Make Money as a Consultant

We’re all going to die. And it’s scary. As I age, I become increasingly present to death. Here are a few ways to look at approach aging and death with grace and compassion.

This is Part 3 of a three-part series on time management, motivation, and slowing down to speed up.If you haven’t listened to Parts 1 and 2 yet, go back and start there. This episode builds directly on that foundation.In this final installment, I’m talking about the real reason time management feels so hard for so many people — and it has very little to do with your calendar.In an uncertain world, there are only a few things you actually control:Your thoughts.Your emotional state.Your actions (or inaction).And learning to work from that truth — instead of fighting reality — is the key to a fulfilling life and a deep sense of pride in how you spend your time.In this episode, I introduce a tool I call Mind Blocking.It’s designed to pair with time blocking — but instead of controlling your schedule, it helps you develop flexibility, awareness, and emotional resilience while you’re working. Mind Blocking is about noticing your thoughts in real time, separating from them, and intentionally shifting your inner experience so you can move forward with clarity and momentum.Because here’s what usually happens:You start working.Something goes wrong.A client pushes back.A ball gets dropped.You don’t hear back from a prospect.And suddenly your mind spirals into panic, frustration, self-doubt, or resentment — all while you’re still trying to get things done.This episode walks you through a 4-step Mind Blocking process that helps you stay in the observation deck of your own mind — so stress doesn’t hijack your focus, and momentum doesn’t collapse the moment things get uncomfortable.We’ll cover:How to decide who you want to be when it comes to follow-through and reliabilityHow to notice unhelpful thoughts while you’re working (without stopping)How to replace them intentionally in the moment — not laterHow to let those new thoughts shift your emotional state and build lasting capacityOver time, this practice compounds.Your confidence grows.Your capacity expands.Your relationship with time changes.You stop designing your life around your limits — and start becoming someone who can handle more with ease.This is how you slow down internally… and speed everything else up.Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

If you haven’t listened to Part 1, pause this episode and go back now. This is a two-part conversation, and the context matters.In Part 2, I’m talking about the moment most people get stuck: when you don’t feel like it. When motivation is low. When you’re tired, distracted, traveling, overwhelmed—or telling yourself this just isn’t the right time to push.I share a real example from being in Mexico and asking myself a hard question: Am I the kind of person who doesn’t want responsibility right now… or am I becoming the kind of person who can hold responsibility anywhere? That shift changed everything.This episode breaks down the difference between designing your life around your limitations versus becoming the version of yourself who can handle more—with less stress. Counterintuitively, it’s more exhausting to live a life of constant accommodation than it is to build capacity. When you slow down the right way, you actually speed everything up.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to move from “I don’t feel like it” to becoming someone who doesThe actions that create real momentum (not fake motivation)How your environment and mental “soundtrack” drive your productivityWhy procrastination isn’t a character flaw—it’s a solvable patternHow to stop negotiating with yourself and start following throughThis is about time management at a deeper level. Not hacks. Not tricks. Identity, momentum, and decision-making that compounds over time.Join Me Live This WednesdayI’m teaching a FREE live workshop this Wednesday where I’ll help you apply these ideas directly to your business—so you can create momentum, close more deals, and stop stalling out when it matters most.👉 Sign up here:https://coachdonohoe.com/live-workshop-registrationRoyalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

I used to think "time management" meant constantly optimizing my time and extracting every last minute of productivity out of myself.But this wasn't time management - it was self-punishment. Like running a military bootcamp in my head.And when you approach time and productivity through this lens, it ALWAYS ends in one of two ways: burnout or complete paralysis (or both).Here's what changed everything for me: I stopped treating time as a commodity to be optimized. I stopped treating myself like a machine. And I learned a human approach to managing my time.In this episode, I'm introducing the first of two tools that completely revolutionized my life - and how I think about time. This is how I've been able to accomplish more than I ever thought possible in business and in life, without burning out.This is part one of a two-part series. Episode 2 drops next week.If you've been struggling with productivity, overwhelm, or the constant feeling that there's never enough time - this episode will change how you work.Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

