[brudgers]

Consulting depends on the depth and quality and relevance of the consultants professional network. The measurement of each of those is "do they lead to good consulting gigs that pay well?" And by 'pay well' I mean that the checks come quickly and clear and are large. Generally speaking, nothing else matters.

The idea that consulting is working for one's self can be a bit misunderstood. Yes, a consultant works for themselves in the sense that they don't get twenty paid vacation days a year and an iPhone with unlimited data and subsidized health insurance. But a consultant works for their clients and does what they want and has no bureaucratic excuses for not doing so. When the client likes green, it's green or something better and when the client likes ponies, it's a pony or something better. And here the only measure of something better is by the client and the consultant is responsible for showing them the thing they think the client might find better and the consultant has to live with all those times that the client still wants a green pony.

My random advice from the internet is don't quit a day job until the contracts are signed and retainer checks have cleared.

Good luck.

[drogonmead]

Thanks very much.