By: Dr. Chris Downs

I write in my private journal almost every day. Over the years, I’ve amassed many journals, each varying in size, shape, and binding. In these books, I’ve recorded hundreds of lessons I’ve learned about life, relationships, my work, and my consulting.

Some of the lessons I jotted down on solo consulting seemed obvious, at least to me. For instance, it seems like good common sense to build and maintain a 6-month cash reserve at all times. I’ve since learned that sometimes “common sense” isn’t all that common among consultants.

Other lessons I learned came suddenly, with little warning. One whopper of a lesson involved having a $7M contract snatched from my hands by a state’s governor only 15 minutes before the contract was to take effect! I learned so much from that painful experience! It’s described in the Introduction to “Solo Consulting: Insider Tips for Success!”

Several of my colleagues know that I jot down “lessons” as I learn them. I’ve always done this for my own edification, not for others. My parents taught me that if one remembers the mistakes and lessons of the past, one is less likely to repeat mistakes later on. One of my closest colleagues asked me if I’d ever consider assembling these lessons into a book to share with others. Honestly, I hadn’t until he suggested it.

As I pulled together the lessons from my journals, I noticed that they fell into specific topics such as issues with clients, setting fees, recognizing and dealing with competitors and honest self-evaluation.

I knew there were numerous “how to” books on consulting that covered business formation, bookkeeping, marketing strategies, and so on. There are very good books available on those topics. I felt no need to mimic them or add to already crowded library shelves.

What I did not find, however, was a book offering insider tips and suggestions based on observations and real consultant experiences.

Ultimately, I wrote this book for 4 reasons.

1. There seems to be a need for an “insiders” view of individual consulting to supplement the many “how to” books already written and available.

2. My consulting colleagues told me that a compendium of lessons would be valuable for new consultants as well as those struggling with specific issues, such as difficult clients or invoice payment delays.

3. The numbers of people opening solo consulting practices are exploding. In 2019, there were an estimated 57 million freelancers (i.e., solo businesspeople, mostly consultants) in the US. That represented over 35% of the country’s workforce (source: Freelancing in America survey data from Upwork and Freelancers Union, 2019). More recent trends suggest that the actual numbers of independent consultants, and proportion of the country’s workforce have increased significantly since the pandemic. There are many of us making a living on our own these days!

4. Solo consulting can be very difficult, even for seasoned business professionals. There are a long list of reasons why consultancies fail. I am worried that many new solo consultants don’t have the insights they need to avoid the biggest potholes. The US Bureau of Labor Standards (2022) indicated that 20% of new companies fail in the first two years, over 50% of new companies do not survive past 6 years and only 25% of companies are still around 15 years after opening.

My hope is that readers will find insights they wouldn’t get elsewhere and use them to create and operate amazing consulting practices! If you’re ready to explore the insider tips and lessons I’ve pulled together in “Solo Consulting: Insider Tips for Success!” please go directly to this link on Amazon where the book is available.

Notice: This blog wholly reflects the views and suggestions of Dr. Chris Downs. Readers’ use of his views or suggestions are wholly the responsibility of the reader as reflected by their actions, reactions thoughts, statements, and behaviors. Dr. Downs accepts no responsibility for readers’ use of his words. Further, this blog contains no intentional or structured therapeutic intent nor is the content designed to harm or improve the psychological state of the reader. Readers are responsible for their own reactions to and/or use of any and all suggestions or advice.

By Dr. Chris Downs

Hello and welcome to my blog series focused on how to own and operate a successful solo consulting practice. This first blog is a bit about me, your author.

I’m originally from the South Bend, Indiana area. I got my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from Indiana University - South Bend then a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin.

I was an Assistant, then Associate and finally to Full Professor of Psychology with tenure at two major universities.

I grew disenchanted with academia and searched for something new. It didn’t take long for the Pacific Northwest to capture my heart. From the moment I arrived in Seattle in early 1992, I knew I’d found “home.” Within only a couple of weeks in the city, I landed a corporate position.

In late 1994, after a couple years in corporate work, I was interviewed for a Director position at one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit foundations, based in Seattle. I worked there in progressively higher positions for a little over 13 years.

When the foundation took new directions that did not coincide with the kind of work I enjoyed, I left and opened my own solo consulting business. That was in mid-2008.

Pause for a moment. Think back to the financial turmoil in our country back in 2008. That was hardly the year to open a new business! But I did anyway. The fact that my new company thrived told me I was in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time.

Over my professional career, I’ve had many opportunities to locate, screen, interview, contract with, negotiate with, and fire many consultants. Some of these were professionals I hired as adjunct instructors. Others brought niche expertise to a project I was working on, or filled gaps on one of my teams when someone took a leave of absence. I estimate that over the years, I hired and/or managed well over 500 consultants.

During my own consulting practice, I worked with state and county governments, corporations, not-for-profits, and educational institutions. Many of my clients have been moderate-size, with 100 – 500 employees. A few of my clients were very large, state and national entities. Some of my most enjoyable work, however, was with small clients with limited staff, tight budgets and sky-high goals.

I’ve enjoyed working with most of my clients. But as you’ll read in “Solo Consulting: Insider Tips for Success!”, some of my clients have been stinkers. Fortunately, most weren’t.

Today, I continue to love the Pacific Northwest. My spouse and I live near Seattle’s downtown and thrive on the city’s vibrant sports and arts/music scene, enjoy many dear friends, and frequently take vacations to Hawai’i, Europe, and a variety of destinations in the US.

If you’d like to learn more about the lessons I share in “Solo Consulting: Insider Tips for Success!” please go directly to this link on Amazon where the book is available.

Why This Book, Why Now?

By: Dr. Chris Downs

About the Author, Dr. Chris Downs

By Dr. Chris Downs