The Consulting Bible, 2nd Edition

The Consulting Bible, 2nd Edition

by Alan Weiss
Released June 2021
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781119776871

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

The new edition of bestselling real-world guide to consultancy success, from the “Rock Star of Consulting” Alan Weiss 

The second edition of The Consulting Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Create and Expand a Seven-Figure Consulting Practice remains the most comprehensive and practical guide to the consulting profession, from launch to high growth, from marketing to implementation. Legendary consultant, speaker, and bestselling author Alan Weiss shows you how to create an independent or boutique consulting practice and take it to seven-figure success. Step-by-step, this invaluable resource guides you through attracting clients, maximizing your value, and achieving your career goals. 

In the decade since the first publication of The Consulting Bible, an array of significant developments has dramatically impacted the consulting profession: shifts in social consciousness, the Covid-19 pandemic, tele-consulting and virtual meetings, the globalization of the economy, the growth of social media, and many more. This exhaustively revised new edition provides specific approaches and techniques for mastering the new consulting environment and turning volatility and disruption into unlimited opportunities. Designed to help you become the authority and expert that organizations turn to again and again, this book is your one-stop resource for: 

  • Building a strong global brand that draws people to you 
  • Marketing remotely to reduce costs and allow for higher fees 
  • Mastering the latest implementation techniques 
  • Forging strong relationships with the buyers of a new generation 
  • Selecting the consulting methodology that best fits your requirements 
  • Writing proposals and creating testimonials and references 
  • Using advanced technology to sell and deliver your services 

Written for newcomers and veterans alike, The Consulting Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Create and Expand a Seven-Figure Consulting Practice, Second Edition, is essential reading for every solo consultant, entrepreneur, and principal of a small consulting firm. 

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Introduction to the First Edition
  6. Introduction to the Second Edition
  7. Other Works by Alan Weiss
  8. Section I: Genesis: Consulting as a Profession
    1. Chapter 1: Origins and Evolution
      1. The Role of a Consultant
      2. The Ongoing Need
      3. Various Forms
      4. Examples of Success
      5. The Future
      6. Notes
    2. Chapter 2: Creation
      1. Legal
      2. Financial
      3. Administrative Support and Resources
      4. Emotional Support and Resources
      5. Two Available Structures
      6. Notes
    3. Chapter 3: Philosophy
      1. Hydraulics: Raise Fees and Reduce Labor
      2. Identifying True Buyers
      3. Conceptual Agreement
      4. Leveraging
      5. Notes
  9. Section II: Exodus: Consulting as a Business
    1. Chapter 4: The Journey
      1. Creating Gravity and Attraction
      2. Reaching Out Effectively
      3. Viral and Social Media Implementation
      4. Creating an Accelerant Curve
      5. Shameless Promotion
      6. Technology Strategies
      7. Notes
    2. Chapter 5: Presence
      1. Creating and Nurturing a Brand
      2. Expanding Products and Services
      3. Considering Alliances
      4. Referral Business
      5. Advisory Business (Retainers)
      6. Global Work
      7. Notes
    3. Chapter 6: Celebrity
      1. Thought Leadership
      2. Authorship
      3. Value‐Based Fees
      4. Subcontracting, Franchising, Licensing
      5. Reinvention
      6. Creating Communities
      7. Notes
  10. Section III: Deuteronomy: Consulting Methodology
    1. Chapter 7: The Perfect Proposal
      1. Assuring Success
      2. Conceptual Agreement
      3. The Nine Components of a Great Proposal
      4. How to Submit
      5. How to Close and Launch
      6. Notes
    2. Chapter 8: Implementation
      1. Occam's Razor
      2. The Key Stakeholders and Influence Points
      3. Avoiding Scope Seep
      4. Midcourse Corrections
      5. Note
    3. Chapter 9: Disengaging
      1. Demonstrating Success
      2. Obtaining Referrals
      3. Obtaining Repeat Business
      4. Creating Testimonials and References
      5. Long‐Term Leverage
      6. Notes
  11. Section IV: Acts of the Apostles: Implementing Consulting Methodologies
    1. Chapter 10: Interpersonal Methodologies
      1. Coaching
      2. Facilitating
      3. Conflict Resolution
      4. Negotiating
      5. Skills Development
      6. Notes
    2. Chapter 11: Teams and Groups
      1. Leadership
      2. Succession Planning
      3. Career Development
      4. Teams Versus Committees
      5. Communications and Feedback
      6. Notes
    3. Chapter 12: Organization Development
      1. Strategy
      2. Change Management
      3. Cultural Change
      4. Crisis Management
      5. Innovation
      6. Notes
  12. Section V: Proverbs: Consulting Success
    1. Chapter 13: Ethics of the Business
      1. When Bad Things Happen to Good Consultants
      2. Financial Follies
      3. Protection and Plagiarism
      4. When to Refuse Business or Fire Clients
      5. Doing Well by Doing Right
      6. Notes
    2. Chapter 14: Exit Strategies
      1. Building Equity
      2. Licensing Intellectual Property
      3. Achieving Life Balance
      4. Finding Successors and Buyers
      5. Transitioning
      6. Notes
    3. Chapter 15: Payback and Reinvestment
      1. Mentoring Others
      2. Advancing the State of the Art
      3. Participation in the Evolution
      4. The Future
      5. Note
    4. Chapter 16: Consulting in Crisis Times
      1. The Nature of Volatility
      2. Disruption as a Weapon
      3. Revelations
      4. Note
  13. Physical Appendix
    1. Sample Proposal
    2. Subcontractor Agreements
  14. Virtual Appendix
  15. About the Author
  16. Index
  17. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: The Consulting Bible, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Alan Weiss
  • Release date: June 2021
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781119776871