Hi! I'm Jennifer Leake, consultant/owner of Assessment Pros LLC and Founder of Consultants Gold, Inc. I'm also a speaker, trainer and writer. Business Consulting Buzz – Featured Consultant
Here's My Story:
In 1990, I stepped away from a successful career as a Regional Director, Sales Manager and Trainer to take on a new role: solopreneur.
When I launched Assessment Pros, I faced all the challenges of being a new consultant, just like you. I quickly realized that no matter what other skills and talents I might excel at, the success of my new business depended primarily on one factor – my ability to find and sign new clients.
I concentrated on developing that skill, and was able to grow Assessment Pros into a profitable start-up. But just as I was beginning to feel established, fate took a turn. My husband was transferred to another state and I was forced to relocate to a new city where I had no established connections. After 2 years of hard work getting established, I was again a start-up.
So I used what I learned in my first start-up, re-established Assessment Pros and once again built a profitable consulting practice. And once again, I found had to move.
The saying goes that the third time's the charm, and indeed, in my third start-up with Assessment Pros, I discovered I'd become an expert at quickly building up a client base from scratch. Moving so often forced me to excel at networking. I learned to walk into any new territory, pick up the phone, start introducing myself to people and begin building relationships.
Since 2008, I have read about and seen a shift in the workforce. Baby boomers will retire at a faster rate than the younger workforce can fill the need for labor, knowledge and experience. Businesses will have an increased need for consultants to help fill this void. The consulting profession is in demand and poised to grow.
Then why do so many self-employed consultants go out of business? People who are intelligent, skilled consultants that have so much to offer their clients. They don't know how to grow their client base. And when you're a self-employed consultant, every day you go without finding a new client puts you one step closer to being out of business.
I hate the high failure rate of both new and established consultants, so for years I've dreamed of building a community where consultants could learn what they needed not just to survive, but to thrive. From that dream came Consultants Gold, Inc. I'm always searching for established consultants to join my faculty and advisors to help you – my valued members – learn from some of the most successful consultants I know. People who have helped me with their insights and experience.
Why do it on your own, spending lots of time and money in trial-and-error learning? We've walked this path before you – learn from us!
To learn about the benefits of becoming a member of this unique and caring community, click here.
*I'm a CMC® (Certified Management Consultant). This certification mark is awarded by the Institute of Management Consultants USA and represents the highest global standards and ethical canons of the profession. Fewer than 1% of all consultants have achieved this level of excellence.
