If you are finding yourself working for yourself, short or long term, by choice or not, you need to get in gear so you can be a viable consultant. Here are the 5 basics:
1. Define your skills as services a prospective client needs.
Rather than thinking of what you can do and what you have done, remove that resume mentality and start thinking like an entrepreneur. Turn your thinking around so you see your skills as a service you can perform to help a client be more effective at their work. Think of your abilities as a sort of "product" that you can sell.
2. Set up your workspace, contacts, and resources.
Just because you've decided to hang out an "open for business sign", doesn't mean you're ready to roll. Set up a real, defined workspace. If you are working from home, create a place that is your "official office" -- even if it is one section of the dining room table. This space should not be violated or invaded; this is YOUR separate and personal workspace just as it was at your former employer.
Gather names:
All your contacts, resource persons, vendors, professional organizations -- everyone you ever knew -- these folks are your network. Be methodical about putting these names in a usable form -- excel spreadsheet, email distribution list, index or rolodex cards (for those old fashioned types), phone contactslist, and even subscribe to a service in "the cloud" such as Constant Contact. The important thing is to keep every contact you ever had while working -- this is your database.
3. Create an appealing “brand” and identity.
Do it yourself or hire someone, or even barter services -- but get a business name, an image, a brand, and a "look". Start getting known and being readily identifiable. And get business cards with this look -- there are plenty of online or instore places that will help you design and inexpensively print cards, letterhead, or whatever you need.
4. Choose suitable marketing approaches to get the word out.
Don't be shy -- proudly promote the new you -- the consultant! Create your own marketing campaign with a 6 month timeline and go for it! Decide on a number of techniques and use them, including in-person strategies such as attending meetings, joining committees from your new consultant role, and volunteering.
5. Say the “right thing” at the right time.
Get your "elevator speech" perfect. In fact, create a couple different versions so you have a ready statement for each type of service you offer or each type of client/market you want to serve. Have two lengths -- the quick one-liner and a longer description that is dynamic and concise!
Becoming a consultant can be fun -- it may be a new life and it may be only until you find a job within a company again, but let the entrepreneurial spirit carry you enthusiastically into a new world of doing business.
