for the description of consulting principles eg "the yes/no medallion" come across as confusing, annoying, and pompous.

I really enjoyed weinberg's previous consulting book and was looking forward to this one. And while there is good stuff in this book - I found the blatant self-promotion a bit over the top. In every chapter he references previous books or seminars - giving away only enough information to peak the reader interest in an additional purchase. Why pay for what is essentially a thinly veiled ad?

Miscellaneous tidbits that I found useful:

Money - "the Wisdom box":
I would like to learn something new - but what I know pays too well.
When you stop learning new stuff it is time to move on because consultants only value is knowledge.
Don't disregard money - do what you love but keep a weary eye on value add

Contracts - "The Wishing Wand"
eg: don't kid yourself into thinking that contracting agencies are working on your behalf. Typically they negotiate the customer up and the contract consultant prices down.
Keeping contracts shorter can be useful

Burn-out - "Oxygen Mask"
Comes often mid-career through competence in your field (accepting too much work) and the allowing others to make choices for you - "shoulds" - see dr phil
Solution - saying no to work and leading a balanced life - see 7 principles

Conclusion - Worth checking out - but not a must have.

Better than "Secrets of Consulting"
This book is much better than the original "Secrets of Consulting". The original was released quite a while ago (re-released in paperback last year). You can tell that the author has learned a lot in the meantime, and is better at presenting it. I would have given the original three stars, maybe four. This book I give five stars. Some of my bias may be that this book is more at the level of my current software consulting experience. Some of the topics (e.g., burnout) are sorely needed right now! It is good to see good books at good prices again. If you are a consultant, at least give this title a try.

Advice for all phases of a business relationship
If you were to buy this book and the previous one, "Secrets of Consulting", and read them, then your next step should be to place one in each of your hip pockets. For that is the only part of being a consultant not covered in these books. Wrapped in the guise of folk wisdom, the advice given here could and should be part of a business degree. For, no matter what the circumstances and the size of the companies represented on both sides, a business deal still reduces down to individuals who trust each other enough to "like" each other in the business sense.
Truthfully, and to contradict the author, there really are no secrets to being a successful consultant. The ways to be successful are just the basic business rules that apply elsewhere, in that you need to find out what the customer really wants and deliver it at a cost that is good for you and acceptable to them. This is not easy, and the best advice is to listen hard, explore all options and most of all, be prepared to contradict the buyer when it is in their best interests. Even when it may not be in your best interests, at least in the short term. It is a fallacy and cowardly to try to follow the mantra that the customer is always right. They are not, and that is more a part of the consultant's life than any other profession. In many ways, you are being paid to tell your customers when they are not right and to do anything other than that is a moral breach of your contract. Weinberg spends a great deal of time in explaining how to deal with this critical situation and that advice hits the dime-sized target.
No one writes business advice better than Wienberg. If he ever decides to give up writing about business, he could make a career out of writing personal self-help books. It will be on my top ten books of the year list. ... Read more

Book Description

Jane Hilburt-Davis and W. Gibb Dyer— two of the country's foremost experts in the field of family business— offer in one comprehensive volume a systematic approach for developing the skills and competencies you need to consult with these unique systems. This practical, hands-on resource shows you how to manage each stage of the consulting process— from the first contact to the last— and reveals how to plan strategically and deal with the complex relationship issues that are commonplace in family businesses.

... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Guide for Family Business Professionals
Dyer and Hilburt-Davis offer outstanding strategies and recommendations from their vast experience and intimate knowledge working with family businesses. This book is an excellent resource for all professionals who advise family businesses.

A must-read!
Consulting to Family Businesses is a MUST-READ for anyone who works with family-owned businesses. The book's format makes it easy to read and to find needed information. Its content, which is nut-and-bolts practical, will benefit both experienced hands as well as "newbies."

