Considering consulting - What do I need?

[qualitytrec]

Hi all,
As some of you know I am about to start doing church work in Utah. We are anxious to get out there and get started. We only have a small fraction of the support (24%) needed to get out there and live so I am considering taking up consulting to make up the difference. What I am wondering is do you think I need one (some) of the asq or other certificates or should i be fine with my current experience? My experience includes getting a small gage house registered to QS9000/TE Sup. and getting a small stamper ready for (and hopefully registered before I leave for Utah) ISO 9000:2000. I have done CMM Layout, Process problem solving, worked in metal stamping, assembly and sequencing, tool making and repair, gage making, machining, etc...
If ASQ which Cert(s) should I go after?
Or is there some other course(s) that I should consider?
Mark

[Randy]

Mark I'll be as honest as I can and my friends here will back me up.

It most likely ain't gonna happen. You can hang out your shingle, but unless you bring a whole bunch to the table you'll go hungry. I've been down that road and so have many others here. You may be able to get some "piece" work, but don't set your sights on any big payoff unless your real lucky.

You can have all the "certs" in the world and a great smile, but what will sell you to most is being able to answer "What can you give me that the other guy can't" and to paraphrase the line from Jerry McGuire "Show me the money" meaning show me what you have done for someone else.

Answer this...Are you willing right now to sit 10-12 hours per day, every day, for 3, 4, 6 months without so much as a nibble, making phone calls, sending faxes, writing letters, selling yourself as the hottest commodity on the market?

I'm gonna go slightly here....

Focus on getting your support during your "Deputation". If you are truly called you don't need to make up the difference. The flowers are still clothed better than Solomon at his finest and the birds are still eating.

[AllanJ]

Originally Posted by Markasmith

Hi all,
As some of you know I am about to start doing church work in Utah. We are anxious to get out there and get started. We only have a small fraction of the support (24%) needed to get out there and live so I am considering taking up consulting to make up the difference. What I am wondering is do you think I need one (some) of the asq or other certificates or should i be fine with my current experience? My experience includes getting a small gage house registered to QS9000/TE Sup. and getting a small stamper ready for (and hopefully registered before I leave for Utah) ISO 9000:2000. I have done CMM Layout, Process problem solving, worked in metal stamping, assembly and sequencing, tool making and repair, gage making, machining, etc...
If ASQ which Cert(s) should I go after?
Or is there some other course(s) that I should consider?
Mark

I will fully support Randy's remarks.

With the grace of God, I have been fortunate enough as a consultant, though I never planned on being one when I first entered industry. However, anecdotal feedback from countless people I have met around the world leads me to advise anyone the odds of success are stacked against you. Just look at the common perception of consultants in many of the Cove's threads: in general we have a bad name. Yet, years ago, that was not the case. A consultant was, back when, a true master in his/ her filed who could bring something to the client's table. He/ she operated a franchise.

Over the last 15 years or so, especially in the Quality field, consulting is now, generally, a commodity because many people who were shaken out by their employers decided to put up their shingle. Sadly, a lot of these people were the deadwood and drones having little to offer - they got consulting a bad name. And a number of large firms whose antics are well documented, being more concerned with unprofessional billings than with professional briefs screwed corporations- large and small - have exacerbated the problem.

For the same reasons, I do not publicly offer my own training courses - training, too, is seen as a commodity and the quality of most "quality" training on the market is "urine poor". The Covers know that. I do not wish to be associated with that general market place, as I wish to protect my name and reputation.

Under present day circumstances, I would not make the same decision I did in mid-August 1983 and become a consultant: I would remain an employee.

Your email suggests you are entering the field for the wrong reasons. And I would urge you to look at your own Cove slogan and ask yourself, "Am I?"

[qualitytrec]

Thanks Allen and Randy. Believe it or not that is what I wanted and needed to hear. Thanks for being blunt and honest.

Mark

[howste]

Besides, you don't want to have to compete with me.

Where in Utah will you be? Anything I can do to help, let me know...

[qualitytrec]

Originally Posted by howste

Besides, you don't want to have to compete with me.

Where in Utah will you be? Anything I can do to help, let me know...

Oh, I am not giving it up as an option yet. But it is good to be reminded it will not be a cake walk either. Besides maybe you will need some good help.
We will be in either Tooele or Herriman to start ( or both).
Half done with sorting. Time to eat.
Mark

[howste]

Originally Posted by Markasmith

We will be in either Tooele or Herriman to start ( or both).

There's a mountain between Tooele and Herriman, so it may be difficult to be in both at the same time.

If we need some help, we may give you a call.

[qualitytrec]

Originally Posted by howste

There's a mountain between Tooele and Herriman, so it may be difficult to be in both at the same time.

If we need some help, we may give you a call.

I do know that. I grew up in Salt Lake on 9th E. and 13th So. about a block up from Hale's Bakery. The hood has changed a bit since then.
We have been plannning on starting in Herriman but just yesterday received a call from a plant in Tooele that wants our help to get it up and going. My ministry supervisor had them call me. I think I am just dumb enough to try to do both at the same time . Not sure where we would live though (maybe on the mountain. Do you think we could shack in the copper mine or maybe in the military grounds. Just not sure). Herriman is quite expensive compared to our current housing . Tooele being a bedroom community might be a little harder to get on track. Where should we spend our time more? Still praying about all this and it is getting clearer but more complex as we go. ( doesn't it always though)
By the way if you are serious about that "if you need help" thing it may be an option. We will not need much as we are almost fully out of debt, so part time once in a while for extras would be nice. Just so you know.

Mark

I realize this is all way off topic but lets take it a little further. Do you know where we can get some good free pictures of the Salt Lake Area that we can use in our display as we speak to churches and friends?