Million Dollar Consulting (TM) Toolkit: Step-By-Step Guidance, Checklists, Templates and Samples from "The Million Dollar Consultant" [Paperback]

Alan Weiss (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471740276 | ISBN-13: 978-0471740278 | Publication Date: November 4, 2005 | Edition: 1

The practical toolbox for readers of Million Dollar Consulting

This useful guide provides specific checklists, guidelines, templates, and actual examples for every step of the consulting process. It covers marketing, sales, meetings, implementation, follow-up, invoicing, practice management, insurance, equipment, subcontracting, and scores of other elements. Thousands of people have bought Weiss's Million Dollar Consulting and started their own consultancy. Now, this handy resource goes hand-in-hand to provide all the tools new consultants need to enact all the recommendations and ideas in Million Dollar Consulting.

Alan Weiss, PhD (East Greenwich, RI), has consulted for hundreds of organizations around the world, including Mercedes-Benz, Hewlett-Packard, Merck, Chase, American Press Institute, and the Times-Mirror Group. He is the author of 12 books, including Getting Started in Consulting (0-471-47969-1) and Organizational Consulting (0-471-26378-8).

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The essential resource for beginning consultants

Alan Weiss is one of the most successful consultants in the world. Through his popular books on the subject—including Million Dollar ConsultingTM and Getting Started in Consulting—he has helped thousands of people start and run their own successful consulting businesses.

Now, with Million Dollar ConsultingTM Toolkit, Weiss provides a one-of-a-kind resource that goes hand in hand with his own books—or any other guide to starting your own consultancy. This handy kit is packed with flexible, customizable tools for implementing all the recommendations and ideas you'll find in Weiss's other books. It offers a wide range of options, so you can pick what's right for you and succeed on your own terms.

Inside, you'll find checklists, guidelines, forms, templates, examples, suggested reading material, and other helpful resources that cover virtually every aspect of your consultancy, including:

• Managing your office or home practice
• Marketing and selling your services
• Traveling for business
• Managing your own Web site
• Balancing life and work
• Delivering projects on time and on budget
• Dealing with financial and legal considerations
• Finding new leads and repeat business
• And much more!

The tools and tips in this book will save you time and money, and help you maximize your profits. Packed with expert advice from a successful consultant and unbeatable tools you won't find anywhere else, Million Dollar ConsultingTM Toolkit gives you everything you need to stop dreaming about your own practice and start practicing it.

About the Author

ALAN WEISS, PhD, has consulted for hundreds of organizations around the world, including Mercedes-Benz, Hewlett-Packard, Merck, JPMorgan Chase, American Press Institute, and the Times-Mirror Group. He is the author of twenty-four books published in seven languages, including Getting Started in Consulting and Organizational Consulting, both from Wiley.

Product Details

• Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (November 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471740276
• ISBN-13: 978-0471740278
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alan Weiss: Biographical Sketch

Alan Weiss is one of those rare people who can say he is a consultant, speaker and author and mean it. His consulting firm, Summit Consulting Group, Inc. has attracted clients such as Merck, Hewlett-Packard, GE, Mercedes-Benz, State Street Corporation, Times Mirror Group, The Federal Reserve, The New York Times, and over 400 other leading organizations. He serves on the boards of directors of the Trinity Repertory Company, a Tony-Award-winning New England regional theater, and the Newport International Film Festival.
His speaking typically includes 30 keynotes a year at major conferences, and he has been a visiting faculty member at Case Western Reserve University, Boston College, Tufts, St. John's, the University of Illinois, the Institute of Management Studies, and the University of Georgia Graduate School of Business. He has held an appointment as adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Business at the University of Rhode Island where he taught courses on advanced management and consulting skills. He holds the record for selling out the highest priced workshop (on entrepreneurialism) in the 21-year history of New York City's Learning Annex. His Ph.D. is in psychology and he is a member of the American Psychological Society, the American Counseling Association, Division 13 of the American Psychological Association, and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. He was recently appointed to the Board of Governors of Harvard University's Center for Mental Illness and the Media. He has keynoted for the American Psychological Association on two occasions.
He is a 2006 inductee into the Professional Speaking Hall of Fame' and the concurrent recipient of the National Speakers Association Council of Peers Award of Excellence, representing the top 1% of professional speakers in the world
His prolific publishing includes over 500 articles and 25 books, including his best-seller, Million Dollar Consulting (from McGraw-Hill). His newest is The Million Dollar Consulting' Toolkit. His books have been on the curricula at Villanova, Temple University, and the Wharton School of Business, and have been translated into German, Italian, Arabic, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese.


