When Times Get Tough and Jobs Dry Up, Consulting May Be the Ticket

An economic downturn may seem like the wrong time to start your own business, but layoffs and downsizing can create new opportunities for one breed of entrepreneur – the corporate consultant. Companies who lay off full-time workers still have many needs for specific skills, and frequently hire consultants on a short-term or project basis to fill these gaps. If you’ve been laid off yourself, working as a consultant can allow you to earn a good income while salaried jobs are scarce. Read More

Who are your coaching clients? This basic question about how we practice coaching can be the most critical factor in determining our impact on the world around us.

If we choose to coach anyone who can afford to pay us, the likely result is that those with the most disposable income will receive the most coaching. Is this truly the impact we would like to have on the world? On the other hand, when we decide to coach a population whose increased success creates a shift we would like to see in society, we become positive agents of change. Read More

Sometimes you just have to prospect. While it’s true than networking, referrals, and other relationship-oriented marketing strategies are superior ways to build a professional services business in the long run, the problem can lie in that word “long.” It takes time to build a network and generate referrals. If you’re new in business or your pipeline has gone dry, you may not feel as if you can wait for those budding relationships to mature. Read More

There’s a quiet revolution going on in the world of business. A 2005 survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported that 81% of business executives believe that “corporate citizenship” should be a priority, and 75% report their businesses are actively involved in bettering their communities. In a 2006 survey of MBA students by Net Impact, 81% thought businesses should work toward the betterment of society. Read More

Every spring in my household, we experience a period we have come to call Groundhog Day. I’ve always loved the Bill Murray movie of the same name, a sweet fable about an egocentric, mean-spirited newscaster doomed to live the same day over and over until he learns to care about others and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Read More

Building a Culture that Supports Women Entrepreneurs

Supporting entrepreneurship in the developing world has long been considered one of the best approaches to “teach people to fish” and build sustainable local economies. In recent years, studies by the United Nations, World Bank, and others have shown that women entrepreneurs are more likely to contribute to community development than men, and are therefore better candidates for support programs. Read More

In the wake of disasters like the Sept. 11th attack on the World Trade Center and Hurricane Katrina, there are many question marks in the air. When a tragedy strikes, I hear clients, students, colleagues, and the people from around the world who correspond with me asking many things, of themselves and others. Read More

It’s the ultimate question, isn’t it? You work hard at marketing to make contact with potential clients. Then you work even harder to get a chance speak with them about what you have to offer. But how do you actually get them to hire you? The answers may not be what you think. Read More

If you’d like to see more of my articles on marketing and sales, I have an extensive library available at Get Clients Now!

If you’d like to see more of my writing on life purpose and social change, please visit my former blog How to Become a Hero.