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Published: Tuesday, 03 September 2019 12:40
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Written by Gail Vallance Barrington
#10 in Our Continuing Series on Consulting After 50
You know you want to go into consulting—you’ve been thinking about it for years. Creativity guru Julia Cameron tells us to cast our dreams ahead of us, and as we move towards them, they will take on substance. But to do this, we need a plan.
Business planner Arnab Ray says there are no shortcuts to success. The entrepreneurial journey is extremely difficult and challenging but if pursued with a plan, it enhances your chances of success. He has developed a roadmap for entrepreneurs that can help the would-be consultant move out of inertia and into action. Here are the four steps.
- Conceptualization
You have already proven your experience in the trenches, and this lets you to bring tremendous credibility to the table (Collamer, 2013). Refine that vision of yourself. Relive the major successes of your career and reflect as follows:
- Which projects gained the most traction with bosses and co-workers?
- What innovative designs did you develop?
- What cutting edge, or newly polished, methods did you use?
- What feedback did you receive?
- What parts were you the most passionate about?
- Can you see any commonalities across these projects?
Together, these high points in your career crystalize the dream that lies before you. It describes the consultant you can become.
Read more: Your Consulting Roadmap: Planning for Success
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Published: Monday, 01 April 2019 14:03
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Written by Gail Vallance Barrington
Another in Our Continuing Series on Consulting After 50
I recently met a young woman who is writing her first novel while sitting on the sofa babysitting her nephew who was watching TV. I have news for her—she is losing out on two fronts. She isn’t multi-tasking the way she thinks because her brain is bouncing back and forth from her laptop to the TV to her nephew. In fact, multi-tasking, especially involving different forms of media, results in decreased cognitive control and more socio-emotional difficulties. Secondly, similar to an open-plan office, her busy family room is reducing her productivity and negatively affecting her memory. Open-plan offices make people sick, hostile, unmotivated, and insecure, according to Susan Cain, champion of introverts.
What Consultants Say
Several of the consultants over 50 that I interviewed made their home office a priority. Bob Lahey had a plan in mind and when he and his wife downsized to a condo, he said, Okay, I want an office, a real office, and a place that is comfortable. Gesturing to the large sunny window behind him, he continued, [It] is actually a great area to work in and I really enjoy it.
Martha Brown also gave it a lot of thought:
Where are you actually going to do your work? And how can you set that up so that you can focus and be as effective as you need to? ...I remodeled my home office last year and created this incredible, beautiful workspace and am surrounded by my hummingbirds, beautiful colors, and openness.
Read more: Your Home Office: Sanctuary At Last
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Published: Sunday, 03 February 2019 17:06
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Written by Gail Vallance Barrington
Another in Our Continuing Series on Consulting After 50
My recent interviews with start-up consultants over the age of 50 revealed the reasons why they left their jobs. Restructuring and downsizing affected some of them, others rejected toxic work environments and internal politics, and still others were fed up with the bullying and ageism they found in the workplace. Some were pressured into management or administrative roles, others felt frozen in place and unable to grow, and many were deeply unhappy. One way or another, they all left their jobs and went out on their own. So how did it happen? It turns out there are three parts to this transition process.
1. The Turning Point
It seems for many consultants, there was distinct moment in time when the decision arose. It was a turning point. As one said:
I decided after two [negative job] experiences in a row, I was like, you know what? I just can’t do this any more. I can't find a job…that is going to be a good fit for me, so, I'll just make my own job.
Read more: Transition Issues: Going Out the Door
