Consulting Books

The Trusted Advisor

David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, Robert M. Galford

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Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Management & Leadership -> Leadership
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Skills -> Communications

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 31 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Recommended for all Consultants 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Excellent book by the master of consulting firm management. Addresses and gives insight into the goal of all management consulting engagements - to become the trusted advisor of the C-level management - on the issues related to your expertise. I recommend this book and Maister's other books to all senior level consultants and professional services personnel.

Editorial Review:

In today's fast-paced networked economy, professionals must work harder than ever to maintain and improve their business skills and knowledge. But technical mastery of one's discipline is not enough, assert world-renowned professional advisors David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, and Robert M. Galford. The key to professional success, they argue, is the ability to earn the trust and confidence of clients. To demonstrate the paramount importance of trust, the authors use anecdotes, experiences, and examples -- successes and mistakes, their own and others' -- to great effect. The result is an immensely readable book that will be welcomed by the inexperienced advisor and the most seasoned expert alike.

Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used

Peter Block

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 46 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The second edition of the "consultant's bible" is here!

For over fifteen years, consultants--both internal and external--have relied on Peter Block's landmark bestseller, Flawless Consulting, to learn how to deal effectively with clients, peers, and others. Using illustrative examples, case studies, and exercises, the author, one of the most important and well known in his field, offers his legendary warmth and insight throughout this much-awaited second edition. Anyone who must communicate in a professional context--and who doesn't?--will use the lessons taught in this book for years to come!

"Who would have thought the 'consultant's bible' could be improved upon? Count on Peter Block--the consulting profession's very own revolutionary--to push us to confront and struggle with the paradoxes inherent in our work."
--Candace Thompson, organization development consultant, First Chicago NBD--A Bank One Company

"Block has distilled years of experience into a wise, down-to-earth, and eminently practical guide to excellence in consulting. If you are new to the practice, Flawless Consulting will chop years off your learning cycle. And even if you're an old pro, Block's insights will elevate you to new levels of effectiveness. Flawless Consulting is not simply about becoming a better consultant; it is about using consulting as a path toward becoming a better person."
--Barry Oshry, president, Power & Systems, Inc.; author of Seeing Systems and Leading Systems

Million Dollar Consulting: The Professional's Guide to Growing a Practice

Alan Weiss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 73 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

For the CEOs best friend 2 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I was impressed by the few first pages in the book. But as you read along there is very little added.
In my humble opinion the book becomes quite self centric to mister Weiss. If you have access to a lot of top level CEOs and you need somebody to tell you you should charge them fat fees which would exceed "normal" hourly rates, then this book is for you, but then again why would you be after a book like this in that situation.
Sure there are good lines here and there, but overall for me it was not too much fun reading. It is quite US centric and many parts are on the edge of being childish, see chapters on technology for example.
This is the last Weiss book I'll buy.

Editorial Review:

The acclaimed Million Dollar Consulting gives consultants the tools and advice they need to grow a firm that rakes in at least $1 million per year. Alan Weiss, "the consultant's consultant," shows step-by-step how to raise capital, reel in new clients, set fees, accelerate growth, and more. This updated and expanded edition will appeal to both Weiss's many current fans and a whole new generation of readers looking for the best advice available for anyone who wants to build a million-dollar consulting/speaking career.

The Boston Consulting Group on Strategy: Classic Concepts and New Perspectives

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

A collection of the best thinking from one of the most innovative management consulting firms in the world

For more than forty years, The Boston Consulting Group has been shaping strategic thinking in business. The Boston Consulting Group on Strategy offers a broad and up-to-date selection of the firm's best ideas on strategy with fresh ideas, insights, and practical lessons for managers, executives, and entrepreneurs in every industry. Here's a sampling of the provocative thinking you'll find inside:

"You have to be the scientist of your own life and be astonished four times:at what is, what always has been, what once was, and what could be."

"The majority of products in most companies are cash traps . . . .[They] are not only worthless, but a perpetual drain on corporate resources."

"Use more debt than your competition or get out of the business."

"When information flows freely, reputation, more than reciprocity,becomes the basis for trust."

"As a strategic weapon, time is the equivalent of money, productivity,quality, even innovation."

"When brands become business systems, brand management becomes far too important to leave to the marketing department."

"The winning organization of the future will look more like a collection ofjazz ensembles than a symphony orchestra."