Have you ever held back from reaching out to someone because you were afraid they'd think you were using them?This fear slows down your momentum in sales and networking more than anything else.This week I'm teaching you 3 principles that will eradicate your insecurity and help you feel completely grounded while you network. This is how you network authentically without being salesy - so you never have to worry about whether someone thinks you're using them.When you get this right, you'll land clients quickly, grow your business, and feel great in the process.It's so much simpler than you think. I'm breaking it down step by step.Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

If you've ever stopped yourself from going after what you want, you're not alone. This is one of the most common struggles I see with talented, capable people - and once you understand why it happens, everything will make sense.You work hard, you're good at what you do, but when it's time to step into the spotlight - to be seen, to claim success, to own your authority - something stops you.The anxiety kicks in. You play it safe. You accommodate others. You convince yourself you need to follow someone else's rules instead of your own.And the reason why might surprise you - it's not what most people think.This isn't just uncomfortable - the cost is huge. You're earning a fraction of what you're capable of earning. And you're emotionally exhausted by your own anxiety. It's draining you.In this episode, I'm revealing why this happens and what you can do to solve it.I'm also sharing my personal journey from 2016 to today. Back then, I was so afraid of being seen that I couldn't even order a salad at a pizza restaurant because I didn't want my friends to think I was being difficult. I had to ask my husband to order it for me. That's how accommodating and small I had made myself.If you only know me as the bold version of myself that I am today, this story is going to shock you.I'm going to tell you exactly how I overcame it - and give you the exact steps for learning to jump into action. To submit the LinkedIn post. To send the email invitation. To make the offer to work with someone.This is true freedom in business - the comfort to play by your own rules and actually have the income and business you want.Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

I got bullied so badly as a gay kid that I decided the only way to survive was to be perfect at everything. School, sports, music - I would outperform everyone around me, always.This “survival mechanism” worked for decades. Until April of this year, when it nearly destroyed my business.I was facing repeated failure. My launches weren't hitting. My revenue was inconsistent. And my entire nervous system was screaming that if I couldn't be perfect, I wasn't loveable. So I had two choices: quit, or fundamentally change who I was.I chose to change. And what I discovered changed everything about how I approach motivation, resilience, and building a business that lasts.In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact process I used to sustain my motivation in the face of failure - without powering through or doing more. Because here's what most people get wrong: you can't fight a lack of motivation with more effort.You have to change the way you see yourself and what you're capable of. You have to build the capacity to feel unwanted emotions and have your own back, no matter what happens.I'm breaking down the 4-step process that allowed me to keep going when everything felt like it was falling apart - and how you can also follow it in your own business.If you've ever felt like quitting, or you're stuck in a cycle of perfectionism that's burning you out, this episode will show you the way forward.This is the foundation for everything I teach in my advanced workshop: The $250K Revenue EngineYou can't build a sustainable revenue engine without first building the internal capacity to handle setbacks, stay motivated, and keep showing up when results aren't immediate.In this workshop, we're going deep on both: the inner work of finding your purpose and the outer work of aligning your business to that purpose. This is about determining your personal and professional "why" - a vision powerful enough to sustain you through the inevitable challenges of building a business.If this episode resonates with you, this workshop will take you further.Register now at: https://coachdonohoe.com/revenue-engine-webinar-register Use discount code HOLIDAYMOMENTUM for 100% off at checkout.Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

What do you do when you sell different offers or services to completely different markets? Maybe you're an education consultant AND a parent advocacy coach. Or you offer strategic consulting to corporations while also coaching individual leaders. How do you build a business that serves both without burning out or confusing your audience?That's the exact situation my clients Kate and Paige were in. They run IEPractices - an education consultancy that serves schools and school districts with bespoke consulting engagements, while also serving parents and families with advocacy coaching. These are two entirely different buyers with completely different needs.In under 12 months, they've built a multi-six figure business selling to both markets. And in this episode, I'm interviewing them to break down exactly how they did it.This episode is perfect for independent consultants who sell multiple offers or services. We break it down into a simple process that will help you land clients consistently across different markets. So much of this comes down to building your audience of buyers and learning how to speak to those buyers - even when one is completely different from the other.If you're struggling to juggle multiple offers or wondering if it's even possible to serve different markets successfully, this conversation will show you the way.Ready to scale your revenue and impact?Join the waitlist for my advanced mastermind, GROW Independent – a 12-month program for building a predictable sales and marketing engine.Join the waitlist now at: https://www.chrisdonohoecoaching.com/growindependentRoyalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

