Consulting Success Podcast

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today!  www.consultingsuccess.com/growMentioned in this episode:Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

The fastest way to win more deals as a consultant is to stop trying to win every deal. Now, I know that sounds counterintuitive, but my guest today, Cliff, has built a multimillion-dollar firm with just three people by mastering this exact principle of radical honesty. And right up front, you're going to get the single most powerful, self-fulfilling prophecy for any consultant, and that is the mindset of working like you don't need the money. I know it might sound easier said than done, but you need to check out this episode for a look inside.Throughout our conversation, we're going to break down Cliff's entire business model, how he provides a free service, yet generates millions in revenue. We're going to get specific about his playbook for client acquisition, including his number one channel for finding high-quality leads. And we're going to go deep on the psychology of high-stakes deals, how to diagnose and dismantle a buyer's fear, and why the real obstacle is almost never what they say it is. This is a masterclass in building a lean, profitable, and powerfully authentic consulting practice. Enjoy.Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.Before we dive into today's episode. Are you ready to grow and take your consulting business to the next level? Many of the clients that we work with started as podcast listeners just like you, and a consistent theme they have shared with us is that they wished they had reached out sooner about our Clarity Coaching Program rather than waiting for that perfect time. If you're interested in learning more about how we help consultants just like you, we're offering a free, no pressure growth session call. On this call, we're going to dive deep into your goals, challenges and situation and outline a plan that is tailor made just for you. We will also help you identify where you may be making costly and time consuming mistakes to ensure you're benefiting from the proven methods and strategies to grow your consulting business. So don't wait years to find clarity. If you're committed and serious about reaching a new level of success in your consulting business, go ahead and schedule your free growth session. Get in touch today. Just visit Consulting Success - Grow to book your free call today.Cliff Nonnenmacher is a veteran franchise expert who seems to spend more time talking people out of franchising than into it. With decades of experience as an owner, operator, and franchisor, coupled with a highly successful background on Wall Street, he provides direct, honest guidance as part of his mission to help executives build generational wealth and diversify portfolios through the right franchise opportunities. Cliff has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and CBS MoneyWatch.Connect with Cliff NonnenmacherDiscover more about FranocityMentioned in this episode:Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized...

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today!  www.consultingsuccess.com/growMentioned in this episode:Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/coaching-for-consultantsDouble Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

What if your biggest competitor could be your greatest ally? This week, Michael is joined by Liselle Regueiro DeGrave of DeGrave Communications and Rachel Dickman of RMG Communications, two PR firm owners who have thrown out the traditional rulebook. Instead of merging or competing, they operate under a unique model they call "collabetition," running their own successful firms while strategically collaborating on major projects. They share their individual journeys from the burnout of corporate and government work to the freedom of entrepreneurship, and how a decade-long professional relationship built on trust became the foundation for their innovative partnership.Liselle and Rachel get into the nuts and bolts of how they make this unconventional model work. They reveal that by maintaining separate companies, they lower their financial risk and retain their unique brand identities, all while presenting a united, more powerful front to clients. This approach transforms the high-stakes, often cutthroat, world of government RFPs into a win-win scenario. They detail their process for jointly evaluating opportunities, leveraging their combined networks, and sharing costs and profits, proving that true collaboration can create a pie big enough for everyone. They also discuss the nuances of value-based pricing, navigating complex hiring laws like California’s AB5, and the critical importance of outsourcing to reclaim time and focus on growth.In this episode, you will learn about:The "collabetition" model for flexible, low-risk growth.The key to making business collaborations work.How to structure joint proposals and share profits.How to qualify government contracts and avoid wasting time.How to price for value, not just billable hours.Navigating tricky hiring laws (like CA's AB5) when scaling.Why outsourcing is crucial for buying back your time.Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.Before we dive into today's episode. Are you ready to grow and take your consulting business to the next level? Many of the clients that we work with started as podcast listeners just like you, and a consistent theme they have shared with us is that they wished they had reached out sooner about our Clarity Coaching Program rather than waiting for that perfect time. If you're interested in learning more about how we help consultants just like you, we're offering a free, no pressure growth session call. On this call, we're going to dive deep into your goals, challenges and situation and outline a plan that is tailor made just for you. We will also help you identify where you may be making costly and time consuming mistakes to ensure you're benefiting from the proven methods and strategies to grow your consulting business. So don't wait years to find clarity. If you're committed and serious about reaching a new level of success in your consulting business, go ahead and schedule your free growth session. Get in touch today. Just visit Consulting Success - Grow to book your free call today.Liselle Regueiro DeGrave is the President and Owner of DeGrave Communications. With nearly 20 years of experience blending in-house and...

