Hello Reader

Do you remember the iconic scene from A Christmas Story where Ralphie eagerly decodes the secret Ovaltine message only to discover it’s just "a crummy commercial"? (If you aren't familiar with the scene, here is a link to a short TBS clip.)

The scene is a classic example of overpromising and underdelivering because Ralphie eagerly waited for the decoding device so that he could learn Little Orphan Annie's secret message. The problem is he didn’t receive what he expected and was of no value.

As you connect, get to know, and nurture relationships, your goal should be to offer genuine value upfront and that includes things as insightful resources or practical solutions. That is what I desperately try to do. Even if I don’t always succeed, it is definitely what I aim do to which is one reason why First Thursday Consulting Q&A sessions are back.

But to continually provide value, sometimes it is necessary to let things go. In October, I announced several Consulting Insight free resources were being sunset on December 15th so that I could make room for the new free resources.

So, as of December 15th, the five (5) documents below will disappear. If you haven’t grabbed them yet and are interested in any of them, now is the time! If you know someone else who might be interested in any of the documents, forward this email to them.

​How to Determine Your Consulting Focus (You Know – Your Niche!) - This workbook helps you clarify your niche by reflecting on three areas: who you are, your experience and expertise, and what people are willing to pay for. By finding the intersection of these three, you’ll discover your ideal focus.

​10 Simple Marketing Ways to Show You are Real - Building meaningful trusted relationships with clients starts with showing you’re genuine. This eBook offers 10 simple, but actionable, steps you can take immediately to display your credibility and authenticity. Use the marketing ideas to help your potential clients get to know the real you.

​Find Your Ideal Client - It is easy to cast a wide net hoping to find people who are your ideal client but casting a wide net can, and normally does, result in a scattered approach which is the last thing you want to do. This document helps you identify specific places to find your ideal clients and includes an exercise enabling you to focus your efforts in the right places.

​Time! Your Scarcest Resource - We all know time is precious, but how we manage it makes the difference. This handout covers 9 time management techniques that go beyond your typical to-do list, helping you structure your entire day, week, and year to be more effective.

​Proposal Template - A strong proposal is the result of a careful orchestrated discovery meeting and agreement during a consensus meeting. This letter-format template provides a structured starting point to create your own proposal template, a template you can use over and over again.

While these resources are being retired, I’ll continue discussing their concepts in future articles and videos on the Consulting Insights YouTube channel.

If you are interested in any of these resources, I encourage you to download them before they disappear on December 15, 2024.

Laura Burford

Whenever you’re ready, here are ways I can help you become an Experienced "Go-To" Consultant:

​Consulting Mastery: A Path to a Sustainable and Profitable Business (Hybrid Online Course): Looking to SOAR in 2025? If so, schedule a free 45 Minute Consulting Strategy session with me to determine if the program is a fit for you.

​Explore Consulting: Determine if Consulting is a Fit for You (3 Hour Workshop): Join a small group of people for a 3 hour discussion on consulting. Workshop is January 11th. $249 until December 31, 2024.

​Consultant Assessment (Document): Assess your knowledge and skills with this downloadable document.

​The Consultant’s Blueprint (Video): An approach that provides a framework that you can use as a guide within your consulting business.

If you liked this article, consider sharing it with others.

Have a question? Send me an email at Laura@lauraburford.com.

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