The Simplest (But Scariest) Way to Make MoneyThe simplest way to make money in your business is also the one most people avoid.I see it all the time: incredibly smart, capable professionals who know they have something valuable to offer… but keep telling themselves they need more clarity before they can start selling.So they plan. They overthink.They try to design the perfect offer before ever talking to a real person.It feels responsible. It feels safe. But it’s quietly delaying their income — and eroding their confidence.In this episode, I’m breaking down the four traps that keep talented people from making money now — and showing you the three-step process for getting paid while you’re still getting clear.Because here’s the truth most people get wrong: You don’t get clear before you get paid.You get clear in the process of getting paid.I walk you through:Why “waiting until you’re ready” is costing you revenueThe 4 traps that keep people stuck in planning modeWhat to sell when you don’t think you have an offerWho to sell to when you don’t think you have an audienceWhy simplicity beats strategy at the startThe exact skills you actually need to land clients (and the ones you don’t)This is the same approach I used to start my business — and the same one I teach clients who want to stop delaying and start getting paid without burning themselves out.When you get this right, everything changes:Conversations turn into opportunitiesOpportunities turn into clientsClients turn into income — quickly and naturallyIt’s so much simpler than you think.And you can start right now._____Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery⁠ https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/⁠

Every decision comes with risk. The question is: which risk are you willing to tolerate, and why?There's the risk of betting on yourself - going all in, building something that's yours, and seeing what's possible.And there's the risk of going back - spending your days dedicated to someone else's business, constantly wondering if you should actually be working for yourself.Both are risks. But only one of them lets you build something that's truly yours.In this episode, I'm breaking down how to make this decision with clarity. Because here's what I've learned: most people aren't actually choosing between independence and a full-time job. They're hedging. Playing it safe. Saying yes to work that pays the bills but doesn't light them up. Spending time dreaming about the escape hatch back to corporate life.I'm asking you to be honest: have you really given independence the shot it deserves? Or have you been holding back?You don't have to commit your entire life to your business yet. But you do need to give yourself permission to go ALL IN for 12 months. To get the support you actually need. To replace your old salary and build something that's yours.It's time to go all in on your purpose and build a revenue engine to sustain it.If you're ready to stop hedging and start building, join me in my Advanced Mastermind, GROW Independent. This is a cohort of 10 professionals dedicating 1 full year to creating a business aligned to purpose and building the marketing and sales engine to sustain it.The doors are open NOW.Sign up here: https://coachdonohoe.com/grow-independent_________Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

Craig is a student from my advanced mastermind, GROW Independent. Seven months ago, he re-launched his coaching practice from scratch. Today, he's built an online sales and marketing engine that's more than doubled his monthly income - from $15k to $30k.Craig didn't just grow his revenue. He embraced an entirely new approach to marketing and selling that propelled his business and brand into a new level of authority, reach, and income. He went from inconsistent clients to predictable monthly revenue, all while building an audience that's hungry for his work.In this episode, I'm sitting down with Craig to unpack exactly how he did it - what's working, the specific strategies he implemented, and the obstacles he had to overcome to build the business of his dreams. If you're wondering what's actually possible when you commit to scaling, this conversation will show you.Ready to scale your revenue and impact?Join the waitlist for my advanced mastermind, GROW Independent – a 12-month program for building a predictable sales and marketing engine.Join the waitlist now at: https://www.chrisdonohoecoaching.com/growindependentRoyalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

To be successful as an independent professional, you need to be connected to what you truly want. Not just "making ends meet" - that's not inspiring enough to propel you through the hard parts. You need a real motivator, something that keeps you going when everyone else thinks your dream isn't viable.Here's what typically happens: you have a big idea - becoming a coach, building an online business, creating an audience of buyers, making a million dollars. You try, you fail, it starts to seem improbable. Other people don't see how it's viable. So you default into conventional wisdom and start gathering evidence for why it won't work.But you don't need a novel strategy, a new idea, or a perfect plan to get ahead. You just need to learn how to not quit or give up on your dreams.In this episode, I'm revealing the 5 Up-Levels - the "jump the curve" moments that separate you from the rest of the pack. These are capacities you can learn and practice. This is how you stop quitting on your dreams and start building the business and life you actually want.Ready to scale your revenue and impact?Join the waitlist for my advanced mastermind, GROW Independent – a 12-month program for building a predictable sales and marketing engine.Join the waitlist now at: https://www.chrisdonohoecoaching.com/growindependentRoyalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

