DYIC: Discover Your Inner Consultant – Part 1

"YOUR NICHE"

Step 1 of the DYIC approach is to clarify the exact field in which you want to consult. It can be from your career background, such as being a teacher, engineer or a chemist. It can be from your passion or social cause, such as fundraising or music. It can even be from your favorite hobby. The key is, it must be a topic, field, industry, or discipline in which you are VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, preferably an expert (or well on your way to becoming one).

Equally important is to find the exact subject within your field on which you will focus. For instance, “Marketing Consultant” is too broad. “Marketing Consultant who specializes in working with New Car Dealers” is much narrower in focus. This is called finding your niche within your field or industry. The more unique it is, the easier it will be to establish yourself as a valuable expert.

Finally, it must be an area or topic for which people will pay money for your expertise. Sometimes this is immediately clear but occasionally can be challenging because our human nature can lead us to be very focused on or passionate about something that we feel is highly important but others don't see it the same way. We will discuss ways to test your marketing plan in a later post.

If it is not already clear to you exactly what your niche is, here are some techniques that will help you focus:

• Your major in college and/or the career area in which you have the most years of experience

• One aspect of your life or career where you have won an award or been highly recognized

• The topic on which people consistently ask your advice or expertise

• The one area that you -- and all those around you -- know to be your true passion

In a later post, we will talk about the importance of having, or getting, credentials and credibility in your niche of the consulting market.

In closing, remember that you can access the coaching services of TGG on a fractional basis as needed. Check back soon for our next installment in the DYIC series.