“Elaine has done a masterful job of presenting the most important part of consulting: How to stay in business. Drawing on her wealth of experience, she shows how to find your first client, what to charge, and how to build relationships with clients who will rave about you to others. If you want to start a business—and stay in business—The New Business of Consulting is an essential read.”
—Daniel H. Pink, author of WHEN, DRIVE, and FREE AGENT NATION
“In today’s world, everyone will have fifteen minutes of fame and spend six months as a consultant. This book does a great job of bringing a business sense to professionals in the difficult position of creating a business where they, themselves, are the product. It is practical, compassionate, and a good alternative to an M.B.A.”
—Peter Block, author, Flawless Consulting
“Is it time to start your own consulting business? Don’t start without first reading Elaine Biech’s The New Business of Consulting. The book, paired with her 35 years as a successful consultant, form a perfect guide for your success.”
—Marshall Goldsmith, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Triggers,
MOJO, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.
“With 35 years in the consulting industry, Elaine Biech is the best person I can think of to write a book like The New Business of Consulting: The Basics and Beyond. Not only is she a successful consultant, but her engaging writing style will inform, entertain, and challenge readers—and then leave them with the knowledge and confidence to move forward in the world of professional consulting. Elaine doesn’t sugarcoat; she lists pros and also cons, gives encouragement and also reality checks—the straight scoop. Whether you are an aspiring consultant, a novice building your clientele, or a pro looking for advice, read this book! I guarantee you will learn a lot from Elaine—and you—ll enjoy the ride.”
—Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The New One Minute Manage®
and Leading at a Higher Level
“Elaine Biech combines her twin passions for consulting and learning and development to produce an extraordinarily insightful and actionable playbook. If you want to launch a consulting career or take your performance to another level, make this book your personal coach.”
—John R. Ryan, president and CEO, Center for Creative Leadership
“Why would anyone consider consulting without devouring this book? A great blend of solid information on consulting A to Z: the operational issues, the business and emotional risks, the personal discipline required, along with the tremendous payoffs of the profession! Applying the start-up thinking alone should increase first-year revenues four-fold.”
—Dianna Booher, speaker, Hall of Fame, author, Communicate
Like a Leader and Creating Personal Presence
“Don’t start a business without it! The Business of Consulting is full of insightful tips and exercises to take you from intellectual comprehension to practical application. More sage advice + actionable ideas – inflated guru ego = a must-have tool for any consultant.”
—Halelly Azulay, president, TalentGrow and host of The TalentGrow Show podcast
“When Elaine Biech speaks, I listen and learn. You will, too! She is the consummate professional, and she truly knows all aspects of consulting. Her advice is a must read for established as well as new professional consultants.”
—Cutler Dawson, former CEO, Navy Federal Credit Union, Vice Admiral, US Navy (Ret.)
“If only I had been offered a course like this when I was building my business! I learned how to start and grow a company through the proverbial school of ‘hard knocks!’ You don’t have to! Elaine has worked hard to share her wisdom and put it together in one place. The world of consulting takes a lot of hard work and guts, but you—ll learn from her journey as she guides you in building or enhancing your own company. Still, after all these years, I continue to learn from Elaine.”
—Beverly Kaye, CEO, Bev Kaye & Co.; author, Help Them Grow or
Watch Them Go and Up Is Not the Only Way
“Elaine Biech just made a great book even better. The New Business of Consulting will become a classic in its field, with many useful, productive tools and advice. This is a must resource in today’s consulting environment. We recommend that you read the first chapter and then scan the rest of the book and read the last chapter. Then, if you still want to be a consultant, use it as a how-to guide to manage, grow, and sustain a consulting practice.”
—Jack J. Phillips, chairman, and Patti P. Phillips, president and CEO of ROI Institute,
Inc., and coauthors, Maximizing the Value of Consulting
“This book is informative, will add value to the work you do and, most importantly, help you position your approach so that it is relevant in today’s ever-changing business environment.”
—Janice C. Kreamer, chairman of the board, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
“The New Business of Consulting is from one of the best minds in this business. Elaine Biech is the most astute businesswoman in the consulting world today. She speaks the language, has seen it done in all environments both in and out of the U.S., and has helped shape organizations everywhere. Elaine has been that one person inside my personal inner circle in everything I—ve done for the last ten years. When you want the hard work done, call her.”
—RADM (ret.) J.B. Godwin III, vice president, Athena Technologies, Inc.
“Hesitating about whether this is the right book for you? This is the only book you will ever need in order to start, maintain, or grow your consulting business. Elaine uses her years of experience—plus updated info and practical advice—to guide anyone contemplating or already in this profession. Buy the book now and save yourself time and money—you won’t regret it.”
—Ann Herrmann-Nehdi, CEO, Herrmann International: The Whole Brain Company
“Despite the fact that I have greater access to information than I have ever had before, my most trusted resource when it comes to my professional life has been The Business of Consulting. Elaine Biech has captured, organized, and articulated the heart of the matter when it comes to consulting. This new edition provides an expanded blend of practical insights, along with a realistic optimism about how to succeed. The New Business of Consulting is my go-to resource.”
—Pamela J. Schmidt, executive director, ISA, The Association of Learning Providers
“Elaine and her team did an outstanding job coaching our region through our quality management journey. Her approach to consulting is refreshing and right-on for today’s and tomorrow’s business needs. Read her book. She shares all her secrets!”
—Gail Hammack, former regional vice president, McDonald’s Corporation
“There is a substantial gap between possessing subject matter expertise and possessing the skills to apply that expertise in a way that adds value for clients. Then, once across the gap, there is need for a well-charted course to negotiate the challenges of simply doing business successfully. Elaine Biech has bridged that gap again with an even more reliable crossing to the realm of integrated expertise and consultant skills, and then provided the essential roadmap for reaching our business goals. This is my go-to book.”
—Joseph G. Wojtecki, Jr., senior fellow and business manager, Center for Risk Communication