Choosing Your Niche and AudienceMy approach to niching goes against conventional wisdom and what they teach in business school – which is exactly why it works.Niching is how you build true scale, create lasting legacy, and make great money while enjoying the process. But you've got to do it the right way.In this episode, I'm breaking down when to niche and how to do it in a way that propels your business forward. This is the key to moving from landing clients one by one to building a repeatable sales and marketing engine that generates more money and greater impact.I'm exploring the 3 factors that go into choosing your niche and audience, and revealing exactly what to expect in terms of effort required to jump the curve.Some people take a year to reinvent their business and grow their audience. Others see results in months. Either way, niching is absolutely worth it once you have the right blueprint for making the transition on your own terms.________Ready to scale your revenue and impact?Join the waitlist for my advanced mastermind, GROW Independent – a 12-month program for building a predictable sales and marketing engine.Join the waitlist now at: https://www.chrisdonohoecoaching.com/growindependent_______Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.comTrack: Urban Legend by Musical Bakeryhttps://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

Referrals will get your business off the ground. But if you want bigger opportunity, bigger impact, and bigger income — you’ll eventually need to sell online.The key is doing it the smart way — without burning yourself out posting nonstop or chasing vanity metrics.This week, I’m kicking off a 6-part advanced series on online marketing for consultants and coaches. In this episode, I’ll break down the 3 types of content that actually generate clients (not just likes)…and how to introduce them while still running your existing business.If you want a business that can grow without you working more hours, you won’t want to miss this one.-----------------💡 Join the waitlist for GROW Independenthttps://chrisdonohoecoaching.com/growindependentFor consultants who’ve made $20K+ in the last 12 months — spots are limited.Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.comTrack: Urban Legend by Musical Bakeryhttps://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

Here's why less talented people make more money (and what you can do about it)It used to baffle me how less talented people were making more money than me. I felt insecure and hopeless — like maybe they just had something that I never would. But then I learned what actually makes these people successful and how I could replicate it in an authentic way without feeling salesy or self promoting. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three traps that prevent talented people from making the money they deserve - and showing you exactly how to escape them. These traps are so common that you might not even realize you're caught in them right now.The truth is, your work won't speak for itself. Your credentials alone won't get you hired. And someone else being "more qualified" isn't why you're not landing clients.What you need is a blueprint for talking about your skills in a way that makes people say "we've got to work with you." And I’m sharing the blueprint in this episode: When you get this right, everything changes: You start spotting opportunities you would have missed beforeYour conversations turn into discovery calls, discovery calls turn into proposalsYour proposals turn into sales. This is how you’ll land clients quickly and naturally without being salesy. It’s how you’ll get predictability and stability in your income._____In this episode I also walk you through my Signature Program, Go Independent. It’s the best way to work with me. It’s where you’ll start applying the learnings from my podcast so you can land clients and make great money. For those of you who’ve been waiting for the chance to work with me, this is your moment! I’m walking you through the program structure and cost, then I offer a $500 discount to my subscribers. This reduces the cost of the program from $2400 to $1900. But act fast, because this is a limited time bonus.  If you're ready to start landing premium clients at the rates you deserve, claim your discount and sign up at the link below: https://www.chrisdonohoecoaching.com/iamready_____Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