"Most of our organizations today derive from a model whose original purpose was to control creativity."

"Rather than being an obstacle, uncertainty is the very engine of transformation in a business, a continuous source of new opportunities."

"IP assets lack clear property lines. Every bit of intellectual property you can own comes with connections to other valuable innovations."

Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants

Stephen Fishman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Be your own boss -- easily, efficiently and successfully -- with this bestseller!

Whether you're an independent contractor, freelancer, or consultant, it all adds up to the same thing: You need to be more aware of laws and taxes than the average person.

Fortunately, Working for Yourself provides all the information you need to stay on top of it all. An independent contractor himself, Stephen Fishman shows you everything you need to know to:

meet business start-up requirements

pick a business structure

set up home or outside offices

obtain permits and licenses

price your services or products

comply with strict IRS rules

establish sound business relationships

avoid unfair contracts

draft good agreements

keep good records

get paid in full and on time

and much, much more

The 7th edition is completely revised to provide the up-to-date information you need, including the most current tax rates and changes in the law.

Whether you already work for yourself or are thinking about making the move, Working for Yourself will help make sure you do it right.

List of Forms

Asset Log

Expense Journal

Income Journal

Invoice

General Independent Contractor Agreement

Contract Amendment

Nondisclosure Agreement

Getting Started in Consulting, Second Edition

Alan Weiss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 53 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Solid Advice from an Experienced Consultant 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is the best read on consulting I have come across! The content is applicable to any consulting practice regardless of industry focus. The concepts in this book do require that you have an existing understanding of the industry and business environment you plan to work in but that should be considered a given if you are looking to call yourself a consultant anyway. If you can't get your practice up and running based on the detailed step by step processes discussed in this book nothing can help you! Buy it, read it, live it!

Editorial Review:

A new revision of the successful guidebook for novice consultants
Getting Started in Consulting, Second Edition provides practical solutions and proven strategies for launching a consulting business. Readers will learn how low overhead and a high degree of organization can translate into a six-figure income working from a home office. The book also offers key information on how to finance a consulting practice, how to write proposals, how to set up billing and bookkeeping, and more. A new chapter also explains how to get started quickly for those who can't wait to generate cash flow or those who have a cash reserve they are immediately willing to commit.
Alan Weiss (East Greenwich, RI) has consulted with hundreds of organizations around the world, including Mercedes-Benz, Hewlett-Packard, Merck, and the Times Mirror Group. He lectures widely and is the author of 12 books.

Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself

Daniel H. Pink

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 57 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

SOCIAL COMMENTARY DISGUISED AS A HOW-TO GUIDE 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Free Agent Nation by Daniel H. Pink is not entirely what it seems.

Daniel Pink is a former speech writer for Al Gore. He wrote for him when Al Gore was serving as Vice President, but not during the campaign for president.

When Mr Pink left the White House and became, as it were, a Free Agent, he was surprised at the number of people who earned income from running their own small business. It became apparent to him that if the Republican Party was the party of big business and the Democratic Party was the party of labor unions, then the growing demographic of the self employed had no real representation.

Therefore, Mr Pink explored who these people were, what they were doing, and what they needed. Of course, Mr. Pink is no economist or statistician. Therefore, his analysis seems a bit heavy on the anecdotal. Likewise, this is not a how to book that will tell you step by step what needs to be done to start up your own business.

Regardless, this is an interesting book that explores a growing social phenomenon of the post-industrial world.

Editorial Review:

If you’re having a baby, you read What To Expect When You’re Expecting. If you’re considering law school, you read One L. And if you’re thinking about working for yourself, you read Free Agent Nation—Daniel Pink’s contemporary classic about leaving the corporate rat race.

Widely acclaimed for its engaging style and provocative perspective,Free Agent Nation has helped thousands transform their working lives. Now the paperback edition of this business bestseller features an all-new section: a comprehensive 30-page resource guide that explains the basics of working for yourself (how to get started, where to find health insurance, how to market yourself) and includes 101 Free Agent Survival Tips culled from successful solo workers nationwide. Hip and hopeful, Free Agent Nation will change and your thinking – and maybe even change your life. Read it today to free yourself tomorrow.

Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters: 400 Unconventional Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job

Jay Conrad Levinson, David Perry

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 76 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Ready! Aim! Hired!