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today!  www.consultingsuccess.com/growMentioned in this episode:Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/growGet Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Welcome back to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm Michael Zipursky, and today, we are continuing our exploration into a force that's not just changing how businesses operate, but really how we as consultants need to think and adapt. And yes, that is AI - artificial intelligence. I'm pleased to say that we have Michel Fortin joining us again. Our last conversation on AI, I know, was valuable and helpful, insightful maybe. So we're going to pick up where we left off. We're going to explore some new ground. We're going to look at, you know, how all this applies to you as a consultant or in the world of consulting.And just to reiterate a point that I think is really important, we're not suggesting that you as a consultant need to become an AI specialist. That's not the goal, but what we do believe is that every single consultant needs to get a handle on what AI is, what AI can do, how it's going to affect your work, how it's going to impact your clients and the marketplace and the landscape that they work in. So from content creation to streamlining your operations and beyond in terms of your client and the industries that you serve, today we're going to get into some really interesting areas. We're going to start by looking back at an idea from John Naisbitt when he talked about this concept of "high tech, high touch" and then see how it mirrors what's actually happening today in AI. And then as technology, right, becomes more advanced, what does it actually mean for our need for genuine human connection? And then we're going to talk about how AI is shifting the goalposts for things like trust and authority, especially when it comes to the content that we create. And Michel has some thoughts on how Google's E-A-T - so that's E-A-T - that framework of expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, is evolving into what he calls E-A-T 2.0, which stands for empathy, authenticity, and transparency. So we're going to unpack that and what it means for consultants. And as always, we want to make this very practical. So how can you use AI to be more efficient? And how can you actually use this to be more effective in your consulting work? How do these blend together, right? These powerful tools, how can you use that in your own unique way, and how can you bring the human experience? How can you bring in and leverage AI within your area of expertise, regardless of where that is and where in the world that you are and the work that you do? So if you're looking to get a clear picture on how to navigate the AI landscape and position your consulting practice for the future, then you're in the right place. Mentioned in this episode:Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/growGet Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today!  www.consultingsuccess.com/growMentioned in this episode:Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/coaching-for-consultantsDouble Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Ever made a costly mistake in a startup? David Hirschfeld, founder of the 17-year-strong custom software firm Tekyz, turned his "startup scars" into SaaS stardom. He shares the brutal honesty of a past venture hitting a wall and how that forged his unshakeable belief in rigorous client qualification. Discover his 5-minute method to identify serious prospects, why not charging from day one can be fatal, and how Tekyz is riding the AI wave to deliver massive client value. If you're building a tech business or consulting with startups/scale-ups, David's hard-won lessons are pure gold!📢 In This Episode, You’ll Discover:✅ The critical misstep of not charging clients from day one in a past startup and why delaying charges can doom a new venture.✅ David's 5-minute technique to qualify serious clients, uncover their actual budget, and avoid costly, misaligned projects.✅ How Tekyz leverages AI for incredible efficiency, cutting project estimate times by 30% and enhancing client value.Mentioned in this episode:Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/coaching-for-consultantsDouble Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today!  www.consultingsuccess.com/growMentioned in this episode:Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/coaching-for-consultantsDouble Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Is AI coming for your consulting gig or is it the sharp new tool that could actually give you an edge? Today, Michael chats with Michel Fortin, Head of Growth at Consulting Success, and they get real about all this AI buzz. Michel has seen plenty, working with big-league companies on their tech, seven-, eight-figure outfits. He believes the whole "AI will replace consultants" thing is probably overblown, but - and it's a big but - consultants just sticking their heads in the sand about AI might be in for a rude awakening sooner than they think.Michel and Michael really break down this idea. It's not about AI wiping out consulting altogether, it's more about AI sidelining the consultants who don't get with the program. They talk about that human touch - the creative leaps, understanding people’s messy problems. AI isn't there yet, not even close, but here’s the kicker: thinking AI is just some passing trend is a really bad idea - you could get left in the dust. Michel puts it plainly: "AI will not replace consultants; consultants who know AI will replace consultants." Simple as that.In this episode you will learn about:Why your human smarts and intuition are still gold, and how AI is here to reshape consulting, not scrap it.The real pitfall: not AI itself, but consultants sleeping on how quick AI is changing the game.Using AI smartly across your business – from finding clients to getting work done.The big shift: treating AI like a new team member for faster turnarounds and sharper results.Working through AI's blips and quirks with steady, clear feedback.The RACES method for getting AI to give you what you actually want, plus using AI to fine tune your requests.Figuring out AI’s ripple effects – for your clients and for your own consulting shop.Keeping your practice ahead of the curve with guidance like that offered in Clarity Coaching.Mentioned in this episode:Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/growGet Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/coaching-for-consultants