Want to land your next $10K client as a consultant without burning out? I'm sharing the exact system I used to sell $2.5 million in consulting services - and it's the same system I now teach my clients.This isn't theory. This is the process that changed my life forever, and it's built on three pillars: the personal growth and mindset work, the strategy of finding and following mentors, and the tactical skills you need to course-correct with a coach and community.Here's what most people are missing: deal closing is a process, not a one-time decision. You need to understand your client's journey to "yes" - and that means getting into direct conversation with them instead of theorizing about their needs.When you understand this process, you'll be able to draft proposals that land, set prices confidently, get a "yes" quickly (instead of "we need to think about it"), handle objections when they arise, and set the stage for powerful delivery that leads to extensions and referrals.In this episode, I'm breaking down the system I teach in my Go Independent program - including client communications, 360 discovery, custom proposals, responsive pricing, and handling objections. This is how you build a thriving consulting business that doesn't burn you out.Enrollment for Go Independent is open NOW through Friday, October 24, 2025 at 11:59pm ET.During the enrollment window I'm offering a special discount to my podcast listeners when you join using the link and discount code below:www.chrisdonohoecoaching.com/work-with-me-2024Discount code: SHOWME400_______Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

Your problem isn’t what you think it is. Clients don’t ghost you because your prices are too high—they disappear because they’re disconnected from the work that needs to get done. They don’t understand why it matters or the stakes of waiting. Your job is to reconnect them—to make saying “yes” to you mean saying “yes” to their goals.In this episode, I walk you through the art and simplicity of turning ghosting into commitment. I’ll teach you exactly how to prompt clients to engage, ask the right questions that shift their perspective, and stop discount requests before they even begin. Use this playbook to double your close rate without adding more work or selling every hour.If you want deeper support in confidently pricing, join me at my upcoming FREE pricing workshop on October 25, 2025. Register here → https://coachdonohoe.com/live-pricing-workshop-registration-october25Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.comTrack: Urban Legend by Musical Bakeryhttps://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

You can land high-paying clients without begging for work or using people. It's simpler than you think, and I'll teach you exactly how. Nobody wants to feel like they're begging or using others to get ahead. But when you need to make money, it's hard not to come across that way - especially when you're networking or reaching out to potential clients, past colleagues, or other important people in your network.Here's what most people get wrong about sales: they think it's about pitching, convincing, and talking about themselves. But great sales is actually about listening, helping, and staying focused on the other person - not yourself.This week I'm breaking down the 3 sales essentials to selling without seeming desperate or like you're using people. When you understand these essentials, you'll be able to land your next high-ticket client in a way that feels authentic to you and good for them.This is what it means to serve others through sales - which is exactly what makes it authentic and not salesy.If you're asking questions like "should I raise my rates?" or "how do I land clients who value my talent and don't ask for discounts?" - join me for my next FREE workshop on October 22, 2025.Sign up at: https://coachdonohoe.com/live-pricing-workshop-registration-october25Don't wait! Snag your spot now, and I'll see you on October 22._______Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

Two clients came to me this week with the exact same question but completely different problems: one raised her rates and is wondering if they're too high, while the other is comparing herself to competitors and wondering if her rates are too low. If you have any doubts about your pricing (or your ability to charge what you’re worth), this episode is for you.  I'm breaking down the two questions you need to ask yourself to know when it's time to raise your rates. The first one will challenge everything you think you know about pricing - it's not really about the rates at all, it's about your entire financial picture and the version of yourself that can command higher fees.The second question is simpler but might surprise you: we tend to think we're doing something wrong with our pricing when people keep asking for more of our time. But this is usually a sign that you’re on the right path.This is about more than pricing - you're learning the skills to sell yourself in any market, walk into any room, and land sales no matter what's happening in the economy._____Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/

Here's something that might surprise you: a lot of buyers are actually turned off by low prices. Sales psychology works in ways that seem backwards - some people assume something is better when it costs more and worse when it costs less.This is great news if you're a consultant or coach who's great at what you do, because you've already got the hard part down. Now you just need to learn how to price your services correctly.You might think that discounts and lower rates will make it easier to sell, but the opposite is often true. You end up turning off your best buyers - the ones who are used to paying premium rates for premium services and know quality when they see it.Rather than guess at your pricing, you can know with certainty that you've got the right price identified. This is exactly what I'll be teaching at my Pricing Workshop tomorrow.Sign up at: https://coachdonohoe.com/live-pricing-workshop-registration-page Use code PRICINGVIP for free admission at checkout.Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: Urban Legend by Musical Bakery https://tunetank.com/track/3362-urban-legend/