Next thing: Selling Strategies.
That’s the tricky part of what we’re trying to do here, right? I mean starting a consulting firm with nothing but a PC/Dream dream…and insisting on doing small projects, with a rapid deployment ethos.
That’s a novel thing to do. I am going to have to create a process that ‘heals’ itself. What I’m selling can be replicated, but having organizational knowledge and a high ‘give a shit’ factor is nothing that can be faked.
I do give a shit. Always have, at my core. My results and effort have at times been uneven. That’s called life. I did the mortgage and real estate thing for five years without having my heart in it. There is a TON to like. The people, the job, the microcosm nature of what you do. It is a blast. And, I never plan to leave utterly.
But, the job of being a Realtor, Mortgage guy was always a means-to-an end thing. In my core I wanted to create and write, and the practical/cowardly part had me on the conventional path. I still love lots about it. I will always write at Bloodhound and try to call OODA/other issues to the attention.
But Selling Different:
[1] I’m taking a defined position. Small vital projects done by fiduciary talent. This will work for two reasons:
a.) the small projects are easy to find–because of uneven work-flow distribution.
b.) freelancers working on their own high and awesome projects can be engaged briefly and for a low-cost-relative to their talent. They need cashflow, but also desire operational flexibility. Also: not being officially tethered is an important distinction.
c.) starting freelancers need work to make the jump, and there will always be transitional people. (Do I want them??)
[2] This doesn’t mean I don’t take other work types. It clearly means I never pitch them. I can (easily) support myself setting up blogs for Realtors @ 1500-2500 a pop * 3-4 month. Never a shortage of that business, and with the tutorial stuff I’m capturing on video, it’s an increasing value proposition (thanks Aaron for that). Average Joes are getting multiple deals using basic tools, and ordinary execution. Friggin’ cool. There will be byproducts; I certainly don’t want to be in the ‘placement,’ business, but a $20k buyout will more or less be a reasonable (nay, low) fee for fiduciary talent–and
[3] Bidding on contracts with a guaranteed 100% deadline performance record is way different than bidding on contracts as a way to weasel myself into a firm and start sucking on their teets. Admitting: we’re here for limited engagements gets something out of the way. We’re not into ‘many’ things, we’re in one camp, firmly. Short contracts blow up the implied accusation Like Realtors who take a listing overpriced (and then hammer the customer to get a ‘reasonable price’), lots of contract firms weasel their way into a company with a low bid, miss the deadline and then the client is stuck. I want a contract that is ultra simple, but has severe penalties for me if the deadline is missed. (And the asset/player).
[4] Lead sources: No limit exists–top of head:
- -linked in.
- -cold calling
- -business journal scanning.
- -craig’s list
- -earned press.
- -networking in CMH.
etc. I can create a decent plan/program that gets us started. I’ve got to learn about getting specs, and I’ve got to get trustworthy assets in that vein. I’m better than the average guy.
[5] Spaces:
- Right now, I can field requests and get talent thrown at someone pretty quick in the following areas:
- Writing
- PHP(LAMP)
- Sales People (for hire sales folks)
- Design (primary asset is an unquestioned talent, but is also got professionalism issues that they are well aware of)
- Development.
- Fixit stuff (networking)
- Rails development
- CSS/WordPress/Etc.
That’s more than enough breadth. I might cut it back a little bit, but the niche is getting ridiculously good people ridiculously fast for short term gigs. The small project boutique, not the race to the bottom.
That’s enough text for now, it’s time to churn content as fast as I am able to do it.
Related posts (computer generated):
- Offering and Selling Products Is BETTER for Everyone… I’m in week three of making everything I...
- We’re all Peter Drucker’s bitches. God bless Peter Drucker. (Whatever is measured...
- My Goals Were Too Low It was utterly crippling and incapacitating having IRS...
