| You're having lunch with a friend. You are | | | | the company. A consultant may help you to solve |
| discussing the current state of your business and | | | | an issue faster and be less costly. Remember |
| he suggests that you consider hiring a consultant. | | | | that technology and techniques have changed a |
| You have always run you business by yourself. | | | | great deal over the last year, if not the last five |
| Why get help? Are you getting old and feeble? No | | | | or ten years. Just think about what your mobile |
| one knows more about your business than you | | | | telephone now does. Albert Einstein said the first |
| do! What can one of these consultants do for | | | | sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and |
| you? Consultants aren't cheap. You haven't | | | | over and expecting different results. Even he had |
| needed one before, why now? | | | | a problem calculating change at a Berlin restaurant. |
| I have heard this many times. The best answer is | | | | Over the last ten years, we have watched |
| you hire a consultant or anyone for that matter, | | | | companies take ideas from other companies and |
| when you need something done you can not or | | | | even from different industries and have seen |
| do not know how to do. Think about your hiring | | | | these companies grow and increase profits with |
| an attorney or an accountant and why you hire | | | | their new ways to do things. Southwest Airlines |
| them. Why did you hire that person? You | | | | may be the best example of using techniques |
| probably hired an accountant to do your taxes, | | | | from another industry, race car driving. They |
| for example. The internal revenue gives us | | | | have used these ideas to turn around an airplane |
| instructions on how to prepare returns, so why | | | | and get into the air faster than any other airline. |
| did you hire someone to do it and not do it | | | | Southwest decided not to do things they way |
| yourself? The reasons are probably because they | | | | they were always done or how everyone else did |
| can do it in less time than it would take you and | | | | it. They let others make mistakes. While you may |
| you might miss or misinterpret a legitimate way | | | | think you know your business better than anyone |
| to save money. Accountants know things that | | | | else, someone outside your industry should |
| could save you money. While the accountant is | | | | question you on why you do something a |
| doing the tax return you could be doing something | | | | particular way and may suggest a better way to |
| that will help improve your business. Doing your | | | | do that task. A new approach may save money, |
| returns, will take valuable time away from your | | | | free you up to do other tasks, and may |
| business. The amount you pay the account is | | | | ultimately give you a competitive advantage over |
| worth the time you save. If you don't think so, | | | | your competition. |
| put an hourly rate on the value of your time. The | | | | Many consultants are hired to be a sounding board |
| amount of money the accountant saves you | | | | for the owner. The consultant acts like the |
| may be greater than what you pay the | | | | owner's partner. You pay them; their loyalty is to |
| accountant. The elimination of aggravation in doing | | | | you. But be careful, they will probably tell you the |
| the returns makes paying someone else to do it | | | | truth! A consultant helps broaden the owner's |
| well worth the expense. | | | | perspective. Being the owner can be lonely. The |
| There are all kinds of consultants. They do | | | | employees may only say what the owner wants |
| marketing, sales, profit improvement, human | | | | to hear. The owner is not questioned about a |
| resources, establish incentives for your employees | | | | decision or a strategy. A good consultant can ask |
| and many, many more things that could possibly | | | | the hard questions and make sure an idea is |
| be of value to your company. The first reason to | | | | thought through thoroughly. This process |
| hire a consultant or anyone is that this person or | | | | improves the probability of success in |
| organization can do something you or anyone in | | | | implementing a strategy. It improves the odds |
| your organization can't do. The second reason is | | | | that a new strategy is put in place that works as |
| similar to hiring someone to do your taxes. This | | | | the market changes and a business grows. |
| expert can do it in less time and is more cost | | | | Hiring a consultant is not any different than hiring |
| effective than you doing it. The third and probably | | | | an employee. Make sure you have an agreement |
| the most common reason is to have someone | | | | up front on what is going to be done and |
| who understands you and your organization and | | | | accomplished. Professional consultants want you |
| can help in making those difficult decisions. | | | | involved as they work for you. You may want to |
| A good consultant will look at the company's issue | | | | put a time frame and ultimately a cost budget on |
| and give a fresh and new view of the problem | | | | the task. |
| and potential solutions. There is a lot to be said | | | | A good consulting engagement can solve many |
| for working with someone who has done this | | | | issues. The consultant resolves the issue and |
| task many times before. A consultant can add | | | | sometimes uncovers the real problem and not |
| objectivity when they look at aspects of your | | | | just a symptom. They don't forget the basics. |
| business. Yes, you have run this business for | | | | Issues will usually be resolved sooner and be less |
| many years and feel you know more than | | | | costly by a consultant. The best ones add |
| anyone else about it, but at the same time it may | | | | something you didn't have before and are worth |
| be beneficial to have a fresh set of eyes look at | | | | the investment. |