Becoming A Consultant: A 3-session workshop for those contemplating independent consulting 

WHEN:   Session 1:  Friday, June 2, 2017 at 9:00 am -  12:00 pm
                Session 2:  Friday, June 2, 2017 at 1:00 pm -   4:00 pm
                Session 3:  Friday, June 9, 2017 at 9:00 am -  12:00 pm

WHERE:  Career Source Career Center
                 186 Alewife Brook Parkway,
                 Cambridge, MA, 3^rd Floor,
In the Fresh Pond Shopping Ct., near Alewife T Station.

Cost: $177.00    
Early Bird Rate for the series:   $165.00 thru May 26, 2016

***Three Session Bonus: Free ½ hour phone session with Bruce Katcher.***

To register, see ‘Register Now’ below

Note: Session 1 by itself is available for $70.00.  Do not click on 'Register Now'  for just the single session .   For information in taking Session 1 only, click here.

SESSION ONE: Consultant, Contractor or Employee: Which Is Best For You?  (Friday 6/2/17: 9 am – 12 pm)

Today, many experienced professionals are considering making consulting their next career step. Consulting offers independence, a chance to build your own business, an opportunity to focus on what you do best and to earn a substantial income. But is consulting the right choice for you? During this first session, you’ll learn how to decide if consulting is really right for you, how to focus your business, and how to choose the right consulting business model.

Topics:

• Understanding the Economic Realities of Consulting
• Focusing Your Work on a Specific Problem or Niche
• Choosing a Business Model

Attendees will learn:

• Decisions you’ll need to make when starting as an independent consultant
• Seven typical mistakes made by new consultants and how to avoid them
• Why writing a business plan is important

SESSION TWO:  Marketing and Pricing Your Consulting Services  (Friday 6/2/16: 1 pm – 4 pm)

Successfully marketing and pricing your services are keys to making it as an independent consultant.  In this second session, you will learn how to develop and implement a marketing plan and the basics of many time-tested marketing approaches.  You will also learn the secret to successfully selling your services once you are in front of a prospect and how to write winning proposals.

Topics:

• Developing and Implementing a Marketing Plan
• Maintaining Your Visibility
• Selling Your Consulting Services
• Writing Proposals that Lead to Busines

Attendees will learn:

• Seven ways to market your consultant services
• The critical sections to include in your marketing plan
• How to market even when you're busy

SESSION THREE: Keeping the Gas Tank Filled  (Friday 6/9/17, 9 am – 12 pm)

In the third session, you will learn some of the most important methods for keeping your pipeline filled and staying billable.  You will also learn how to avoid some of the most common challenges encountered by independent consultants.   The final portion of this session will be used to answer your burning questions.

Topics:

• Delivering Tangible Results
• Making Certain Your Recommendations are implemented
• Maximizing the Value of Networking Meetings
• Avoiding Road Hazards

Attendees will learn:

• How to set prices
• How to win more business than you can handle.
• How to make consulting a career rather than something to do between jobs
• How to overcome the biggest challenges you’ll face as a consultant
• Survey results from flourishing consultants about what made them successful

      PRESENTER:  Bruce Katcher, Ph.D., is the founder and Executive Director of The Center for Independent Consulting. He is an Organizational psychologist with more than 25 years of management consulting experience and is author of "An Insider's Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice" (AMACOM, 2010). 

Bruce is past president of The Society of Professional Consultants and has been mentoring independent consultants for the past 15 years. He has delivered more than 50 invited speeches on starting and growing independent consulting practices. He publishes, "The Consultants' Corner," a free electronic newsletter for independent consultants.

He is founder and president of The Discovery Consulting Group, a firm that specializes in employee engagement and retention. His more than 100 clients include Alcoa, Delta Dental Plan, Dunkin' Donuts, Johnson &Johnson, the Mayo Clinic, Revlon, Science Magazine, Sodexo, Timberland, Tufts University, W.R. Grace. His views on employees and his survey research have been frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor, Industry Week, Science Magazine, and The Washington Post. He publishes, "Improving the Workplace," a free monthly electronic newsletter that highlights the results of his employee surveys and provides management with advice on how to solve problems encountered in the work place.

 

   PRESENTER:  Norman Daoust established Daoust Associates, www.DaoustAssociates.com, in 2001. Within the first three months he had contracts with two national government organizations. Norman served on the Board of Directors of the Independent Computer Consultants Association for eight years, served as president for a year, and coordinated it’s Mentor Program for people considering consulting. In 2011, Norman published the book Requirements Modeling for Business Analysts Using UML.

He specializes in helping organizations define their data requirements by serving as an enterprise data architect and is a recognized expert in electronic healthcare data exchange. Health Level Seven International named Norman Daoust as one of only 25 people in the world to receive their inaugural HL7 Fellowship award. The award was established to recognize HL7 members with 15  years active membership and outstanding service, commitment and contributions to the organization.

What People Said About “Becoming a Consultant”

“Excellent workshop. Very helpful and motivating.”

“Great starting point if you are considering a consulting career.”

“This was an excellent class to take if thinking of starting a business. The instructors provided first hand experience in critical areas such as determining the cost and considerations of being a consultant. Well worth the cost of the class!”

“I was able to make the decision not to be a consultant, and know why I made it.”

“Feel energized to get going – gave me confidence and helped me focus.”

Register online and reserve your seat Now.   If paying by check your check must be received by May 26, 2017.  We are not responsible for lost, delayed, or misdirected mail.  Major credit cards accepted. Use the option for PayPal and use your credit card.  No PayPal account or registration is required. 

Refunds are subject to a $10 cancellation fee.

Refunds are provided to workshop participants when they notify the Professional Development Collaborative 24 hours in advance of the workshop. Credit card charges and handling are subtracted from the amount refunded. A credit may also be applied to a future workshop in lieu of a refund. All refund requests should be sent by email to: larry.elle@pdcboston.org.

Refund requests that arrive after the workshop begins are not accepted and no refund will be provided.

Register Now!

 

The Professional Development Collaborative, Inc. is a non-profit education and training center for professionals in transition who are seeking to grow their skills and utilize their expertise in a professional setting.  Subject matter experts with in-demand skills provide affordable training, while businesses and organizations offer collaborative work opportunities and employment alliances.  The vision of the PDC is to create an organization that grows the skills of highly motivated professionals, and in turn, is an aid to the New England economy. We welcome your help as volunteers, trainers, or employed professionals open to mentoring other professionals.

 

 “Training Today’s Professionals for Tomorrow’s Workplace”