I‘m a consultant. I’m typically hired to perform a task or service based on a deep subject-matter expertise that I bring to the table. Increasingly however, I’ve been working with other consultants who have clients of their own and need my services. This represents a completely different dynamic because there a whole new set of factors:
- Is the consultant in a jam and needs some assistance ASAP?
- Will the client know about me or do I need to be invisible?
- Is there budget to bring me in or will the consultant be paying out of pocket?
These are all exciting, because I know what it’s like to be like on the other side of the phone/computer. I’ve been working with several great consultants on the west coast recently and I’m noticing some trends:
- When it’s time to pay, they don’t mess around. Consider it sent.
- There is a strong sense of mutual respect and gratitude.
- Everyone knows what it’s like to have their neck on the line.
There isn’t really a strong closing point or a summary that ties it all together; I’m just enjoying the journey and reporting things as I have time.
As you were.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Lol, I was like…so where is he going here…no where, okay got it. :-)
Bingo! Brief brain dump…nothing to see here :-D
One of the big benefits that I see is that the end client is already vetted. The intermediary can also pass on warning if the client has a “special” communication style.
Very good point. I’m learning (as we speak) how valuable that vetting process is…especially if you don’t have to go through it again.
Short URL for this post: http://wlj.gd/d9cbqf