He is interviewed and quoted frequently in the media, and is an active member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. His career has taken him to 54 countries and 49 states. (He is afraid to go to North Dakota.) Success Magazine has cited him in an editorial devoted to his work as 'a worldwide expert in executive education.' The New York Post calls him 'one of the most highly regarded independent consultants in America.' He is the winner of the prestigious Axiem Award for Excellence in Audio Presentation.
In 2006 he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the American Press Institute, the first-ever for a non-journalist, and one of only seven awarded in the 60-year history of the association.
He has coached the former and present Miss Rhode Island/Miss America candidates in interviewing skills.
He once appeared on the popular American TV game show Jeopardy, where he lost badly in the first round to a dancing waiter from Iowa.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some good Guidance but not a Toolkit, July 1, 2006

By 

Annette Bossler (Maine, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Million Dollar Consulting (TM) Toolkit: Step-By-Step Guidance, Checklists, Templates and Samples from "The Million Dollar Consultant" (Paperback)

This book gives some very good guidance , especially regarding insurance required for consultants, writing proposals and follow up.
If you plan to make a living by writing and giving speeches, then this book is also for you. If you are maybe in IT or Logistics and need help to e.g. write client proposals or follow up with clients, this book offers excellent advice.
However, if you are expecting this book to cover all the basics you need to know to start or grow your business, it falls short of its title. This book is definitely not a tool kit. Examples:
a) The equipment checklist is technically outdated. Apart from the fact that we are in the age of CD & DVD burners, the biggest oversight is the lack of mentioning the need for data backup facilities.
b) The section on finances is very 'thin' and only gives very top level information. You are much better off buying a separate book on this subject such as 'Self-Employed Tax Solutions' by June Walker.
c) The section on forms also covers a bare minimum. The expense form example on page 96 does e.g. not include a column for phone charges.

As examples for various forms, websites etc. Alan Weiss constantly refers to himself rather than making up some alternative examples. You can either see that as giving a successful example or pure self promotion.
Overall a useful book as long as you take some of this recommendations with a grain of salt. A title such as 'Writing Successful Client Proposals' would be more appropriate though.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lifetime of knowledge and systems to boost your business!, November 26, 2005

By 

G. Ronning (Edmonds, Wa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Million Dollar Consulting (TM) Toolkit: Step-By-Step Guidance, Checklists, Templates and Samples from "The Million Dollar Consultant" (Paperback)

I think this book the Million Dollar Consulting Toolkit may get passed over by some of you because of its simple nature, but I can assure you that anyone that gets this book and applies the methodologies inside will be years ahead and stand head and shoulders above your competitors.

Want to know how to write a book? It is inside. Want to know how to write an article quickly? It is here. (BTW, I still use Alan's article writing system three times a week - so I know how valuable it is and I also used his book writing methodology). Want to know how to invest? It is here. Want to put together a "Alan Weiss Razor Sharp" presentation? It's here.

I could on and on, the bottomline is this is the foundation of everything I have ever heard Alan say during our mentoring sessions, teach during his presentations or write. I cannot imagine a more impactful book for anyone.

But again I think it may get overlooked, that is all the better for us smart enough to pick it up.

I give this a 5 out of 5 stars.

Geoff

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for beginner consultants, June 21, 2007

By 

Chanelle Carver "Chanelle Carver, Owner and C... (New York, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Million Dollar Consulting (TM) Toolkit: Step-By-Step Guidance, Checklists, Templates and Samples from "The Million Dollar Consultant" (Paperback)

This book is an excellent resource for consultants who are new to the field. Today, I have landed my first client using Alan Weiss' practical tips for success. I find the sample templates for proposals a great value as I learn what works best for me and what doesn't. I plan to use this book as a reference guide as I continue to grow my practice. I'd encourage you to purchase this book and use it to its full capability. Use this book along with others to build your library of useful resources. Great book!

Thanks Alan!