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No. The market is too efficient now, the information too commoditized. In order to charge that much as a consultant you would have to have a very particular se
by matte_black 9y ago
No. The market is too efficient now, the information too commoditized.
In order to charge that much as a consultant you would have to have a very particular set of skills, skills that you acquired over a very long career.
- maxxxxx 9y agoDo you know this from first hand experience? I used to know a guy who made around $5000 a day. His main skill seemed to be that he had the ability to talk to CEOs in their own language. Once you are on that level a $50000 consulting engagement is not much money.
- putnam 9y agoWas he a programmer?
- maxxxxx 9y agoHe used to be but then he advised on enterprise software like SAP and Salesforce.
- milofeynman 9y agoI know a guy like this. He ended up a VP at a big company like Salesforce a few years ago, got laid off spent a year and a half blowing money on drugs and women. Came back and fudged his LinkedIn / resume to make it look like he was a consultant those years (no months only years on his LinkedIn) some company is back to paying him 300-500k salary. It mostly seems to be about selling yourself hard and interviewing a lot until you find the sucker who is desperate enough to hire you. Another thing he did when he was originally getting hired was to start a MBA class in a small town and never finish it so that while he was applying he could say he was getting his MBA. He does SAP and such. Not a route a lot of people will want to take.
- maxxxxx 9y agoJust to be clear: the guy I am talking about is very smart, knows his stuff and has a lot of integrity. My point is that the main factor that allows him to make the big money is not his technical skills but his ability to talk to people at all levels. Technical skills are needed but not sufficient.
- titanomachy 9y agoVPs don't usually get "laid off"... they get fired, although it's almost always sold as a "mutual decision".
- enraged_camel 9y agoThey also often have golden parachutes. :)
- milofeynman 9y agoI can't imagine why such a standup guy would tell his acquaintances he was "laid off" haha
- matte_black 9y agoWhat does talk to a CEO in their own language even mean? That he knows typical MBA jargon and concepts? Anybody can learn to talk and think like a CEO by picking up a few DIY MBA books. You have likely misjudged his actual skill.
- Xc43 9y agoI think it is more than only words. I think it is about being able to sell, gain trust and establish clear expectations.
- maxxxxx 9y agoI don't have the ability to meet a CEO at a convention, strike up a conversation and keep them interested. This is not only about knowing MBA jargon. It's about manners and other things. In corporations you see the same thing. Some guys meet the big VP and make a lasting impression while most others don't. This is not about skills or knowledge but about the way you talk and behave.
- matte_black 9y agoThis is just networking skill, which is essential for anyone who plans to be a consultant as a career. After everyone has been introduced and become friends, you need to actually deliver some useful insight.
- maxxxxx 9y agoIf networking skills come that easily to you you will have a golden future ahead of you.
- valuearb 9y agoNo it’s about experience, skills and knowledge. If you were a VP at a prominent company, that says you know what you are talking about. The CEO or VPs at a smaller company automatically view you as a peer, or superior. Actually knowing what you are talking about is the key to making the business last.
- 9y ago
- putnam 9y agoDo you have those skills?
- matte_black 9y agoAll my skills are not unique, and you could probably find someone else who has them, except for one skill which I am almost certain I am currently the best in the entire world at.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- amch 9y agoPray, do tell what this one skill is
- cirgue 9y agoWould that all of us could be Liam Neeson.