Introduction - Many times people are looking for a solution to a problem in their life.  The problem may be a professional problem that is related to their job or career.  Or the problem may be a personal one that is affecting the way they deal with the rest of their life.  They may need to find a solution to a huge problem at work, or they may be feeling less than satisfied with the turn their life has taken.  No matter why they need answers, or how they want to find those answers, there is a method and means for them to accomplish it. 

01. Consulting vs. Coaching - Both consulting and coaching involve the use of a skilled, trained professional to assist a client in achieving goals, but each entity is considered a different form of support.

          Coaching involves a client who wants to grow either personally or professionally and a coach, a trained facilitator, who will guide the client.  Generally a coach works one-on-one with a client but there are times when a group of people will work together toward a common goal. 

02. Consulting Business - So, you want to be a consultant, eh?  It can be a highly competitive, extraordinarily difficult, and frustratingly challenging business to be involved with at times, but the level of freedom and amount of experience in many facets of the business universe are a very positive trade off for all the hard work.  When handled correctly — and planned with care — a career as a consultant can yield much more financial and personal freedom for the professional. 

03. Types of Consulting - There are nearly as many types of businesses in the consulting universe as there are in the realm of traditional business.  Nearly every industry under the sun has spawned a thriving ecosystem of self-starters and professional gurus who have chosen to make their services available to the highest bidder.  Some of the most active and lucrative industries conducive to supporting a consultancy career are listed below:

04. Things to Consider - There are many items to consider before deciding to make the commitment of becoming a consultant.  When one embarks on the mission to participate in this career choice one should be clear that they are taking on many responsibilities that employees within a larger organization may take for granted.  Starting a consultancy is starting YOUR OWN BUSINESS. 

05. Get Started Consulting - Once you decided that a career in consulting is right for you, there are a few things you can take care of from the get go to ensure a smooth transition into the world of professional consultancy.  Like we mentioned earlier, organization plays a key role in all phases of a consultant’s career.  From the early stages of planning the business structure and types consulting you wish to engage in, to the execution of daily workflow, to the discipline required to keep legally sound income and tax records, being a consultant can mean being efficient and thorough in the areas of organization and planning. 

06. Marketing Consulting - At this point you should have taken care of the basic necessities of business.  You will have decided on a business model, drafted a business plan, secured initial funding, established a work environment, and are now effectively ready to do some business.  Now your mission is to find some business. 

Even if you have built an ultra efficient state-of-the-art home office, polished your image with the finest of Armani suits, equipped your self with the newest cell phone, PDA and laptop, and drafted the most exemplary of business plans, you are not going to go anywhere in the business world without some entities to do business with. 

07. Consulting Tips - When approaching someone for the first time looking for a potential client, do not ask for their help or for a job, ask them for advice.  Although there are some charitable folks out there who like to help people, everyone loves to give advice.  You can accomplish the same thing you would by asking for help, simply by posing your question in the form of “asking for advice”.

08. Consulting Summary - By applying the techniques documented in this e-book, we believe that anyone out there can become involved in the extremely rewarding, highly profitable world of consulting.  In closing, we just want to emphasize that the core competencies of the successful consultant are organization, proactive behavior, and consummate professionalism.

09. Coaching Business - Coaching is a process of helping individuals achieve success in relationships, careers, and life in general.  A coach is someone who works on a personal level with an individual to help them realize their goals and dreams.  A coach is very much like a consultant but the differences are very precise and distinct.  Where a consultant is likely to present individuals with the solution, the coach is there to ask the correct questions and point clients in the right direction for the answers. 

10. Types of Coaching - If you are considering becoming a coach one of the many decisions that you will have to make is to determine what type of a coach you want to be.  In other words, you will want to decide in what area you want to specialize.  Whether you are interested in family, business, careers, relationships, or work/life balance you will want to find an area that interests you and in which you will excel. 

11. Become a Coach - The job of a coach is to listen, ask questions, and encourage the client rather than to advise or give instructions.  As a coach you will be committed to your client’s needs as well as to your own personal growth.  It is important that you believe that all areas of your client’s life are integrated, including their relationships, careers, finances, and outside interests.  You should be of the firm belief that all areas of a client’s life should be addressed while they are on their way to achieving their goals.

12. Get Started Coaching - When you are ready to start your own coaching business there are several steps that you will have to take.  One of the things that you may consider is finding a qualified mentor coach that can take you under their wing.  This coach should be someone that you can work well with and communicate easily.  By finding a mentor coach you will be able to earn experience for your own coaching business while learning from someone who already has established a coaching business. 

13. Marketing Coaching - When your coaching business is up and running you will want to make certain that it keeps running smoothly by spending time and effort taking care of business.  Some of these business matters that require your attention are:

• Develop a marketing style
• Identify target markets
• Recognize your key clients
• Re-establish and manage your business plan

14. Coaching Tips - Following are some general tips and advice for increase the success of your coaching business:

• Don’t start coaching a client until you have a working relationship with them.  The goal is to build a strong rapport with the client so that you are able to work together to clearly define goals, dreams, and solutions for both.
• Avoid giving your client advice.  You want your client to be a part of the process of finding answers for themselves.  Once you start giving your client advice and suggestions you crossing over into the field of being a consultant.

15. Coaching Summary - There are many things that you need to consider when deciding to start your own coaching business, from education to business plans to marketing.  All you need to remember is to plan and stick to your plan.

          One of the most important things that you need to decide is if the coaching business is for you. You can have all the business sense in the world to start a coaching business but if you have no skills or qualities to be a coach none of the business know how will matter.

16. Final Words - Although consulting and coaching are essentially two different methods of helping individuals to recognize and realize change, they employ the same ideology of helping the client achieve success and find a well-balanced lifestyle.  No matter area of consulting or coaching that you choose to focus on you will be assured of great personal success and satisfaction. 

THE END