This is an extraordinary resource for family business owners
Jane Hilburt-Davis and Gibb Dyer have made a significant contribution to the emerging field of family business consultation. They deliver good practical advice along with thoughtful insight about the pushes and pulls that families feel as their companies grow and thrive. In the short time I've owned this book I've had to move it closer and closer to the "most used" section on my book shelf. Clearly these authors do hands-on consultation everyday, know what they're doing, but have also thought about how to share their ideas with family business owners and other consultants. 'Very readable. It's just a great resource.

A Must for Family Business Consultants
This book is a true gift for those who are entering the field of advising to family businesses or those who have been at it for years. It is comprehensive and thoughtful, a true benchmark for the subject of the consulting process with family owned busineses. ... Read more

Book Description

Global human resources consulting firm Watson Wyatt has conducted a large body of research on 25 human capital management practices showing, for the first time, how these practices can raise or lower the stock price of a company and by how much. This research, cited in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Forbes, is the foundation of the Human Capital Edge, and brings a new level of financial measurement-based precision to the too-often fuzzy world of management books.

Reviews (7)

One of the Best Books Ever Written on Strategic HR...
The people at Watson Wyatt never stop amazing me. Recently, I purchased a copy of the Gallup Organization's "Follow This Path." Having read it, I was convinced that there was nothing left to say. Wrong. Pfau and Kay have written an amazing book that documents the correlation between Strategic HR practices and Shareholder Value growth. Well done. One reviewer complains that the book isn't comprehensive enough. I'm not sure this is a fair critisism. After all, the book details 21 HR practices and their impact on TSR (Total Shareholder Return). Certainly, one book cannot possibly provide a comprehensive treatment of all 21 HR practices. However, since when has any professional relied upon a single business book in any subject as their sole resource? This is a fantastic book. I strongly recommend that any senior executive (including CEO, COO, and board memebers) pick up a copy. I also recommend "Follow this Path," Gubman's "The Talent Solution," Risher's "Aligning Pay and Results," and Lawler's "Treat People Right." Overall grade: AAA+++

Finally!
Having been in human resources for 20 years, I can finally report, with confidence, HR's direct link to the bottom line. Too many executives still think it is "touchy-feely" and this fact-based information proves otherwise.

"The Human Capital Edge" shows the measurable value of implementing solid HR practices! Great stuff!!

Good numbers, weak advice
This book makes a valuable contribution to the growing body of evidence that human resources practices have a positive influence on business results. It gives solid numbers showing the relationship between 21 human capital practices and market value. It also provides evidence that these practices are a leading indicator of value creation. That's great stuff!

Then things fall apart quickly. The reason is because the authors over-reach by offering their suggestions for implementing the HR practices they identify as creating market value. That scope is simply much too large for a book of this size, resulting in shallow solutions. As an example, the authors show that "linking rewards to performance" is associated with a nine percent higher market value. They then share all of nine pages on how to implement pay-for-performance systems. That's hardly adequate, given there are a multitude of full-length books on that subject alone.

Some vexing findings are given short shrift, like the counterintuitive results that training and 360 degree feedback actually reduce market value. The authors waffle on the findings by suggesting the negative impact can be explained simply because these programs typically are ineffective. That kind of logic doesn't work since executing the other HR practices poorly would also have a negative impact on value creation.

In sum, this book does an excellent job demonstrating the relationship between human capital practices and market value. However, if you need help implementing those practices, you should look elsewhere.

Practical, readable and comprehensive
This book is the best overview available of the current state of the art in human resource management practices and their relationship to business results. It is one of the few books on this subject that will be appreciated by both the line manager as well as the human resource professional because it is readable, practical and business focused. It connects all the major HR trends in a critical but objective way to questions about their true impact and worth in driving "human capital".
An excellent, comprehensive source that you could give to your CEO!

a management must !
This work combines solid and proprietary research with practical advice for managers seeking to maximize the value of any company's most valuable asset-its workforce.In an age in which intellectual property has replaced hard assets as the coin of the business realm,the techniques developed by the authors for dealing with human capital issues are an invaluable aid to thouhtful senior managers everywhere. ... Read more

Book Description

This book serves the small and medium business (SMB) technology consultant seeking to make a great living as a professional service provider. Focused more on the "business" side than the "bits" side, it's all about:* Not only surviving but thriving as an SMB consultant by cultivating a superior portfolio of top flight customers with appropriate, effective and efficient business development approaches.

