Most consultants are like cab drivers. Cab drivers run the meter. They throw the luggage in the trunk (thats a $1.00 bag charge). They may or may not be personable. If you have extra passengers, thats $1.50 each on top of the mileage. No smoking. And the radio is tuned to their favorite station not yours.
Most consultants charge by the hour or the day. The meter is running. When you need a special report or their attendance at an onsite meeting, theres your bag charge. They may or may not be personable to anyone other than the executive who hired them. If you need additional work or facilitation or expertise, theres a fee on top of the mileage. And most times, youre locked into their radio station tuned to their methodologies, their licensed tools, their processes not yours.
What if you came across a dramatically different kind of cab driver? Lets call him Ike.
1. Ike has his own business card with his personal cell phone number, a rocket logo and a humorous tagline, such as Strap in. Hang on. Here we go! One of his cabs notable features is the Hot Wheels steering wheel cover. Your initial impression might be that he is direct and, most importantly,...