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10 reviews for:
Million Dollar Consulting: the Professional's Guide to Growing a Practice
Alan Weiss
3.6 AVERAGE
10 reviews for:
Million Dollar Consulting: the Professional's Guide to Growing a Practice
Alan Weiss
3.6 AVERAGE
Eh. That is my quick reaction to this book. I'm a voracious reader and one of my apprentices recommended this book so highly that I took her up on it. I'm afraid it just didn't do it for me.
I listened to the audio version and kept an open mind. There are certainly some good ideas here which I have long since implemented in my business:
1. You're a professional so never charge by the hour, that's amateur, charge by value.
2. Work from your home office and keep your overhead expenses minimal.
3. Discuss work with your family members at the end of the day and even ask for advice from them.
4. Don't do business with family or friends and never exchange services.
5. Let your reputation speak for itself and charge appropriately.
6. Create content, produce work, grow your IP.
To me, these are pretty basic concepts and Alan describes them at very high levels because he covers so much, he cannot really go into any level of detail in any one area. And there is massive oversimplification across the board on all the topics.
He also uses very direct language. Now I am a very direct person (just ask my husband) but my books use a language that welcomes change and encourages ideas even if I am being firm in my stance. Something about the tone of the book did not resonate with me. Maybe it's the cold unfriendly approach to here's how it's done and you need to do it this way if you want to make it work. I like to hear the advice with some compassion and some motivation behind it.
Also, I did not feel that there was much compassion or love or care for his clients. It was about getting the best deal, charging them a ton of money (which is fine!) and giving them as little time as possible so that he could live a nice life or at least that's the sense I got. There was no implication that he is really a caring partner along the way for his clients but more that they can have him if he is available and at astronomical rates and only for 5 minutes. Eh. Not an approach that I will be implementing anytime soon.
There are also some good ideas that I will implement, but overall, I won't be recommending this book. Perhaps there is more value for others.
I listened to the audio version and kept an open mind. There are certainly some good ideas here which I have long since implemented in my business:
1. You're a professional so never charge by the hour, that's amateur, charge by value.
2. Work from your home office and keep your overhead expenses minimal.
3. Discuss work with your family members at the end of the day and even ask for advice from them.
4. Don't do business with family or friends and never exchange services.
5. Let your reputation speak for itself and charge appropriately.
6. Create content, produce work, grow your IP.
To me, these are pretty basic concepts and Alan describes them at very high levels because he covers so much, he cannot really go into any level of detail in any one area. And there is massive oversimplification across the board on all the topics.
He also uses very direct language. Now I am a very direct person (just ask my husband) but my books use a language that welcomes change and encourages ideas even if I am being firm in my stance. Something about the tone of the book did not resonate with me. Maybe it's the cold unfriendly approach to here's how it's done and you need to do it this way if you want to make it work. I like to hear the advice with some compassion and some motivation behind it.
Also, I did not feel that there was much compassion or love or care for his clients. It was about getting the best deal, charging them a ton of money (which is fine!) and giving them as little time as possible so that he could live a nice life or at least that's the sense I got. There was no implication that he is really a caring partner along the way for his clients but more that they can have him if he is available and at astronomical rates and only for 5 minutes. Eh. Not an approach that I will be implementing anytime soon.
There are also some good ideas that I will implement, but overall, I won't be recommending this book. Perhaps there is more value for others.
As a partner in a small business focusing on professional development and education, I found this book to be a useful reminder of basic business practices.
However, I'm not a consultant. Consequently, this book didn't speak to me directly. Listening to it was like overhearing a conversation about a topic in which one is interested, but not fascinated.
However, I'm not a consultant. Consequently, this book didn't speak to me directly. Listening to it was like overhearing a conversation about a topic in which one is interested, but not fascinated.
Eh. That is my quick reaction to this book. I'm a voracious reader and one of my apprentices recommended this book so highly that I took her up on it. I'm afraid it just didn't do it for me.