* Keeping your customers happy by applying the consulting practice management skills presented between the covers.

* Finding your calling in SMB consulting life by discovering niches such as Windows Small Business Server 2003 (SBS 2003) that allow you to master a technical area and consistently deliver assured outcomes.Some will find this book, built on the well established construct of the finder, minder, grinder professional services delivery model, could aptly be titled "How to Make Money as an SMB Consultant." Others will view this book as a transition tome between SBS 2000 and SBS 2003 due to the timeframe that is was penned (this books uses both examples as . Others will view it as the first SBS 2003 book to market! And finally, many will consider this book their ready guide to taking their SMB consulting practice to the next levels of profitability and service delivery.Bottom line: This is your "pocket MBA" course on how to launch yourself as an SMB consultant using Microsoft's SBS solution -or- if you're an experienced consultant, this book will help you sharpen your SMB consulting operations. It's safe to say it's purchase price will be returned many times over and reflect an positive return on investment! You may contact the author (an experienced SMB consultant, SBS guru and writer) directly at sbs@nethealthmon.com if you have any questions about this book you would like answered before you make your purchase. You will receive a reply within one business day. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Book, Harry keeps his streak going!
If you know Harry Brelsford and his writing this is the next book in a long line of great books. Harry's wit and personality shines to the forefront but don't be mistaken this book is strictly about making money and advancing your business which Harry is all about. If you're starting up your own consulting biz then you must have this book or if you are just stagnant in your own practice this book has some great pointers to get you going again.
Also, as a SMB Nation attendee I suggest that as well, which is the conferences that Harry sponsors. Check it out at smbnation.com.
Get it, Grab it, Read it, Understand it, Prosper from it!

Tavis Patterson
TAZ Networks ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Comprehensive, but way to basic
Although this book does cover numerous topics, the information provided is common sense "fluff" and not detailed at all. If you have never consulted before, this might be a good source of information; however, if you are currently a consultant considering the leap to independence, this book will be of little value to you. I don't feel it was worth the [$].

Excellent guide for Independent Consultants
David Kintler and Bob Adams have laid out a great plan to becoming an independent consultant, no matter what field you are in. It is a guided step through the beginning stages to a finished corporation with samples of legal paperwork, business letters, etc. Extremely comprehensive. ... Read more

Book Description

For the first time ever, Vault brings you the real top 50 consulting firms in the country - as ranked by over 750 consultants. Plus, you'll read in-depth profiles ofover 50 top consulting employers,as well as a detailed guide to the consulting industry and career paths.No future or current consultant should be without the Vault Guide to the Top 50 Consulting Firms. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Doesn't get better
If you are interested in the Consulting Industry....it doesn't get better than this! This is a great comprehensive guide to the various companies and their focus areas. Great jump start on finding where you belong in the world of consulting.

superb guide with fascinating rankings
I found this guide to be immensely helpful in getting the real story - good, bad and ugly - about the leading consulting firms. The book also has a fascinating new poll/ranking of the 50 most prestigious management consulting firms to work for. (As might be expected, the consultants surveyed rated McKinsey as the #1 most prestigious and BCG as #2). I would highly recommend reading this guide.

superb guide to the leading consulting firms
I found this guide to be immensely helpful in getting the real story - good, bad and ugly - about the consulting industry and the leading consulting firms. I would highly recommend reading this guide.

