Over the years I’ve had a lot of experience with good and not-so-good clients and investments. If you’re considering starting a working relationship with me, here are a few things to consider:

  1. I’m not Father Christmas. Some clients expect results instantly, as a result of my mere presence.  It simply doesn’t work like that.
  2. Results come from implementation. I can talk till the cows come home, and write all the reports you like, but if nothing gets implemented, nothing will change.
  3. If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got. The reason my work is needed is because firms’ existing practices aren’t working.  Change can be painful and hard, but it’s needed.  Organisations that don’t have the courage to change will stay on the wrong path.
  4. Success requires investment. I can’t deliver outstanding results without the support of the team.  My work needs to be implemented by coders, designers, etc., all of whom need paying.  Firms that refuse to invest in delivering change don’t get the change and therefore don’t get the benefits.
  5. I don’t know everything. The route to success is particular to your industry, your firm, and the exact time you’re working.  I don’t walk through your door with all the answers – but I do have a process which is fairly reliable at finding a good proportion of the answers you need.
  6. Trial and error is required. There’s an 80:20 rule in consultancy.  I’d like to hope that 80% of my recommendations will be an improvement, and only 20% get junked.  But if you prepare to have 20% succeed and junk 80% of what you try, you’ll have the right mindset to embrace the process of change.
  7. Generosity is reciprocated.  I always go the extra mile for my clients, and my timesheets only record a proportion of the work that’s actually been done.  Occasionally, I get a client who tries to pick over my bill, trying to save a quarter-hour here and there.  This is pretty undignified, and never results in a better deal in the long term, as I just become more careful with my billing.

Hopefully these will help set the right expectations for any future relationship.