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| Preface to the Second Edition | |
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| Acknowledgments | |
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| First Things First: Why Consulting? | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| Consulting: What Is It? | |
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| Why a Consulting Career? | |
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| Explore Your Experiences | |
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| Inventory Your Competencies | |
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| Assess Your Consulting Aptitude | |
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| Pull It Together: Your Initial Consulting Focus | |
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| Entrepreneur Attitude: Do You Have What It Takes? | |
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| Quick Start Action: A Baker's Dozen Questions to Ask a Consultant | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| Planning Your Consulting Future | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| Your Preferred Future | |
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| Will Consulting Lead You to Your Life Goals? | |
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| Professional, Financial, and Personal Considerations | |
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| Identify the Changes You Will Need to Make | |
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| Quick Start Action: Create Your Personal Expense Plan | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| Dollars and Sense | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| Establish a Start-Up Budget | |
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| Put a Price on Your Head | |
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| Calculate Required Revenue | |
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| Quick Start Action: Setting Your Fee | |
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| Fill Out Financial Forms | |
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| So What's It Take to Get off the Ground? | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| Taking Care of Business | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| Getting Started | |
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| What's in a Name? | |
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| Find the Best Accountant and Attorney | |
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| Quick Start Action: Find an Accountant and Attorney | |
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| Determine Your Business Structure | |
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| Explore Your Banking and Insurance Needs | |
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| Check Local Zoning Laws, Licenses, and Taxes | |
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| File Legal Documentation | |
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| Quick Start Action: Your First To-Do List | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| Your Business Plan | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| Are Business Plans Really Necessary? | |
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| Write Your Plan | |
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| Plan to Use Your Business Plan | |
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| Quick Start Action: Plan a Review | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| Make the Switch Painlessly | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| Gain Consulting Experience Before Leaving Your Job | |
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| Determine Your Transition Plan | |
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| Quick Start Action: Plan with Your Family | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| Setting Up Your Office | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| Office Location Options | |
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| Set Up Your Office | |
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| Paper, Paper Everywhere! | |
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| Quick Start Action: Preparing Forms | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| Finding Clients | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| Determine Your Market Niche | |
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| Quick Start Action: Is There a Client Base? | |
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| Who's Your Competition? | |
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| Identify Your First Clients | |
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| Land Your First Work | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| Marketing | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| What Marketing Is | |
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| The ABCs of Marketing | |
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| Create Your Marketing Plan | |
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| Build Your Marketing Plan | |
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| Marketing on a Shoestring Budget | |
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| Write Winning Proposals | |
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| Track Your Clients | |
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| Tips to Become a Better Marketer | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| Surviving the First Year | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| Take Care of Your Health | |
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| Manage Your Time | |
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| Establish Good Habits | |
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| Balance Your Life | |
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| Did You Hear the One About the Consultant...? Developing a Personal Ethics Statement | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| So, Now What? Year Two and Beyond | |
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| Chapter Overview | |
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| Assess Your Progress | |
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| Quick Start Action: Review Your First Year with Your Family | |
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| Plan Your Next Steps | |
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| Bring It All Together | |
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| Quick Start Action: Review Your First Year with a Colleague | |
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| Quick Start Lists | |
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| Reading List | |
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| Electronic Resources | |
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| Call for Ideas | |
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| Call for Papers | |
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| About the Author | |
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| Index | |