http://www.integralseminars.org Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:26:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.integralseminars.org/the-consulting-industry-a-path-paved-with-gold-and-potholes.cfm http://www.integralseminars.org/the-consulting-industry-a-path-paved-with-gold-and-potholes.cfm#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:53:07 +0000 ewwink http://www.crawbot.co.cc/?p=330

So you’re fresh out of Business School and you’re thinking about joining that “Big-5” firm that has offered you a ridiculously high-salary, the option to travel to different cities and even countries routinely and fancy vellum business cards with your name is bold print. Could life get any better? Yes and No.

As a professional that has worked in the Consulting Industry, specifically the Management Consulting Industry for over nine years, the life of a professional consultant is a life paved with financial, career and travel rewards not normally available through traditional means of employment.

If you’re a single person, I would be hard pressed to find a better job as your career in consulting will take you to countless cities and even countries across the globe. You will routinely encounter brilliant people in your line of work as well as people of different cultures, religions and ethnicities. Depending on the length of your engagement, you’ll never stay in a single location long enough to grow tired of the surroundings. BUT, if you’re a person in a relationship, I can’t think of a worst profession to call a career. The strains of travel and being apart from your loved one(s) can only lead to discord in your relationship. This is obviously a generalization for I’ve personally known many professionals in happy relationships but it is a risk worth considering.

Are you the adventurous type? Then consulting will provide you with many an opportunity for adventure. Consulting will afford you opportunities to travel to locales you may have never thought you would have traveled to before; London, New York, Paris and Beijing being four locations where travel to is typical. Then again, during the onset of your career you should expect to visit not-so glamorous locations such as Butte, Montana or even Lincoln, Nebraska (no offense). If you like the idea of staying in a single city, single office and just stability in general; consulting may not be the life for you. You are paid that ridiculously high salary because Fortune 500 companies expect you to come to them. Travel is part and parcel to this career, so get used to it.

Do you like repetition? Getting comfortable with the same routine at work so much that you can do it with your eyes closed? If you’re answer is “Yes”, then turn around now, don’t pass “Go” and don’t collect $200.00…this ain’t the job for you! Consulting demands a lot of its practitioners, the main trait being ambition and the desire for bigger and more complex challenges. This career isn’t for the meek nor timid but rather for the over achiever looking for rapid movement up the corporate ladder. If this is you, then you’re chosen your career wisely.

All in all, a career in the Consulting Industry is a fruitful career. Even if you find yourself growing tired of the job after a few years, you’re work history and talent will be sought after by many other companies for Corporate America understands the trials and tribulations associated with the career and values any professional with such experience.

If you’ve read this article and have decided to finally sign that offer letter and next-day air it back to the home office; then welcome to the world of 60-hour work weeks, constantly eating out and a different hotel bed every month…enjoy the ride.

By: Alfred GarciaEdited By: Michael C. Podlesny

]]> http://www.integralseminars.org/the-consulting-industry-a-path-paved-with-gold-and-potholes.cfm/feed 0 http://www.integralseminars.org/business-plan-for-computer-consulting-tips.cfm http://www.integralseminars.org/business-plan-for-computer-consulting-tips.cfm#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:57:46 +0000 ewwink http://www.crawbot.co.cc/?p=331

Are you working on your business plan for computer consulting?

If you’re like many others starting their own computer consulting businesses, you are probably used to doing a lot of generalist work.  Perhaps you’ve been doing some computer repairs, basic network installations, troubleshooting or answering help desk type questions.

So given that many have similar skills, what can you do in your business plan for computer consulting that will set you apart from the competition and bring you the best, steady, high-paying clients in your area?

