Over at Problogger.net, Darren Rowse has launched another group writing project. Darren’s last project had a "7 Habits" theme and I posted on habits of effective consultant bloggers. Darren’s latest topic covers developing goals. My readers probably aren’t very interested in blogging, but they may be interested in why I started Become a Consultant .
I write Become a Consultant because I want to:
Provide an in-depth resource for people who want to become consultants
By this time next year, I’d like to see 200 posts. That means I need to write something about “becoming a consultant” at least four times a week. Most sites that discuss becoming a consultant just have one long article or perhaps a handful. I think there’s more to say. And that’s why I’m challenging myself to write 200 posts in one year.
Connect with people who want to become consultants
There seem to be few resources for people who want to become consultants, as opposed to entrepreneurs, home-based business owners, freelance writers and the like. When I became a consultant, I went through a entrepreneurship program, but I often felt my needs (and experiences) were in stark contrast to those in the program. I wasn’t selling widgets, renovating shop space, or looking for a cash register. But I did need to know how to set consulting fees, bill travel time, invoice, and find space for a home office in my (then) 400-square-foot apartment. Traditional advice for product-oriented businesses was little help for me and my service business. And, unlike “traditional” consultants, I wasn’t a grey-haired retiree looking to dabble. I felt a little lost in the world of entrepreneurship. Now that I’ve found my way, I’d like to help other consultants by providing a community resource where they can share their stories and read those of others.
Tell my story about becoming a consultant
I’ve already posted on how I became a consultant. But, really, there’s a lot more to it. I started freelance writing in the early 90s and was making my living from consulting by the time of the Roaring 90s Tech Boom. And I’m still here, plugging away at it. I’ve got lots of stories to tell. Even though I’ve been writing for the careers and education market since publishing my very first “big city” newspaper article, I’ve never really touched on my experience — not even on my consulting business site. So Become a Consultant Blog will eventually cover the things I’ve never been able to say.
Provide a marketing vehicle for consultants
Forgive me for being vague here. I do envision this site becoming more than my consulting articles. I’d like to see it as an interactive community, as well as a marketing vehicle for consultants. I’d like to help other consultants grow their businesses. In a year’s time, I expect this goal to be a reality – and for it to mean more than it does now. But I still need a little time for this one.
Grow
My other goals probably sound a bit businessy. And that’s okay. After all, I did become a business consultant, not a yoga guru or a camp counsellor. But, underneath all the layers of the “business” me, there’s a real person. And that person is a parent, partner, relative, friend and community member. The real me is more than a consultant, consumer, or taxpayer, despite what my various database profiles might have you believe. So I expect to see personal growth from my this endeavour – but I won’t be measuring it by revenues, links, traffic or the other stats over which I usually obsess. Instead, I want to look back and see what I’ve learned.
Belong
I know I said I want to make this site an in-depth resource, a community, and a marketing vehicle. But I can’t exist in isolation. The very purpose of the World Wide Web (does anyone ever say that anymore?) is to weave a web of links. So, by this time next year, I hope to have made this blog part of the fabric of the web. To do that, I won’t always stick to the story of becoming a consultant and I won’t always write things that people like. But I will try to belong and help others find a place to belong.
So those are my goals for Become a Consultant. Some of them may seem a little simple, but simple is good. Sometimes we focus on the Great Big Problems™ in life and forget that small successes lead to greater ones. Here’s hoping that Become a Consultant – and your own projects – lead to many small successes.
"Why Become a Consultant?" from Become a Consultant Blog at ConsultantJournal.com.
Related
- Consulting Fees: A Guide for Independent Consultants
- Discover Your Inner Consultant
- Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur (for moms)
You are right. There are not many sites like this one. Most of the consulting blogs out there just talk about the consultant’s business, as opposed to the consulting business. With all the talk saying downsized and older workers should become consultants you would think there would be more out there.
Ah, I see that I should expand my section on the kinds of consultants. I was probably a “life changes” type, too.
Thanks for the carnival information. Any tips for promotion are always welcome!
If you have any ideas for the content of this site, please let me know. I’m happy to alter my editorial calendar to meet the needs of readers. (And, yes, I do have an editorial calendar!)
Kami, I have updated the how to become a consultant page to reflect Life Changers.
Thanks. I appreciate the encouragement. Let me know if there are specific articles you’d like to see.
An editorial calendar is a schedule of the articles that a magazine intends to publish over a certain period. Since I got my start in journalism, I’ve extended the concept to this site. The articles you’re reading were planned and written in advance, for the most part.
Yes these are the habits of a professional blogger. I do not disagree. However, I would like to add one more point. Few days I came across an article in Ezine, Six Tips for Cleaning Up Your Article Boo-Boos written by Ann Zuccardy, a professional writer and business entrepreneur. She emphasizes on correctness and how silly mistakes and grammar mistakes can ruin a beautiful writing. I also agree with her. I think saying correctly what needs to be said is another habit of a professional blogger.
I think your blog is very helpful, especially because it gives concrete examples of how to do basic things that every consultant needs to do (draw up an invoice, pay taxes, etc.) and supplements these with a-day-in-the-life-of stories from your own personal experience. And I’m sure your audience will grow as people turn more toward being self-employed rather than working in a corporation. I’d have to guess that besides writing content, you just need to get the word out on your site. There are a few carnivals (Carnival of Business, Carnival of Entrepreneurship) that might be good places to look, if you haven’t tried them already. Good luck!
Well, I’m going to bookmark this site. I’d like to become a consultant, but I feel like I need to be making a living from blogging first. I’ve made progress but I’ve got a lot to learn. So this should be a good resource for me.
I am so glad that I stumbled across your blog. I too am a consultant and I love these goals. I came to consulting in writing, editing and public relations, when I got married and moved.
So, I don’t fit neatly into one of your three groups, though I did have about eight years of expeience under my belt when I started four years ago.
I guess I fit in a group called, Life Changes.
I plan to subscribe and see what I can learn 😉
Now, that is service (ha-ha) 🙂
i read Why become a consultant? and is interesting post, i will bookmark this site , to see next post
What is an editorial calendar?