Highly recommended
I don't normally write reviews, but I just got this book and had to write. The book has detailed insider accounts of life inside every major consulting firm, including its history, areas of specialization, and tips on the hiring and interviewing process. Highly recommended for job seekers and consultants alike. ... Read more

Book Description

Every consultant needs a clear and concise change model that can drive thesuccess of a wide range of change projects. Seven C's of Consulting, Second Editionoffers just such a model, Mick Cope's proven 7Cs--client, clarify, create,change, confirm, continue and close. This book offers both new andexperienced consultants a solid framework for managing any consultingassignment. Mick Cope shows how to use the 7Cs model to improve your professionalism, and deliver clearer and more measurable results to your clients andbring them back for more. This completely revised Second Edition includesextensive coverage of new models, as well as entirely new coverage of ethicalconsulting in the era after Arthur Andersen. ... Read more

Book Description

Alan Eilles
CFO Downstream, BP
"We have seen cost reductions every year for each of the 13 years of our outsourcing experience - now, finally, we are seeing the outsourcing market mature. The advancement of multi-client centres will create new value. As new low cost centres spring up around the world I want to have easy access to the opportunities."

John Coghlan
Group Finance Director of Exel
"Outsourcing is not about sitting still. On the one hand, as CFO, you have to be in control, and have the right control mechanisms in place. On the other, this is an evolving relationship where both parties feel empowered and energized to make a real difference in the business."

Clayton Daley
CFO, Procter & Gamble
"My view of the CFO's role is relatively simple: How do you add value? The CFO has to be in the forefront in understanding at a strategic level the relative economics of different parts of the business model - and vitally play a decisive role in deciding what should be insourced and what should be outsourced."

Ian Ailles, Group CFO
Thomas Cook UK
"Our outsource contract started with a very wide scope and we have held to it; we only retain in finance our analytics and commercial advisory functions. We have the flexibility to change the services outsourced as our business changes direction and now have the ability to finance investment."

Many CFOs have led their companies to invest in ERP and shared services in order to create leaner, more global organization structures. Today, they seek more radical transformation through business process outsourcing (BPO). CFO Insights is a practical, comprehensive guide to this exciting, fast-growing field. It features expert advice from the CFOs of major companies worldwide, including BP, Procter & Gamble, Dell, and Exel. Step by step, it takes you through the stages of a successful outsourcing solution - from evaluating providers and contracting, through transition planning and risk management. ... Read more

Book Description

In The Philosophic Consultant, acclaimed business consultant, philosopher, and author Peter Koestenbaum links deep insights of philosophy with practical business issues. Throughout this one-of-a-kind resource, Koestenbaum shows consultants and human resource practitioners how they can foster philosophical leadership within their organizations to positively affect the business environment. The book promises tangible results— credibility, trust, and thoughtful attention— and demonstrates how to apply philosophy, share knowledge with others, and use this newfound thoughtfulness to achieve bottom-line results. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Where is Philosophy?
Let me start by reminding you of what philosopher Michael Oakeshott (1933, p. 1) has said:

'We seek in philosophy what wiser men would look for in a gospel, ...', but '... philosophy is without any direct bearing upon the practical conduct of life, and that it has certainly never offered its true followers anything which could be mistaken for a gospel'. ... 'Nearly always a philosopher hides a secret ambition, ... , and often it is that of the preacher. But we must learn not to follow the philosophers upon these holiday excursions'.
"Experience and its Modes", Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

If so, we should not follow Koestenbaum upon the leadership excursion in this text, or if one chooses to do so, I suggest with caution!

This is because the treatment of philosophy is poor, despite the fact that the approach to use philosophy in business is sound in itself, an approach that I personally favour and use - this induced me to purchase the text in the first place. This poor treatment is not only in terms of the philosophers cited and the references used, but more importantly in terms of the ideas used. The latter seem to be taken simply and purely for granted, especially when a number of concepts that include knowledge, reality, self, other, language, experience - all being management concerns - are high on the agenda of philosophical debate. For instance, the distinction between the 'inner universe' and the 'outer universe' after Plato (p. 31) leaving aside cases when such a distinction does not hold - with language and Wittgenstein for example. This treatment seems to connote a general strategy at play in this text, that of keeping language simple to make the text easily accessible to busy managers and business-people.