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today!  www.consultingsuccess.com/growMentioned in this episode:Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

How does a seasoned corporate lawyer and former General Counsel for a global foundation transition from a world of high-stakes legal and philanthropic work to building a specialized social impact consulting firm - all while initially harboring deep skepticism about the consulting industry itself? Scott Curran, Founder and CEO of Beyond Advisers, shares his nine-year journey from in-house counsel, where he saw many consultant relationships go awry, to creating a thriving practice that now operates almost entirely on retainer and 100% through word-of-mouth referrals.Scott reveals the pivotal moments and mindset shifts that propelled him forward, from confronting imposter syndrome to his early client acquisition strategy of scheduling daily breakfasts, coffees, and lunches for two straight weeks. He emphasizes the foundational lesson learned: "The most important thing I learned is to not overlook the importance of the beginner's mindset of your client... meet your clients where they are." Today, Scott breaks down his path, from the initial $2,500 project to developing a high-value, retainer-based model, and why "simplicity is at the core of everything I do."In this episode you will learn about:Scott’s move from corporate law/philanthropy to social impact consultingThe power of an "exquisite statement of work" and clear deliverablesOvercoming imposter syndrome: assessing risks, seeking advice, and planningScott’s 30-meeting networking strategy for early client acquisitionIdentifying the market gap for "fractional General Counsel" servicesBuilding a business on 100% word-of-mouth referrals over a decadeEvolving pricing: from a $2,500 first project to high-value retainersStructuring retainers with clear opt-out clauses to build trustChoosing fewer, higher-retainer clients over scaling into a large agencyBuilding a flexible team: core principals and "plug and play" specialistsLeveraging AI for research, like "Google on steroids."The value of a "beginner's mindset" for deeper client relationshipsMentioned in this episode:Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today!  www.consultingsuccess.com/growMentioned in this episode:Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/grow Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

How does a consultant transition from building digital products to establishing a specialized operations consulting firm, growing it to a 15-person team without ever running a single advertisement? Garrett Delph, Founder and CEO of Clarity Ops, shares his journey into the complex world of operational efficiency, where he helps fast-growth companies ($15M+ revenue, 75-100+ employees) tackle waste, inefficiency, and bloat to reorganize for scale and growth.Garrett reveals the foundational belief that "you can only build as high as you dig deep," using a powerful skyscraper analogy to emphasize the critical importance of a solid operational engine for any business aiming to truly win. He explains, "Everything in a business is made up of people, process, and performance... it's all ops." Today, Garrett details his path, from early mistakes with client selection to developing robust qualification processes and multi-tiered pricing models, all while maintaining a commitment to authentic, value-driven client engagement.Mentioned in this episode:Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/grow Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today!  www.consultingsuccess.com/growMentioned in this episode:Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/growGet Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/grow