Sometimes the best way to self-employment is by selling your brains.

After all you sweated drops of blood to learn what you now take for granted right? And that’s why most people never consider the idea of selling their own skills as an advisor to others who maybe up and coming in their industry.

But do you have the talent and experience that people will buy?

Fair question – often we do but here’s an indicator of how others see it.

• They ask you out to lunch (they buy you the lunch) and then spend the whole time telling you about a project and picking your brains
• They write to you and leave a decision about some work related matter until they show you all the specs
• You get asked for a “second opinion” often by your friends about their business
• They write to you and ask very specific questions about their new deal
• They boast to their friends that you’re the brains behind their new endeavour

Are consultants and mentors better than coaches?

Good question – usually on one key point – coaches almost never advise you on your business. Where as a mentor or consultant already knows and has in-depth knowledge about your business.

Coaches often tend to gloss over how a business is run and have the same answers regardless of what line of work you’re doing.

But a mentor or consultant is more likely to be sympathetic to your needs and the quirks your business entails.

As a direct result – a mentor or consultant will get more respect for the knowledge and a client will tend to listen much more closely to the advice given.

How do I sell my experience?

I’ve found it can work one of two ways –

1. You sell your time by the hour

2. Or you sell a pre-packaged set of hours for a frequently asked problem

The second option is usually best for one reason; you get a bigger upfront payment to solve a client’s problem – often they don’t mind paying it.

Never underestimate how long a consulting job will take. The client maybe willing, but often is having trouble wrapping their mind around all the challenges of their business. Their mind can only take in so much with all that stress going on.

You on the other hand need a fair payment that makes it worth showing up to the client. An hourly rate on its own is too open ended. A fixed package makes you feel like you are not being ripped off for your brains being picked. It also makes you look more professional.

Attracting Work

For you answering a few questions and solving people’s problems might (at first) seem hardly like you’re working at all. BUT don’t fall for that. Every consultant or mentor goes through the same thing. As the say; THINKING IS THE HARDEST WORK AROUND, that’s why so few do it.

Firstly get yourself a business card, and fix up your Linkedin profile to suit your consultant or mentor experience. A Linkedin profile is a must have these days.

And while you can, write a book – it doesn’t need to be a long book, even a book with all your personal industry yarns makes a good positioning statement for your consultancy business. So write the darn thing!

Attend specialty networking functions especially if your industry is connected to industry association meetings on a regular basis.

But most of all work your network and connections, you have tons of contacts and you can use those as a part of your email list to let people know you’re in business.

David Newton runs social and business events in both Sydney and Melbourne see his sites: www.meetup.com/BabyBoomersRights and www.meetup.com/Baby-Boomers-Melbourne plus www.MelbourneWalking.com plus www.The7StepsAuthor.com attend his regular events and meet new people.