Kent Barnett

Step back. Breathe. Take a walk. Take a mental health day. Assess yourself. Are you the problem? If so, I'd like to apologize and move forward or determine whether you are the right person. If not, and it's the client, look for a new client. Lousy behavior usually sticks to a company regardless of any changes. You can fire clients. I've seen too many good consultants bend over backward and still get treated horribly. If you have a case of 'golden handcuffs,' get a haircut. It's not worth it. Trust me. I kept going back, thinking I could change things. I ended up bitter and angry, and I realized the client wasn't changing. I could. I did. I don't look back, and neither should you.

Please don't do it. Target on your back. However, if you do, keep going. Be direct. Have closed-door meetings. Trust no one, seriously. The managerial positions at consulting firms: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. Be cautious. Your friends aren't your friends. Not anymore. You're the "man" or "woman." But if you do decide to take it, my advice is simple: Make yourself stone, be direct, and avoid making "Sweetheart" deals. They will backfire.

At some point, the universe wants you to be humbled. What were regular changes in one day, week, month, year, or decade? Please do one thing. Hunker down. Keep moving forward. Find out if it's you. If it is, could you change it? If an external event changes everything, remember that you are still living. My life changed when I was struck by a car in the middle of the crosswalk walking to work. I blamed the universe. My life was, and is, out of balance. I was angry. I'm still angry, not because of the accident, but what the accident did to me. I have PTSD. I break out in a cold sweat when I walk into an office. I find myself getting angry. I'm still here. I hunkered down. I made changes. I'm still here. Life is hard. Persevere. Breathe.

Never think your company is valuable if you take at least 300% of your perceived value. Unless you have connections, take your IBIDA and add 100%, then subtract 25%. You will then have a price to sell. Most entrepreneurs convince themselves that their business is 'special.' It is not. I like to be direct with everyone. Unless you have certain connections, your company may be worth ~$500,000. But, remember, most companies carry debt. Subtract that. If you have partners, assume that everyone gets an equal value of the overall total. Suddenly, P/E ratios and all things being equal, you may be better off slogging through a corporation that will pay about the same as your company's value. In the end, it's awash.

Consulting is different than any other experience. You are an employee if you are trying to impress a consulting firm. You become a cog in their wheel. It would be best if you realized this upfront. Most consulting firms have a cookie-cutter approach, and your ideas will not be at the top. If you agree, keep the conversation on achievements. Buff the resume to what job you want; if you haven't worked at a consulting firm before, don't be discouraged if you don't receive a call immediately. These companies tend to hire people who know the trade. Have a list of questions regarding their business practices, i.e., expect to travel, work in an office for five days, and have a bonus divided among the whole company.

Take a different strategy, especially if you've never done any strategy work. It's far from glamorous, especially when you get clients who are looking to change but rarely have the stomach for it. If you find someone who can mentor you in strategy, you'll succeed faster. Most importantly, Get an education in a field other than Business and marketing and then get an MBA. These things will establish a cornerstone for understanding how businesses run. (Notice. I did not state successful businesses.) It isn't necessary in today's higher education; it is in Business. There are so many moving parts, from finance, technology, marketing, and the core parts of the Business, and it takes years to understand how to drive strategy success. Good luck.