So You Want To Be a Consultant

Vitamae Podcast Episode 19 provides an introduction to what a “Day in a Life of a Consultant” can be here. [Spotify Video/Audio, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Anchor.fm, and more]

Becoming a Consultant wasn’t an initial profession that I sought after. Like many life choices, I took various and complicated paths to get to this very meaningful and important role. Like many children, I wanted to make my dream job come true. My answer to this question varied greatly, “Who do you want to be when you grow up?” Some roles were: to be an astronaut, an astronomer, a pilot, a car racer, an inventor, a fiction writer, a painter, a detective, somebody in the secret services, and many more. I still think I can fulfill one of these roles very soon!

The amazing part of becoming a Consultant is that you can fulfill many roles to match your interests at various stages of your life. It is a very dynamic role. Some of the traits that you may find when researching more about consulting-type professions are typically below:

• Life-long learners (Students)
• Very curious and are habitual researchers (Detectives)
• Problem-solvers through creative design thinking (Artists, Detectives, Inventors, Software and Hardware Developers “a.k.a. Gurus, Tinkerers”)
• Competitive and thrive through interesting challenges (Car Racers)
• Shares their knowledge through white papers, blogs, community posts, books, speaking activities, and more (Trusted Advisors, Teachers, Mentors, and Sponsors)
• Enjoy having fun! (Arts, Music, Extreme Sports or Hobbies, DIY projects, etc.)

Typical Educational and or Professional Background:

• Minimum High School Diploma/GED, Internship Programs
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher level college degrees
• Industry or Specialization Certifications
• Entry Level, Mid-Level, Sr. Level Roles
• On-going on the job experience — Vertical, Industry, Small, Medium, and Large Organizations, For-Profit, Non-Profit, etc.

Things that are not typically considered when building credibility:

• Recommendations and Testimonials with team members, clients, and various stakeholders in different interactions for years to come
• Publications — Podcast, Blogging, White Paper, eBook/Physical Books/Audiobooks, Articles, etc.
• Affiliations — Professional Associations, Non-Profit or For-Profit Recognized Organizations supported (members, leadership, and influential roles)
• Digital Footprint — Social Media i.e. LinkedIn and other well-known relevant media
• Sponsorship and awareness of successful projects lead or participated in
• Strategic Networking and Influencing — If they don't know who you are and what great accomplishments you have made, how will they promote you or sponsor you?

Key Takeaways:

• It is not enough to be knowledgeable or proficient in your skills.
• Master communication, branding, negotiation, and resilience.
• Learn to be strategic and be a positive and impactful influencer.
• Nothing is possible without effort, perseverance, practicing, and learning from many failures and experimentation.
• Define your own story, and create your path to success through “Design Thinking”