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The new edition of bestselling real-world guide to consultancy success, from the “Rock Star of Consulting” Alan Weiss 

The second edition of The Consulting Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Create and Expand a Seven-Figure Consulting Practice remains the most comprehensive and practical guide to the consulting profession, from launch to high growth, from marketing to implementation. Legendary consultant, speaker, and bestselling author Alan Weiss shows you how to create an independent or boutique consulting practice and take it to seven-figure success. Step-by-step, this invaluable resource guides you through attracting clients, maximizing your value, and achieving your career goals. 

In the decade since the first publication of The Consulting Bible, an array of significant developments has dramatically impacted the consulting profession: shifts in social consciousness, the Covid-19 pandemic, tele-consulting and virtual meetings, the globalization of the economy, the growth of social media, and many more. This exhaustively revised new edition provides specific approaches and techniques for mastering the new consulting environment and turning volatility and disruption into unlimited opportunities. Designed to help you become the authority and expert that organizations turn to again and again, this book is your one-stop resource for: 

  • Building a strong global brand that draws people to you 
  • Marketing remotely to reduce costs and allow for higher fees 
  • Mastering the latest implementation techniques 
  • Forging strong relationships with the buyers of a new generation 
  • Selecting the consulting methodology that best fits your requirements 
  • Writing proposals and creating testimonials and references 
  • Using advanced technology to sell and deliver your services 

Written for newcomers and veterans alike, The Consulting Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Create and Expand a Seven-Figure Consulting Practice, Second Edition, is essential reading for every solo consultant, entrepreneur, and principal of a small consulting firm. 

Table of Contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Introduction to the First Edition
  6. Introduction to the Second Edition
  7. Other Works by Alan Weiss
  8. Section I: Genesis: Consulting as a Profession
    1. Chapter 1: Origins and Evolution
    2. The Role of a Consultant
    3. The Ongoing Need
    4. Various Forms
    5. Examples of Success
    6. The Future
    7. Notes
    8. Chapter 2: Creation
    9. Legal
    10. Financial
    11. Administrative Support and Resources
    12. Emotional Support and Resources
    13. Two Available Structures
    14. Notes
    15. Chapter 3: Philosophy
    16. Hydraulics: Raise Fees and Reduce Labor
    17. Identifying True Buyers
    18. Conceptual Agreement
    19. Leveraging
    20. Notes
  9. Section II: Exodus: Consulting as a Business
    1. Chapter 4: The Journey
    2. Creating Gravity and Attraction
    3. Reaching Out Effectively
    4. Viral and Social Media Implementation
    5. Creating an Accelerant Curve
    6. Shameless Promotion
    7. Technology Strategies
    8. Notes
    9. Chapter 5: Presence
    10. Creating and Nurturing a Brand
    11. Expanding Products and Services
    12. Considering Alliances
    13. Referral Business
    14. Advisory Business (Retainers)
    15. Global Work
    16. Notes
    17. Chapter 6: Celebrity
    18. Thought Leadership
    19. Authorship
    20. Value‐Based Fees
    21. Subcontracting, Franchising, Licensing
    22. Reinvention
    23. Creating Communities
    24. Notes
  10. Section III: Deuteronomy: Consulting Methodology
    1. Chapter 7: The Perfect Proposal
    2. Assuring Success
    3. Conceptual Agreement
    4. The Nine Components of a Great Proposal
    5. How to Submit
    6. How to Close and Launch
    7. Notes
    8. Chapter 8: Implementation
    9. Occam's Razor
    10. The Key Stakeholders and Influence Points
    11. Avoiding Scope Seep
    12. Midcourse Corrections
    13. Note
    14. Chapter 9: Disengaging
    15. Demonstrating Success
    16. Obtaining Referrals
    17. Obtaining Repeat Business
    18. Creating Testimonials and References
    19. Long‐Term Leverage
    20. Notes
  11. Section IV: Acts of the Apostles: Implementing Consulting Methodologies
    1. Chapter 10: Interpersonal Methodologies
    2. Coaching
    3. Facilitating
    4. Conflict Resolution
    5. Negotiating
    6. Skills Development
    7. Notes
    8. Chapter 11: Teams and Groups
    9. Leadership
    10. Succession Planning
    11. Career Development
    12. Teams Versus Committees
    13. Communications and Feedback
    14. Notes
    15. Chapter 12: Organization Development
    16. Strategy
    17. Change Management
    18. Cultural Change
    19. Crisis Management
    20. Innovation
    21. Notes
  12. Section V: Proverbs: Consulting Success
    1. Chapter 13: Ethics of the Business
    2. When Bad Things Happen to Good Consultants
    3. Financial Follies
    4. Protection and Plagiarism
    5. When to Refuse Business or Fire Clients
    6. Doing Well by Doing Right
    7. Notes
    8. Chapter 14: Exit Strategies
    9. Building Equity
    10. Licensing Intellectual Property
    11. Achieving Life Balance
    12. Finding Successors and Buyers
    13. Transitioning
    14. Notes
    15. Chapter 15: Payback and Reinvestment
    16. Mentoring Others
    17. Advancing the State of the Art
    18. Participation in the Evolution
    19. The Future
    20. Note
    21. Chapter 16: Consulting in Crisis Times
    22. The Nature of Volatility
    23. Disruption as a Weapon
    24. Revelations
    25. Note
  13. Physical Appendix
    1. Sample Proposal
    2. Subcontractor Agreements
  14. Virtual Appendix
  15. About the Author
  16. Index
  17. End User License Agreement
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