Book Review: Consulting Basics by Joel Gendelman

June 28, 2011

Everyonehas those days when they are ready to bust out of whatever job theyare in, certain that they can do better on their own. Alas, this isnot always a wise thing to do, and most people, after consideringmatters more soberly, decide to remain in a traditional job.Consulting is not for everyone. But for those who do make the move,it’s good to have a guide who has been down the road toself-employment in consulting and succeeded.

bookcover of Consulting Basics by Joel Gendelman

JoelGendelman certainly qualifies as a good guide, and he has distilledhis 25 years of experience into ConsultingBasics. Joel is the founderand president of Future Technologies Inc. He has consulted forFortune 100 companies and for very small companies as well. With aMasters and a Doctorate in Educational Technology, he also knows thelearning profession well.

What’s in the book

ConsultingBasics covers almosteverything you need to know about getting your practice started, fromsetting up your home office and developing your sales and marketingmaterials, to developing proposals and agreements and getting thefirst client. This is practical advice, delivered with humor andunderstanding of what it is like to venture out on your own.Gendelman shares his experience, from the painful to thetranscendent. He includes many checklists and worksheets that willhelp the reader get organized and stay on track. He even providessample agreements that avoid some of those mistakes that he made ingetting started. These resources will be helpful even to consultantswho have been in business for a while.

Mostimportant, in many ways, are the words of wisdom Gendelman offersabout the challenges of working alone, working from home, commonproblems that seem trivial until they cost you an account, and so on.These bits of advice are written in sweat and possibly in tears (mywords, not Joel’s!), if not in blood, and they alone justify buyingand reading this book.

What’snot in the book? There are legal and accounting details that youreally should consider from the first day of your new practice. Thesecan be complex, and compliance with local laws and regulations isimportant. Gendelman does outline the steps you need to take,including getting necessary business licenses and setting up anaccounting system, but for the details (which would fill a couplemore books) you need to find yourself an attorney, an accountant, anda bookkeeper. Just because this part of the book only occupies adozen pages does not mean that it isn’t important!

Who should read this book?

Thisbook is particularly for trainers and other learning professionals,human resource professionals, and in general for anyone with aninterest in learning what it takes to become a consultant.

Recommendations

Iwholeheartedly recommend ConsultingBasics, even to those who havenot yet made the decision to go out on their own, as well as to thosewho have already begun their practice. Simply reading the book willgive you lots to think about and consider, and you may decide thatconsulting is not for you. On the other hand, if you do decide tomake the move, ConsultingBasics will become one of yourbest friends and your constant companion in the beginning days.