Yet making language simple is one thing. Deciding upon contested concepts and ideas on behalf of others when such authority has not been given is to restrict choice. It is to fix concepts in the definitional form "X is ...". This seems to be for a clear purpose. To empower the (registered!) Leadership Diamond Model with the expectation that it 'will give individuals and organisations credibility in what they do and speed in getting to the high-leverage issues for effectively managing today's two bid business topics: "change" and "innovation"' (p. 7).

Such a claim is however dogmatic, akin to guru preaching, to a gospel that stresses one side of the coin. It tends to undermine plural readings of issues and concerns. Fundamentally, it cannot conceive of the idea that the same premises from where Leadership Diamond Model is derived and which are expected to lead to business success, that is a changed self, can also be the cause for disillusion, intra-organisational conflict, and even bankruptcy. Note that this is not my gospel, but the simple description of my experience!

Thus, only in the effort to understand such plural and varied events in a plural manner, as an approach to questioning and suggesting different answers to organisational problems and issues, can philosophy be of help to business and management (in making choice possible). Otherwise, philosophy ceases to exist.

Overall, despite the interesting approach that seeks to use a philosophical premise from where business and management issues can be tackled, this text, in tending to transform hotly debated issues and concepts into philosophical lessons that have presumably been settled once and for all, undermines the very purpose of philosophy.

Outstanding
Peter Koestenbaum has integrated centuries of thought and knowledge into a coherent easily understandable and practical guide on how to lead your life, manage your business and consult to leaders. The elegance of his work is that he integrates much of mankind's wisdom with his own business experience in a manner that is easily applied in a community or organizational environment. Peter Koestenbaum and The Philosophic Consultant are gifts to you and your clients--take the time to read and reflect on the wisdom that he provides so freely to each one of us. ... Read more

Book Description

Following on the popularity of the Ace Your Case! and Ace Your Case II guides, WetFeet brings to you a brand new guide with a whole new set of case questions to practice on and get a leg up in your consulting interviews.

In Ace Your Case III, you'll find:

• Specific tips for market-sizing, business operations, business strategy, and resume case questions
  
• 15 case questions with room to work out your answers
  
• 15 detailed "good" answers to the case questions, including possible dialogues with your interviewer
  
• "Bad" answers along with reasons for why they won't fly
  
• More!

Reviews (2)

Fresh new cases
Clearly written by consultants, I appreciated the chance to get in more practice on case interviews. I'm hoping, after running through Ace I, II and III, that I'll go into my interviews cool, calm and collected. Not only did the first of the series really set a complete and thorough framework for how to approach cases, but it as well as II and III gave me a bunch of cases to practice on. That said, I realize that I could have bought I and II or I and III or that I could've just bought any one of the guides without really needing any one of the others to go ahead and try the cases. But I'm a big believer in doing as much advance preparation (especially in this tough job market) to nail an interview cold--so getting all 3 worked well for me. And i really, really liked reading through the bad and good answers for each case to help me figure out how to refine my own answers to the case questions. Thanks, WetFeet! Can't get enuf of 'em!

Practice DOES make perfect
This guide was a great follow up to the first two Ace Your Case guides. I studied up using all three of the guides. I've completed a first found of interviews and left them feeling like I had done really well. This was confirmed with the two call-backs I've already received.

There's no way around the case interview for management consulting and structured practice is the best and only preparation. These guides provided just that. I definitely recommend them. ... Read more

Book Description

THE COMPUTER CONSULTANT'S GUIDE

If you're serious about striking out on your own as a computer consultant, you don't need a pep talk. You need reliable, authoritative information that will prepare you for the realities of independent consulting. You need to meet experienced consultants who have learned from their own successes and failures and who can teach you what it takes to develop a consultant mentality, attract and hold clients, set realistic prices, collect your money, run a business on your own, avoid tax problems, and much more.

In this Second Edition of The Computer Consultant's Guide, Janet Ruhl introduces you to more than 150 practicing computer consultants. In their own words, these professionals tell you how they feel about their work, what problems they commonly encounter, which real-world solutions worked for them, and which didn't. You'll even get to listen in on disagreements over touchy subjects such as when to discount rates and whether to insist on a written contract. You'll hear both sides of every question and decide for yourself which approach is right for you.

