Levels of assistance:
- No help at all – do it on your own.
- Read a book – self learning with no resource support.
- Watch a webinar – set topics and little time to ask public questions.
- Take a class – cookie-cutter education for a semester, that may not be focused on your industry or business.
- Hire a consultant – one who will learn your business and build a personal relationship to help you succeed.
The consultant “relationship”
- Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of “consult”: “To seek the opinion or advice of another; to take counsel; to deliberate together; to confer.”
- To go farther, a good consultant doesn’t just preach. Just like if you went to the doctor and he gave you a prescription before even hearing what was wrong, you probably wouldn’t get the help you needed.
- Open dialogue with real listening is what makes for a good consultant relationship.
How much is a consultant worth?
- The answer depends on how much your business can potentially improve.
- Can just one idea from a consultant pay for the entire consulting engagement?
- If a short-term decision is implemented to make your firm more successful, how much of a compounding return on investment will take place over the next 3, 5 and 10 years?
- Compare the expense to what you would pay if you were to attend a university in your area.
Note: As of 2/12/10, Boston College’s MBA program costs over $68,000. That is $3,660 per 3-credit class each semester.
