A complete newbie to pro guide to a successful consulting career
Traveling the Consulting Road is a book about consulting for new consultants, students investigating the field, and for more senior consultants who find themselves sorting out late career choices and coaching newbies. These are the funny stories, lessons-learned-the-hard-way, and tools and methodologies used, from Alan Culler's lifetime consulting career. The book traces the trajectory of a consulting career with information about the evolution of the industry, and specific advice about getting hired, succeeding inside a firm or as an independent if you choose.
Clients hiire consultants to increase revenue, improve profit or for "people stuff." People stuf has huge implications on both revenue and profit, but often clients don't see the economic implications of leadership development, process alignement, organization design, and climate and culture.
Alan started out in consulting doing new product introduction research, but gravitated to "people stuff" over time. He comments from his work with firms large and small and from being an independent consultant, the founder of a firm and also a network of independents.
This is a book written for new consultants to use throughout their career. Consequently those with more experience may find themselves skipping to the later chapters to read about the rainmaker and thought leader roles or whether and when to start a firm or go independent.
Alan's stated purpose to help others "avoid the mistakes I made. "I succeeded in spite of myself, but it wasn't always the best path." Alan's ability to poke fun at himself makes for easy reading and the insightful descriptions will help candidates evaluate the field and new consultants be successful. Alan often says, "Don't do what I did! This is what I wish I understood at the time."
His advice "Be authentic! You are the product ̶ help clients change results in their business."