The Computer Consultant's Guide doesn't stop there. In excerpts from in-depth interviews with leading consultants, Ruhl addresses a host of important issues that will affect your day-to-day life as a consultant and could make or break your future: insurance requirements, effective image building, marketing techniques that work, and managing the client relationship.

New information in this Second Edition includes tax requirements and standard business practices for Canadian, U.K., and European consultants; and new tips and tricks from working consultants as well as ideas on how to use the Internet and World Wide Web to support and enhance your business. This practical, down-to-earth handbook also includes updated resource lists, extensive up-to-date information based on Janet Ruhl's popular Web-based Real Rate Survey, IRS rules for establishing independent contractor status, and the ICCA's model consulting contract.

If you're serious about becoming a computer consultant, or even if you're just thinking about it, this book gives you a clear picture of what you're up against, prepares you to meet the challenges of launching your business, and helps you avoid the common errors that most fledgling consultants make. No, you don't need a pep talk. You need The Computer Consultant's Guide, Second Edition.

"Read it twice and heed every word." — CompuServe Magazine

"Belongs on the reading list of all prospective and current computer consultants." — Library Journal

"250 pages of solid advice for anyone considering the consulting life." — Software Development

"I took the leap [into consulting] 11 years ago, and I wish I had had The Computer Consultant's Guide for advice. . . . Janet Ruhl's recommendations fit my experience right down the line." — Harry Green, President Pacific Netcom Inc.

"An excellent reference for the newcomer. . . 'old pros' will want a copy as well." —Deborah Sampson, President Independent Computer Consultants Association

The Computer Consultant's Guide, Second Edition, offers valuable guidance on every aspect of starting and managing a successful computer consulting business. It points out potential problems, solid solutions, and valuable resources, and covers everything you need to know to: Set up your business and establish your image

• Master essential business and marketing skills
• Find and manage the highest paying clients
• Set fees and bid on the big jobs
• Handle important tax and accounting issues
• Work through brokers with confidence

Reviews (17)

OK, but not the best...
This book was...OK. It was a good intro to how to start a consulting business, but I much preferred Ruhl's other book, "Answers for Computer Contractors." That book goes more into the dirty tricks that clients and brokers play, and is a better "field guide" for someone looking to leave salaried employment behind. My last job hop was to another salaried spot...I'm not that crazy just yet!!

Okay, but she has a better one out.
This book is good for a general understanting of the consulting field. And I do recommend it, but if you are serious about consulting/contracting, you should supplement with two other books: "Janet Ruhl's Answers for Computer Contractors: How to Get the Highest Rates and the Fairest Deals from Consulting Firms, Agencies, and Clients" and if you are just starting in the programming field and want to learn exactly what you need to do and do it fast, then read: "The Secret Path to Contract Programming Riches..." Good luck to your career! ;)

Great introduction to consulting.
This book provides a thorough overview of the computer consulting industry and a good sense of the day-to-day business tasks associated with maintaining a consulting career.

If you are an absolute rookie in the computer field and have little idea of the consulting options available to you, your perspective may widen a bit and you might find yourself having more questions than you did before you started reading this book, which is a good thing. So, you will probably want to supplement your research a bit more once you have narrowed down your consulting career choices.

But, if you are already in the computer field, this book has about all the information you will need to base a career-changing decision on. There are plenty of resources listed to help further your knowledge on the consulting field. If you have the time, you might want to take a look at the author's subsequent book, "Janet Ruhl's Answers for Computer Contractors", which can be a very good supplement to this book.

~ Michael Nigohosian, author - "The Secret Path to Contract Programming Riches"

Truly A Mixed Bag
This book certainly has its pluses and minuses. The fact that it was published in 1997 makes it somewhat obsolete in some critical areas. None the less there is some solid advice given by the author.

