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.