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Summary: Step-by-step, your "trip-tik" to consulting success!
Review: Elaine has obviously learned many lessons on the ins and outs of getting a consulting business to succeed in these very competitive times. The book is a blend of self-analysis, practical tips, and insights into managing a one-person operation. If this is all so much common sense, why hasn't anyone written this book before? Elaine has the ability to do the work and, at the same time, to analyze the work as she's doing it. The information on the disk really makes all of the business side so much easier. A must read for consultant wannabees.
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Summary: Outstanding handbook
Review: For answers to your questions about consulting and starting a business, buy this book! Thoughtfully written, substantive content in an easy-to-read format, this is the perfect gift for the professional beginning a first career or for the seasoned veteran making a career change. Ms. Biech proves through her own highly successful consulting practice that these techniques work. We're lucky she shares her secrets.
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Summary: Finally, A Guide that Delivers!
Review: I purchased The Business of Consulting shortly after its publication. It has been a Godsend! Like most consultants, I'm an expert in my chosen area of consultation, which happens to be human behavior in the workplace. However, I found myself in desperate need of step-by-step guidance when it came to establishing and doing business. Your book and Alan Weiss's, Million Dollar Consulting, have become the Old and New Testaments of my Business Bible.I established my consulting firm late last year. After reading several books on how to start a consulting practice, I found The Business of Consulting to be the most helpful. Reading the first two chapters allowed me the opportunity to reexamine my reasons for getting into consulting as well as putting on paper what I actually bring to the table to be a successful businesswoman. Chapter four, "Starting..." and chapter five, "...And Staying In Business", along with the CD-ROM of exhibits were particularly helpful to me. I cannot stress enough the importance of developing a comprehensive written business plan. Even if you're not looking for outside funding, a comprehensive business plan will guide you when you feel the need to be all things to all people. The best advice I received from The Business of Consulting book was "Go for the Big Fish; You'll Spend the Same Time Baiting the Hook." That statement was worth the price of the book. As the new kid on the block, I labored under the misassumption that I needed to start with smaller companies and earn a reputation. I soon discovered that smaller companies could not afford my services. I spent too much time presenting to people who wanted to haggle price. When I refined my market niche, I began to get the type of business I needed and desired. Now I market consulting services only to companies that need my services and can well afford my fee. I realize that some people have disparaged The Business of Consulting as being "fluff" or void of substance. I take issue with such assessments because The Business of Consulting did, for me, what I feel the author purposed it to do; it guided me in creating a sound business foundation. Furthermore, when I face a business management problem, The Business of Consulting is the first source I turn to for a solution. Most importantly, The Business of Consulting continues to help me as I strategize for continuous growth. I highly recommend The Business of Consulting as an excellent business development resource manual.
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Summary: This book is the Baldrige Criteria of Consulting!
Review: It's a page turner, simple, easy to understand reference guide. As an internal consultant considering a leap to private practice, this book provides me with the inspiration and framework I need to be successful. Besides the useful tips and forms, I especially enjoyed following Elaine on one of her typcial weeks "on the job" as a consultant. As in the Baldrige Criteria, thiis book gives me the roadmap and framework to start building my own business. Thanks Elaine for taking the mystery out of the business of consulting. Aloha, L.A. Burke
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Summary: How can you not buy this book?
Review: Ok, I'm a little biased. I met Elaine at a training seminar in Atlanta. That's how I found out about it. So the combination of her generous personality and the awesome information in this book will no doubt skew my perspective. But hey, HOW CAN YOU NOT BUY THIS BOOK? It is the most concisely written, information packed object there is on consulting. I've read it and am also going through her Quick Start Guide. Both are organized in an easy to follow format and are full of useful information. No matter what type of consulting business you're interested in or are in, you will find this book most useful. One thing I learned from Elaine is that generousity begets success... this book will be generous to you.
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Summary: Very light on content
Review: One of the difficulties of independent consulting is the loss of colleagues to "bounce ideas with." Elaine's book helps to fill that gap! It's extremely easy to read, full of information, very practical, and well-organized! Elaine talks about lifestyle changes as well as business considerations-the complete guide for a new or an experienced consultant!
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Summary: It's a waste of money even for beginner
Review: Sure this book is only for beginner or outsider of Cosulting business. But then, for the price of this book, I would rather buy a much cheaper book but with more useful information and ideas - such as Consulting for Dummies. The book is full of motherhood statements and it is more liked written by a grand mom and she called herself consultant; But come on, Consulting is a highly skillful business that require structural, systematic yet creative thinking. Overall, I think this book is a waste of money for experienced consultant. While for beginner, the reader will risk the wrong impression that it's this easy to win a consulting work - highly unlikely in a complex and competative world.
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Summary: Sure you have skills but do you know what to do with them?
Review: That's what the thrust of this book is. How to have a consulting business and how to decide if you even want one in the first place. I am just starting out as an independent consultant and I was feeling very overwhelmed. I knew I had valuable skills but the question of how to market them was making me crazy. This is a very nuts and bolts approach to the business of consulting. It's precisely what I needed!
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Summary: Insightful, user friendly, relevant, great layout.
Review: The Business of Consulting effectively addresses the host of questions that need to be asked and answered before taking the huge step of leaving your current, stable, dependable position and going out on your own. The book is extremely well written and organized. It reads easily, in large part because of the first person usage. It's a very enjoyable and useful book.
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Summary: The Nuts and Bolts of Making a Consulting Business Work
Review: The Business of Consulting is a FABULOUS book for the new consultant or the person considering becoming a consultant. It reinforced information I had learned in the previous 6 months as a newly independent consultant and gave excellent guidelines and advice on my next steps. I wish I had read the Business of Consulting before I started out. Before consideing becoming a consultant I read at least 10 books about becoming a consultant and conducted interviews with consultants. The Business of Consulting could have saved me 3 months of information gathering and research. The Business of Consulting especially gives the new consultant excellent advice on Marketing and Selling thier services. As a new consultant, it was revelation to learn that my first year would be spent mostly marketing and trying to get new clients. Learning that spending 2 months on the phone and mailing marketing materials is exactly what I am suppose to be doing! Elaine Biech does an excellent job of addressing how to make a consulting business work and the nuts of bolts like invoices, getting paid and finding clients. The disk that Elaine Biech provides also gives The reader excellent tools to use. The Business of Consulting is a must have.
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