The first chapter defiens the many types of consultants fairly well. However, it does fail to mention much about the Networking Engineer, whcih is a critical part of today's busienss environment. The Meet The Consultants section is fairly user friendly. Earning potential is key but again you must interpret this in terms of 1997 dollars which is more inflated now.

Also critical discussions regarding health insurance and marketing are explored here. Some good advice is given here at the beginning. A little bit overdone in other spots as a person exploring the industry will become overwhelmed. So many of these aspects are situational. The brokering part is presented in such a dry format that its hard to read after 30-40 pages.

The glossary might be of help for those who want to explore more information. However, a new version is definitely in order to bring this book current.

Good Overall Reference
I purchased this book in 1996 and it has withstood the test of time. A good reference on how to start your business and keep it going. I find that I turn to this book even now when I want a reminder on how to do something (like bid proposals) or something new (like growing my business beyond just me). Ruhl has compiled real world experience from many consultants (mostly on-line) and placed that information in a useful order (with a decent index). Well worth the purchase price, get it for your library! ... Read more

Book Description

This book shows engineers how to become consultants and leads them through the process of starting and managing their own business. It supplies marketing, client relations, and self-management know-how based on the author's 20+ years in consulting. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Superficial Text of Limited Usefulness
If you are looking for one book on how to successfully consult as an engineer, this is not it. Readable in a weekend, the text is too superficial.

It breezes over the nuts and bolts of consulting. Important tax law, such as IRS 'right-of-control' criteria for independency and methods of calculating/paying estimated taxes, are barely covered. Contract writing/review - a vital aspect of the consultation process, is hardly mentioned (although proposals, non-legally binding documents, are well covered). In general, the coverage of the legal and liability aspects of consulting is cursory.

Kaye makes good points, but many would be obvious to any professional experienced enough to consult. What professional doesn't know how to dress for an interview or that bringing physical samples of work to the sales meeting is a good idea?

When detail is provided, Kaye often favors an approach without substantiation. For example, on the all important topic of billing rates, calculation of rates based upon desired annual income is covered in detail, while methods of researching the rate which the market will bear are scarcely covered. Yet in real markets, the billable rate will be influenced (if not based entirely) upon the market rate. In fact, comparison of the market rate and the desired rate may lead the individual to choose *not* to consult. Analysis appropriate in a text about launching a practice.

In conclusion, although Kaye's book has an affirming message and a fine bibliography, it holds few revelations or useful tools and will rarely be use for later reference.

For those trying to decide whether to consult or interested in the "nuts & bolts" of consulting, I recommend Nolo's excellent, "Working for Yourself, Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors . . ." by Fishman. I am unable to recommend any books on marketing for consultants.

Excellent resource for the technical consultant!!!
ANYONE considering technical consulting as a full or part-time profession MUST READ THIS BOOK! It cover all aspects of consulting (including a personal reality checklist) in an easy-to-read manner and will be a permanent reference in my library.

Invaluable information, filled with countless wise tips!
As an e-commerce consultant I was pleasantly surprised to see that someone had written about exactly the kinds of experiences I've had with clients over the years. This is the first consulting book I've come across that covers all the issues in a straightforward way. It's full of great tips based on real life experience. Other consulting books tend to have a lot of fluff and padding, but this one gets right to the juicy issues in a concise manner. I makes for enjoyable reading, at times it is hard to put down. This is an essential book for anyone doing consulting or contract-based work. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This book is for the professional who longs for independence butcan't simply walk away from a regular paycheck and health benefits. Successful consultant Mary F. Cook describes how to build a thriving consultingpractice gradually, without leaving your 9-5 job.You'll find out how to:

• Build a healthy client base while working a regular job
• Market your services effectively without spending a fortune
• Set fees and negotiate contracts
• Handle non-compete agreements and conflict-of-interest issues
• Set up and run a home office
• Know when the time is right to quit your job and become a full-timeconsultant.

