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.