Dear Business Leaders and Consultants,
You may recall the lyrics of a song that goes like this:
“Wake up everybody no more sleeping in bed,
No more backwards thinking it's time for thinking ahead,
The world has changed so very much from what it use to be…"
As I speak around the state, I have encountered many self proclaimed “Business Consultants”. However, if they were charged with the crime of being a consultant, there would not be enough evidence to convict them I AM FED UP WITH PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR PEOPLE UNDER FALSE PRETENSE. Let me call them out for what they are … ”CROOKS.”
The shame of this is that they are misleading our small business owners and not only hindering the growth but also jeopardizing the businesses and the communities they anchor. The business community is putting trust in people who make claims about what they can do, who don’t even know what a consultant does or certainly have not taken the time to hone their craft.
I do not believe I am being overly critical, because these so-called consultants are the ones who don’t take their craft seriously and do not set the standard that their clients should aspire to. For example, frequently when I get their business card I see their name @ one of the following aol.com, hotmail.com, yahoo.com, and at best gmail.com. How can anyone take these people seriously as consultants when they don't even look professional? Your business card says a lot about who you are and how you run your business. How can that consultant explain the importance of branding when they cannot even demonstrate it with their own business specific ".com."
Secondly, there are “Consultants” with no business plan or even an understanding of a business plan. I get the same old standard comments describing fill-in-the-blanks templates, “it is a business plan and I have written business plan for a lot of people.” I say to anyone who goes to these people and they offer to do your business plan “RUN FROM THEM AS FAST AS YOU CAN.” No one should do your business plan for you, but you. They may assist you by assembling information you provide, and helping you to crystallize your objectives and strategies. Their key role is to help you get to the right answers by asking the right questions.
There is more to being a business consultant than just a business card and words. Ask the following question of anyone who tells you they are a consultant:
1. Are you certified? If so by whom?
2. How do you market yourself and business?
3. Do you have a website I can visit for more information?
4. Do you have a business overview of your company?
5. Check with the state to see if they are good standing.
6. Ask for the NAICS and SIC classifications that they are under.
7. Ask about their relevant projects, past and current.
8. News clipping and awards?
9. Organization structure, ownership, and when founded?
10. What does “ZBS” mean as a consultant?
If a person does not possess this basic knowledge then chances are they are not real Business Consultants.
Please look for my next comments about branding your business. Meanwhile, ask yourself, are your business cards working as hard as they should for you?
"If you can't help me, get out of my way"
