Tag: how to become a consultant

New online course – how be a successful consultant & earn more

If you’re fed up of the 9-5 working life or feeling stuck in your job, or maybe you want to get paid for what you’re truly passionate about, a great way to do this is to become a consultant! As a consultant you are your own boss and therefore you have more control over who you work with and importantly when and where you work.

If you’re serious about becoming a  freelancer you should ask yourself why? knowing your reason why will help to focus your mind and help drive you forward. Are you thinking of freelancing for work life balance, to spend more time doing other things you love, or is it because you’re peed off with your boss?

I’ve been in the peed off position –dealing with depression due to my employer being unreasonable around childcare.. I wanted out for my sanity and so handed in my notice without a job but I did have a plan!

If you’d like to know more check out this online course. I’ve been a successful consultant since the end of 2013 so I’m sharing my insight and providing guidance on setting up and building a sustainable career. All for a bargain at just £19.99. Or grab the book on Amazon for £5.99.

Click on image below to sign up

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How To Become A Consultant: 5 Steps To Doing It Right

Starting out on your own as a consultant may conjure up a plethora of feelings, from being scared about the risks and uncertainty to feeling excited and empowered to be taking control of your own life balance and destiny. Not to mention the uncapped earning potential. You’re bound to feel like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster as you embark on a new chapter in your life, stepping outside of your comfort zone and regular routine.

Whether you plan to consult in business or personal services we all, at times, can face similar issues in getting established on this new journey into consultancy.

Here are 5 tips to getting your career as a consultant started:

  1. Expert knowledge – if you are going to be a consultant, firstly ensure that you have the skills and knowledge in the sector you plan to consult in. Avoid offering services you are not fully proficient or confident in. Yes, it’s important to sell yourself and your expert skills but be careful not to bite of more than you can chew and commit to keeping your skills and knowledge refreshed and up to date.
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  1. Believe in yourself – You’ve made the decision or are thinking of making this career change, it’s super important to learn how to be your own cheerleader. Working for yourself is gratifying and rewarding, but can also be very challenging, you have to keep yourself motivated throughout it all. Positive can-do attitude alongside working hard is key. Our minds have a habit of finding fault with ourselves, so we have to reprogram and train our minds to tune out the doubtful little voice in our heads!
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  1. Get organised –now is the time to get yourself organised. You need to set up your business, make the decision on how you plan to trade, Ltd or solo. You have to register the business, set up banking facilities, register with HMRC as self-employed, set your goals and objectives. Set up contracts for clients and of course set your fees for client billing, get networking for new clients. There’s lots to do, it might sound exhausting, but doesn’t have to be. This calls for a calm diligent approach and a can-do mind set.
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  1. Understand your finances – as a consultant working self-employed you will be responsible for your finances, so don’t forget to put money aside for a rainy day and for those important National Insurance and tax payments when HMRC deadlines roll around. There are some great apps to log receipts and expenses as well as trusty excel spreadsheets which makes it easier for tax purposes.
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  1. Be Consistent & diligent– Be consistent in your approach to work and your work life balance. Starting out takes time, commitment and consistency, you might not get your first or fifth client contract, now is not the time to take your foot of the peddle, or to take time to feel sorry for yourself. Persevere and things will fall into place. Be prepared, do research your sector, your competitors and most certainly do look for potential clients that you would like to work with.

If you’re thinking about exploring more options like starting your own business check out the free guide.

Want to know more? grab my book How To Become A Consultant; A Guide To Free Yourself From The 9-5’. Available from Amazon, iBook, Google Play, Barnes & Noble and other online platforms.

This article was written for and published in New Business Magazine  – May 2018.