I have lost count of the number of friends and acquaintances who have spoken with me over the last few months and I can summarise the conversation as follows:
"Yeah - I suppose I might consult for a bit. You know - just until I get a real job".
Consulting is a real job. It's not something you can do for a bit. I patiently (well sometimes not all that patiently, to be honest) explain that it will take 6 to 9 months to start to build a customer based and at least 3 months after that to start getting some money. I usually advise (those people who seem serious about working for themselves) that you should have alternative funding available for about a years' worth of expenditure.
Thinking more about it, the view of the recently unemployed (that they can just pick up in my industry) is rather insulting. While I have a very healthy ego, I don't think that I can start work tomorrow as an accountant and start earning on Friday.
So that's the first thing that people can say to irritate me. The second is:
"So if you get anything interesting come through, give me a call"
Wow - now a I'm working as their marketing department. And for free!
Being an independent consultant can be a difficult life. I do work in partnership with a number of other consultants and firms - but only ever in complementary areas and never in competing areas. Why on earth would I (a) go out looking for work for someone who should be doing their own marketing; and (b) cut my own throat by introducing an new player to a busy market.
Think about it people...
SC
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