I listened to the audio version and kept an open mind. There are certainly some good ideas here which I have long since implemented in my business:
1. You're a professional so never charge by the hour, that's amateur, charge by value.
2. Work from your home office and keep your overhead expenses minimal.
3. Discuss work with your family members at the end of the day and even ask for advice from them.
4. Don't do business with family or friends and never exchange services.
5. Let your reputation speak for itself and charge appropriately.
6. Create content, produce work, grow your IP.
To me, these are pretty basic concepts and Alan describes them at very high levels because he covers so much, he cannot really go into any level of detail in any one area. And there is massive oversimplification across the board on all the topics.
He also uses very direct language. Now I am a very direct person (just ask my husband) but my books use a language that welcomes change and encourages ideas even if I am being firm in my stance. Something about the tone of the book did not resonate with me. Maybe it's the cold unfriendly approach to here's how it's done and you need to do it this way if you want to make it work. I like to hear the advice with some compassion and some motivation behind it.
Also, I did not feel that there was much compassion or love or care for his clients. It was about getting the best deal, charging them a ton of money (which is fine!) and giving them as little time as possible so that he could live a nice life or at least that's the sense I got. There was no implication that he is really a caring partner along the way for his clients but more that they can have him if he is available and at astronomical rates and only for 5 minutes. Eh. Not an approach that I will be implementing anytime soon.
There are also some good ideas that I will implement, but overall, I won't be recommending this book. Perhaps there is more value for others.
I listened to the audio version and kept an open mind. There are certainly some good ideas here which I have long since implemented in my business:
1. You're a professional so never charge by the hour, that's amateur, charge by value.
2. Work from your home office and keep your overhead expenses minimal.
3. Discuss work with your family members at the end of the day and even ask for advice from them.
4. Don't do business with family or friends and never exchange services.
5. Let your reputation speak for itself and charge appropriately.
6. Create content, produce work, grow your IP.
To me, these are pretty basic concepts and Alan describes them at very high levels because he covers so much, he cannot really go into any level of detail in any one area. And there is massive oversimplification across the board on all the topics.
He also uses very direct language. Now I am a very direct person (just ask my husband) but my books use a language that welcomes change and encourages ideas even if I am being firm in my stance. Something about the tone of the book did not resonate with me. Maybe it's the cold unfriendly approach to here's how it's done and you need to do it this way if you want to make it work. I like to hear the advice with some compassion and some motivation behind it.
Also, I did not feel that there was much compassion or love or care for his clients. It was about getting the best deal, charging them a ton of money (which is fine!) and giving them as little time as possible so that he could live a nice life or at least that's the sense I got. There was no implication that he is really a caring partner along the way for his clients but more that they can have him if he is available and at astronomical rates and only for 5 minutes. Eh. Not an approach that I will be implementing anytime soon.
There are also some good ideas that I will implement, but overall, I won't be recommending this book. Perhaps there is more value for others.
While there is a lot of good content that is helpful for people going into consulting. There are a number of inconsistencies (particularly around ethics) that are highly ideological and worrying.
informative
slow-paced
This is not the book which will turn you into a consultant all of a sudden (surprise, surprise). For what its worth, it would not even help you realize if you are good fit for this hat. Yet, what I like a lot is that it gives advices on being more self-aware and organized. This is one of the better business reads and I would recommend it to people who want to learn to be more confident and persistent.
Alan Weis creates a good overview of practices which allow people to better "sell" themselves. Check the book if you are into entrepreneurial thinking, want to be able to present yourself better or just want to explore another option ahead.
Alan Weis creates a good overview of practices which allow people to better "sell" themselves. Check the book if you are into entrepreneurial thinking, want to be able to present yourself better or just want to explore another option ahead.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Don't let the copyright date of this book fool you, there's plenty of pertinent information in here even for 2017. There's plenty to laugh at too, like remembering to send faxes to people. But the concepts are here. Weiss also comes across a little...high falutin' sometimes for my taste, but this is book held my attention for its contrarian and supported positions against common beliefs.
Absolutely great, packed with good and practical advice - has to work to implement them, but that's the point.
Every freelances - not just consultants - should read this.
Every freelances - not just consultants - should read this.
Perhaps useful if you are a freelancer, but honestly I have no idea how I ended up reading this.