The Ultimate Consultant: Powerful Techniques for the Successful Practitioner

The Ultimate Consultant is a hands–on resource written for successful consultants (and those who want to be!) who are ready to turn it up a notch and watch their businesses grow to new heights. The Ultimate Consultant goes beyond the commonplace advice of how to get started or get to the next level and acts as a practical field guide for consultants who already have a thriving practice. Filled with down–to–earth advice that you can use to improve your practice immediately, The Ultimate Consultant shows how you can: ? Control the nature of business you accept ? Choose your clients ? Increase your income ? Find work and interactions that are constantly stimulating and educational

Introduction.

Acknowledgments.

Chapter 1. Acquiring Fortune 1000 Clients: Why Size Doesn′t Matter.

Establishing Relationships with Major Buyers: Rainmaking.

Ten Techniques to Build High–Level Buyer Relationships: Making Rain.

Why Size Doesn′t Matter.

Using the Springboard to Other Potential Clients.

Ten Techniques for Springboard Marketing.

The Ultimate Rules.

Chapter 2. Value–Based Fees: If You′re Charging by the Hour or Day, You′re an Amateur.

The Concept of Value–Based Fees.

The Key to High Fees Is Not to Mention Fees.

Thirty–Eight Ways to Increase Your Fees, Beginning Tomorrow.

The Ultimate Rules.

Chapter 3. Marketing and Publicity: Creating Gravitational Pull.

Creating a Strong Gravitational Field.

Pro Bono Work.

Commercial Publishing.

Position Papers.

Radio and Television Interviews.

Advertising and Passive Listings.

Speaking Engagements.

Websites and Electronic Newsletters.

Word of Mouth, Referrals, and Third–Party Endorsements.

Trade Association Leadership.

Classroom Teaching.

Alliances and Networking.

The Ultimate Rules.

Chapter 4. Branding and Celebrity: A Brand in the Hand Beats Feet on the Street.

What Is a Brand and Why Do It?

How Do You Attain a Brand Without Pulling a Muscle?

The Fine Art of Contrarianism.

Capitalizing on Your Brand.

Testing and Protecting Your Brand.

Obtaining Celebrity Status.

Ten Ways to Promote Celebrity.

The Ultimate Rules.

Chapter 5. Passive Income: Making Money While You Sleep.

Commercial Publishing.

Self–Publishing.

Audio and Video.

Newsletters.

Offsite Advice.

Transitioning to Softer Landings.

The Ultimate Rules.

Chapter 6. Joint Ventures: When 1 + 1 = 64.

Forming Partnerships with Colleagues.

Forming Alliances with Larger Entities.

And Now a Word from Our Sponsor.

The Blight of Brokers.

The Ultimate Rules.

Chapter 7. International Business: The Peripatetic Consultant.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Get Out of Town.

Approaching and Exploiting U.S. Multi–Nationals.

Working with Foreign–Based Firms.

Overseas Alliances.

Ten Ways to Establish an International Presence.

Protecting Yourself as an Internationalist.

The Ultimate Rules.

Chapter 8 Managing Time: Or How to Be at the Pool by Two in the Afternoon.

Avoiding Scope Creep.

Minimizing Labor–Intensive Requirements.

Utilizing Client Resources.

Managing Concurrent Projects.

Ten Techniques to Always Squeeze in More Business.

The Simplest, Most Effective Time Management Tool Ever Created.

Tips for the Truly Time–Challenged.

The Ultimate Rules.

Chapter 9. Working with Family–Owned and Smaller Businesses: What to Do When You′re Competing with the Mortgage Payments.

The Large and the Small of the Small Business Market.

Competing with the Rent Money.

Managing the Owner′s Emotions and Expectations.

Special Section: Accepting Equity for Your Services.

Ten Ways to Avoid the Perils of Consulting with Smaller Businesses.

The Ultimate Rules.

Chapter 10. Avoiding the Success Traps: Creating New Approaches and Taking Prudent Risks.

Signs of the Success Trap.

Using New Technologies.

Creating Proprietary Models and Techniques.

The Consultant as Entrepreneur.

Things to Come.

The Ultimate Rules.

Chapter 11. Life Balance: The Ultimate Outlook.

Working Less and Living More.

The Future of the Business.

Ultimate Rewards.

The Ultimate Rules.

Appendix A: Questions to Ask for Objectives, Measures, and Value.

Appendix B: Components of a Sample Book Treatment.

Appendix C: Sources for Media and Advertising "Experts".

Index.

ALAN WEISS consultant, speaker, and author–is the founder and CEO of Summit Consulting Group, Inc. His clients have included Merck, Hewlett–Packard, State Street Corp., Fleet Bank, Coldwell Banker, and Merrill Lynch. He is adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Business at the University of Rhode Island where he teaches a course on advanced consulting skills.

"...a source of much wisdom..." (Supply Management, 15 November, 2001)

"...the methodical presentation of ideas, in a readable way, makes this book commendable..." (Professional Manager, January 2002)

if you want loads of useful advice this is the book for you (Training Journal, July 2003)