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When the head of sales and marketing for a national camera manufacturing company was laid off, I was his career strategy consultant. I gave him a lengthy briefing before he attended a national trade show. The purpose was to help him get the most benefit from being there. His e-mail tells the story.

I always save unsolicited testimonials like this. Although I've been in business 29 years, prospective clients still ask, "Do you have any refrences?" I print these letters and save them in a file called "Results," and I also save them electronically. I find them inspirational, especially if I'm having a slow day.

From: Joseph Falconer
Sent: March 05, 20— 9:07 AM
To: Bill Frank
Subject: Positive Feedback from Joe Falconer
 
Bill,
It was a pleasure to talk with you this morning about the very positive experience I had recently, while attending PMA in Orlando, Florida, the photo industry's largest annual US trade show.

As I worked the show, I encounter several friends and former associates who are also in the job market. In every case I found that the direction and assistance that you and CareerLab have provided allowed me to make a more professional presentation than any of my friends who are attempting to redirect their careers on their own.

My resume was more powerful, the paper stock it was printed on more impressive,my business cards more professional, my interviewing skills more polished, and my preparations for working the show were more organized and produced results while my friends lamented, "No one is hiring." 

My CareerLab web site (http://portfolio.careerlab.com/JoeFalconer) almost seemed to shock individuals, as it was obviously something they had not even considered doing.
 
I have already begun to receive feedback from potential employers and recruiters as a result of our networking strategy. The preparations you suggested were time consuming and difficult, but definitely worth the effort as they are paying off much sooner than I could have hoped for.
 
Our regular conservations have given me direction and support that has kept me focused and upbeat, and I am confident that very shortly I will be facing the enviable quandary of trying to decide which job offer I wish to accept.
 
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William S. Frank, M.A., President/CEO
25 Reasons I love consulting.
by William S. Frank
  1. Brand. You are your own brand, and you can define it any way you want. For many years, I provided outplacement to the ex-employees of Schlumberger, the world's largest oilfield service corporation. When departing employees left the company, they didn't request outplacement in their severance package. They said, "I want Bill Frank."
  2. Demand. The world will always be full of terrible problems that need solving.
  3. White Hat. I can be a helper and get paid for it.
  4. Pay. I can be paid to do things I'd gladly do for nothing.
  5. Variety. Every day is different.
  6. Happiness. At this stage of my career, I only work for people I respect and care about. If a client micromanages me or is otherwise no fun, I complete the assignment and replace them.
  7. Talent. I'm using 110% of my talents and stretching myself to the max.
  8. Change. I can change my focus any day I want. If you're a McDonald's franchisee, you don't say, "Hey, I've got this great idea for a meatball sandwich—let's try it out today." In consulting you can adjust your focus hour-by-hour, as long as your clients still understand and appreciate what you do.
  9. Income. No one else would pay me as much as I pay myself.
  10. FUN. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing.
  11. Retirement. I can write and consult as long as I am physically and mentally capable. Peter Drucker worked into his 90s, and when asked which book was his best, he said: "My next one."
  12. Job Security. Although clients come and go, no one can come into my office and say, "Pack up your stuff . . . You don't work here anymore." In 29 years, I've only had one employer: ME.
  13. Travel. I don't have to travel unless I decide to. I travel if it's both FUN and profitable—or at least FUN.
  14. Commute. I live five minutes from my office, a corner office in an upscale six-story tower. In winter, I leave a heated garage at home and drive to an underground heated garage at work. There's seldom time to hear even one song on the radio.
  15. Vacation. Consulting is more fun than vacation (except on Wailea Beach in Maui).
  16. Friends. I have developed hundreds of close acquaintances and several lifetime friends.
  17. Time. I can work as much or as little as I like: four-hour days or 18-hour days. (Of course, my income will reflect that.)
  18. Employees. I can work with employees, subcontractors, partners, or alone—I've done it all.
  19. Passive Income. I've developed several products that provide "mailbox money." I earn while I'm sleeping.
  20. Ethics. I've never had to violate my values or personal code of ethics. I've never had to lie, purposely deceive or harm others, or promise things I can't deliver. I go to bed with a clear conscience. That doesn't mean there's never any conflict. But the conflict is conducted according to generally accepted business practices.
  21. Virtual. My career is fairly portable. With the Internet, e-mail, cell phone, and FedEx, I can work nationally, even internationally from my office—or anywhere in the world.
  22. Purpose. I make a difference in peoples' lives every day. I see it in their faces, hear it in their voices, and read it in their thank-yous.
  23. Experience. Every painful or joyful life experience makes me a better consultant. So does every person I meet or book I read. Grey hair can be good in consulting.
  24. Structure. I have to work very hard, and the clients expect superb results—but I get to structure my days, weeks, months, and years.
  25. Boss. Most of the time, I love my boss.
As I was posting these letters online, I realized I want to communicate my love for consulting. It's just a great business. The single letters, taken together, may create a picture of enjoyment, but in a burst of creativity I listed some of the reasons consulting is such a good fit for me—and perhaps for you, too. They are not prioritized; this is just how they came out.