The sound, practical advice you need on everything from logistics to ethics isright here. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Only downside: some material is dated
Considering this book was published in 1996, back when the Web was barely a buzzword, it could be worse, but the reality is that this book's most important flaw has to do with its sheer age. Due to that, it misses on some very useful pieces of information and resources the writer could have offered, if a more recent edition were available.

Now that I wrote about the negative (I normally don't do things in this order, but it just came to me), on to the good things:
-The book addresses to a sufficient extent many of the issues (time and stress-wise, in terms of ethical conflicts, etc.) that stem out of starting a consulting practice beside your full-time job. This is where the CORE STRENGTH of the book lies. I've not been able to find any other titles that go into this topic so effectively... in fact, I've not found any other books on the topic at all. Most of the other consulting books I've checked out simply deal with consulting, considering it full-time dedication deal.
-The author -the President of her own HR Consultancy- also volunteers some good (though far from unique or comprehensive) advice on putting together a pricing scheme for your services, finding sources of financing for your outlet, starting your office at home, marketing your services, and even heads up into critical tax/legal considerations to take into account.

Other than the outdated material in a few parts where references are cited, and the lack of online information to support the book, I liked her book. All in all, it is not a recipe book, but a reference and a rather good one, most specifically useful to those in the process of considering a consulting business on the side, and even for those who are already doing it, in order to assist with setting things up that you might not have thought of up to this point.

Note: unless she went out of business or did a poor job at marketing her services online, it's impossible to find any other reference to her in Google besides this book, whatever that implies... :\

Very dated material - but some still useful
This book was probably cutting edge when writing began in the early to mid 1990's. But now, the book is seriously out of date. For example, there is no mention of using the Internet to market your consulting business. However, the author does explain how to do some basic business research online. This is before the days of web browsers. Therefore, the author explains how to set your modem for 2400 and 9600 bps connections. Additionnaly she gives resources for firms that provide products or services to small businesses, however, many of these resources are now out of business.

An additional example of dated material would be the information she writes about the Small Business Administration. At the time the book was written, the data was very useful. Recent changes to SBA programs render the author's information historical, rather than helpful.

Basic small business concepts, such as time management and business plan development are still relevant.

Overall, the book needs a revised edition, or it should not be sold by Amazon.

Excellent resource
This book is a great resource. She covers everyhing from small details such as arranging your home office to larger issues such as ethical questions about consulting in the same area as your employer and practical questions such as how to register your business name and inexpensive ideas for marketing. This book is also a good resource for people wanting to start ANY home-based consulting business, not just a part-time one. Since the book was published in 1996, there are not as many references to the web as their might be if it were published today, but the author was obviously in-tuned to various technicological benefits that existed in 1996, and she still gives solid advice that is still valid today (the Internet doesn't solve everything and changes all the time anyway!).

Excelent for Ideas
This book tell you some ideas and some advices about wath do you need. On the other hand this book need be actually with internet address for its recomendations. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the things most readers claim they want in computer books is real-world experience: "Don't just regurgitate the manual," they tell us. "Give us hands-on experience. Tell us how useful features really are--dare to break from the company line!"

How ironic is it, then, that one of the best "real-world" computer books written this year won't do a damn thing for your computer experience, but could well add thousands to your salary or save you from possible bankruptcy?

If you're thinking of making the break and going freelance--a dream many techies share--consider the MCSE Consulting Bible. It's a priceless resource that is stuffed to the gills with honest, useful advice on all levels. Want to know what sorts of psychological tactics you'll need to pursue if you want to be successful? Check. Need to know how to plan, bill, and seek new employees for your business? Check. Want to know what sort of clients you should seek out, how well your business should be doing by a certain point, and what specific certifications are desirable for what niche markets? Check, check, check--and this is all given with outside opinions from experts, and backed by the opinions of author Harry Brelsford, a man who is healthily skeptical about your chances for success. But he'll tell you, frankly and honestly, what it takes.

The book is split into essentially two sections. The first part deals with what it takes to be a successful consultant, and has separate chapters for methodologies, writing proposals, managing (and hiring) staff, retirement st