Know What Being a Generalist Actually Means. Before you can set yourself apart from other generalists, you need to understand what exactly defines the term “generalist.”  As a generalist, you’ll probably be answering basic how-to questions; troubleshooting; designing networks; providing basic training; acting as a go-between with phone companies, Web hosts and ISP’s; making product recommendations; procuring hardware and software; managing IT assets; configuring and customizing; testing; integrating and planning big-picture IT strategy.  Basically as a generalist, you will do everything.  So writing a business plan that will make you unique, even when you are doing a lot of generalist work, is really about figuring out what you offer that no one else is providing.  In other words, what can you provide that’s of unique, compelling value?  And how can you play this up in a big-time way in your marketing messages? Show You Are Not a Commodity. If you want to set yourself apart from others that have just a flimsy or non-existent business plan for computer consulting, base your plan around making sure that you are not seen as a commodity by potential clients.  Therefore, make sure that you never to base the value of your services on price.  For example, you can’t base your uniqueness on something like, “We are different from everyone else because we offer the cheapest computer consulting services you can find.”  You need to find your real strengths and base your business on the problems that you solve for your clients and the benefits that you offer your clients.  This problem-solving, benefits-focused approach needs to come through loud and clear in all of your marketing materials.  And ultimately this goes a long way toward attracting less price-sensitive clients that are more value-oriented and willing to pay higher hourly billing rates for premium services and results-based, ROI-centric projects (return-on-investment). Focus Your Business Plan for Computer Consulting on Long-Term Clients. If you want to wonder where your business is going all the time, worry about your next pay check or scramble to make ends meet, by all means build your business around one-shot deal customers.  But if you really want profitability and longevity, focus on providing long-term solutions to steady, high-paying clients.  When approach with a well thought-out sales process sequence, most of these clients will ultimately sign on for ongoing service agreements and be with you for the long haul. So sell benefits that will appeal to those really looking for a long-term, technology-focused business improvement plan, and not just short-term quick-fixes.  As you’re thinking about the benefits you are going to offer, make sure you really consider how you can fulfill long-term needs and convince your target prospects, customers and clients of the importance of real technology planning to the health and success of their companies.

In this short article, we talked about 3 tips for building a powerful, long-term business plan for computer consulting that attracts great, steady, high-paying clients.  Learn more proven secrets about creating a strong, profitable business plan for computer consulting now at http://www.BusinessPlan4ComputerConsulting.com

Copyright (C) BusinessPlan4ComputerConsulting.com All Rights Reserved

]]> http://www.integralseminars.org/business-plan-for-computer-consulting-tips.cfm/feed 0 http://www.integralseminars.org/how-to-become-the-tiger-woods-of-your-industry.cfm http://www.integralseminars.org/how-to-become-the-tiger-woods-of-your-industry.cfm#comments Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:35:27 +0000 ewwink http://www.crawbot.co.cc/?p=337

‘Professional coaching is an ongoing professional relationship, that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organisations. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance and enhance their quality of life……………………….. Coaching accelerates the clients progress by providing greater focus and awareness of choice’ International Coach Federation. www.coachfederation.org/abouticf/standards.htm

Effective coaching helps coachees in many ways, here are a few:

Unlock a person’s true potential through helping to raise their self awareness through enquiry, Find different perspectives to situation Build a ‘can do’ attitude’ Give the coachee specific time to focus solely on themselves Increase an individual productivity Ignites their passion Clarity about life purpose and goals

Research conducted by Manchester Consulting in 2001, found that there was a direct link between coaching and mentoring to bottom business results!!! 22% in profits over the term of their project!!

‘My tax partners know that in teaching tax technical skills they can instruct using the I will tell / show you technique, or they can use the ‘Here is a problem – what do you think is the solution?’ approach. The former may be more time efficient, the latter may lead to deeper understanding’ Bridget Allen, Head of Coaching KPMG

Did you realise from the quote about, that KPMG has a ‘Head of Coaching’? What does that tell you about the importance of coaching to businesses?

Do you have a personal coach either at work or externally? If yes, great!! If not, what is holding you back?

Don’t you want to accelerate your career or business, have greater self awareness, improve your business relationships and increase your performance/ productivity / profits?

I have been providing business mentoring and coaching services for years now and I also have a business coach and my coach Terri Levine http://www.levinebusinesscoaching.com/about has coaches for her different areas of focus!!! Tiger Woods even has a coach and he is the best in the world!!!

People ask ‘Why does Tiger have a coach?’ Do you know the answer? The answer is because he cannot see himself!!!!

For us to become the ‘Tigers’ in our businesses, organisations and in our lives, we need help from experienced people to help us ‘see ourselves’ and to help us to grow.

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