"This is an immensely helpful book, with the ancient wisdom of recruiters,?and the up-to-date?insights of two skilled Internet surfers. If you're job-hunting, you'll be grateful to learn the tips and tricks of these two seasoned veterans. I learned a lot myself."
—Richard N. Bolles, author, What Color Is Your Parachute?

"I have been an apprentice, a company president, and a CEO. No other single source provides a more contemporary and embracing job search bible. This book offers literally hundreds of little known insider tips, strategies, out-of-the-box success stories, hands-on exercises, and pearls of wisdom. Many readers will hear the words, 'You're Hired' due to David Perry and Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters."
—Kelly Perdew, Executive Vice President, Trump Ice winner of The Apprentice 2

"Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters is an absolutely 'right on' book for today's job market. It not only has great job search tips but it takes you into the electronic job search system better than anything I've seen written to date."
—William J. Morin, Chairman and CEO, WJM Associates, Inc. former CEO of DBM

Using a typically unconventional Guerrilla approach, authors Levinson and Perry cover all the basics of a winning campaign. This book covers:

• Using the Internet for everything from research and job searches to your own Web site, blogs, and podcasting
• Performing an extreme resume makeover and creating a higher-powered value-based resume
• Harnessing the full power of Google, LinkedIn, and ZoomInfo to uncover opportunities in the "hidden job market" ahead of your competition (or other job hunters)
• Branding yourself and selling your strengths in resumes, letters, e-mail, and interviews

Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters includes real-life war stories from successful job hunters and expert tips and tactics from over 100 prominent headhunters.

The McKinsey Mind: Understanding and Implementing the Problem-Solving Tools and Management Techniques of the World's Top Strategic Consulting Firm

Ethan Rasiel, Ph.D.,Paul N. Friga

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 48 Average rating: 2.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The groundbreaking follow-up to the international bestsellerAndshy;Andshy;a hands-on guide to putting McKinsey techniques to work in your organization

. .

McKinsey And Company is the most respected and most secretive consulting firm in the world, and business readers just can't seem to get enough of all things McKinsey. Now, hot on the heels of his acclaimed international bestseller The McKinsey Way, Ethan Rasiel brings readers a powerful new guide to putting McKinsey concepts and skills into actionAndshy;Andshy;The McKinsey Mind. While the first book used case studies and anecdotes from former and current McKinseyites to describe how "the firm" solves the thorniest business problems of their A-list clients, The McKinsey Mind goes a giant step further. It explains, step-by-step, how to use McKinsey tools, techniques and strategies to solve an array of core business problems and to make any business venture more successful.

. .

Designed to work as a stand-alone guide or together with The McKinsey Way, The McKinsey Mind follows the same critically acclaimed style and format as its predecessor. In this book authors Rasiel and Friga expand upon the lessons found in The McKinsey Way with real-world examples, parables, and easy-to-do exercises designed to get readers up and running.

Million Dollar Consulting (TM) Toolkit: Step-By-Step Guidance, Checklists, Templates and Samples from "The Million Dollar Consultant"

Alan Weiss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great resource for beginner consultants 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book is an excellent resource for consultants who are new to the field. Today, I have landed my first client using Alan Weiss' practical tips for success. I find the sample templates for proposals a great value as I learn what works best for me and what doesn't. I plan to use this book as a reference guide as I continue to grow my practice. I'd encourage you to purchase this book and use it to its full capability. Use this book along with others to build your library of useful resources. Great book!

Thanks Alan!

Editorial Review:

The practical toolbox for readers of Million Dollar Consulting

This useful guide provides specific checklists, guidelines, templates, and actual examples for every step of the consulting process. It covers marketing, sales, meetings, implementation, follow-up, invoicing, practice management, insurance, equipment, subcontracting, and scores of other elements. Thousands of people have bought Weiss's Million Dollar Consulting and started their own consultancy. Now, this handy resource goes hand-in-hand to provide all the tools new consultants need to enact all the recommendations and ideas in Million Dollar Consulting.

Alan Weiss, PhD (East Greenwich, RI), has consulted for hundreds of organizations around the world, including Mercedes-Benz, Hewlett-Packard, Merck, Chase, American Press Institute, and the Times-Mirror Group. He is the author of 12 books, including Getting Started in Consulting (0-471-47969-1) and Organizational Consulting (0-471-26378-8).