Your timing couldn’t be better if you start consulting today. In this new mellinium consultants are needed in vastly greater numbers than ever before in every area of commercial enterprise.

Consultants are not looked upon as mere attenuations of a corporate structure any longer. They are now recognized as being integral to its functioning effectively. If you had started down this path just ten years ago, you would have met resistance in almost every major corporation, enterprise or endeavor.
Not today!

Though consultants have been around as long as people have been willing to pay for advice, it was during the major downsizing of the corporate world in the 80’s that this profession took on a far more visible presence in every part of business.

You are fortunate to enter this field now because managers and business owners turn to a consultant as frequently as kids turn on thier I-Pods; they flick on the switch, sign the contracts for your services, and sit back and enjoy the show!

It wasn’t nearly as friendly a field when I started in this business. Owners and managers felt insulted, somehow diminished or inept, if they were forced to turn to me for advice. Other clients, while not feeling diminished, thought that hiring a consultant was a luxury or worse, frivolous. Both groups would invariably ‘buck you’ all the way since they felt that hiring you was an unspoken admission of failure or a terrible waste of money.

Not so today. When all the downsizing, unemployment, corporate loss and skidding returns on investment (ROI) rolled through the 80’s, our profession came to be seen as essential and integral.

By 1997, U.S. revenue for consulting was over $23 Billion, which was close to 50% of the world wide total. By 2001 it reached close to $40 Billion. Yes, “work for hire” consultants have become the mainstay for all levels of businessfrom small chains through mid-sized companies and larger corporations to huge corporate giants. Then you can add the Military and the U.S. Government to arrive at consultant expenditures today of 0ver $100 Billion dollars.

Consultants are involved, in fact dominate, information technology (IT) projects in almost all Fortune 500 corporations. When Nations Bank announced it would merge with Bank Of America Corporation in 1998, the largest National bank in the terms of both deposits and branches was created. Consultants became critical behind-the-scenes partners in consolidating operations and other activities related to the merger. Most people didn’t know that it wasn’t their friendly neighborhood banker dealing with the transaction when they made thier weekly deposits and withdrawals anymore—it was an army of consultants!

I have given you all this background information just to show you that consulting is a booming enterprise. You are entering a field that has metamorphosed into a global requirement for any size of business or endeavor. It is a profession that is accepted fully for its ability to effect change in all manner of enterprise. You can now find yourself in a position of freedom and independence while you greatly influence, direct, and help others to succeed.

A consultant uses all of his talents and abilities. He grows exponentially in his constant effort to find solutions. He’s part “old west gunslinger” looking to ferret out the bad guys while the townsfolk cower behind curtains and also part “knight in shining armor” that rushes in on a steed of dazzling white to extricate failing, or at least faltering, efforts— and rescue the damsel of success and achievement.

In the “Old days” (pre-1980’s) a consultant worked with the management of a business to improve the profitability of the buiness. Consultants worked with the top management and were very highly paid individuals.

Some consultants charge $100 or more an hour.
Some charge $1,500 per day for their services.
Some work on an annual retainer fee of $12,000 to over $50,000 per year from any number of clients or large coporations.

And it goes up from their depending on your expertise and the rarity of your knowledge.

In my book: “Anyone Can Consult!” I will prove it’s true; anyone (YOU) can consult, using what you already know to help others and make a substantial extra income!

About the Author:

Victor K. Pryles is a working consultant with over 30 years of experience in the field. His books and articles are avaialbe at http://www.authorsden.com