4 Ways Working With Consultants Can Boost Your Career

4 Ways Working With Consultants Can Boost Your Career4 Ways Working With Consultants Can Boost Your CareerSo your company has just announced a big initiative- and its bringing in some consultants. Does this mean your job is in jeopardy?Relax- chances are, it doesnt. Consultants often get a bad rap, but the truth is, theyre generally brought in because your company needs specialized knowledge that will help it solve specific problems or gain a competitive advantage.So, before you start panicking (or hitting the job boards), consider ansicht tips for getting the most out of the situation, and even boosting your own career.1.Help Them Get AcclimatedRemember your first few days on the job? They were probably a bit uneasy until you figured out the office culture and got to know everyone. Keep in mind that consultants are human beings, just like you, and theyre probably feeling the same way.So take the initiative and help the consultants get acclimated. Introduce yourself and what you do, let them know youre available to answer questions, and hey, even point out your favorite coffee spot. Not only does this show them (and your boss) that youre a team player, but it demonstrates maturity and professionalism. Plus, the sooner the new team members feel comfortable, the sooner you can start engaging with them.2.Fulfill Your Obligation to the ProjectPart of a consultants job is to really learn your business by asking a lot of questions and gathering data. And the only way he or she will get this information is if you cooperate. Remember that consultants are usually constrained to a specific project budget, scope, and schedule (set by your boss), so respect that and get them what they need in a timely manner- even if that means a little extra work on your end. You definitely dont want to be known as the person whos holding up the process.And who knows- the information you provide could be key to saving your company money or winning more market share. And thats a far cry fr om the downsizing that you were so nervous about.3.Remember to Ask For Knowledge TransferIf consultants are helping your company implement something new (like software or financial services), you have a big opportunity to gain some internal expertise. The consultants have already been exposed to a myriad of other companies, which theyve helped with project design, a public relations crisis, or strategic direction. Take advantage of their experiences and pick their brains. You may learn a new skill or gain a better understanding of your companys industry, and thats a huge benefit to your professional development.Also remember that you dont want to be dependent upon the consultants after they leave, nor do you want your boss asking you why you dropped the ball when the project was handed off. If you are confused or arent getting the answers you need, dont be afraid to speak up. If a consultant tells you that you dont need to know how to fix something, make her show you anyway. Murphys Law tells us that six months later that same problem will unexpectedly emerge, and youll be the one called upon to fix it.4.Use Them as MentorsSome consultants can also be incredible teachers. They have worked with countless other clients just like you, so they often know what knowledge and skills will best help you land that next promotion. I will always be grateful to one particular consultant who made me learn as much as possible about a new computer system (even when I didnt necessarily want to). He was adamant that these particular skills would pay off for me in the future- and he was right. I now have a niche skill that is highly desirable in the marketplace, and I owe a lot of my success to his mentoring.In order to build this type of relationship, make sure that the consultant knows your goals and how he or she can help you achieve them. Ask about the success stories shes seen and what steps were taken to get there. And remember that the mentor-mentee relationship needs to be mutually beneficial- so dont forget to reciprocate. My favorite way to do this is by giving glowing recommendations to the consultants potential clients.Above all, keep in mind that working with consultants doesnt have to be painful. Not only can they provide a valuable service to your company, they can also help you obtain some important skills for your own career.Photo of business meeting courtesy of Shutterstock.

How to Actualize Your Next Big Business Idea

How to Actualize Yur Next Big Business Idea How to Actualize Your Next Big Business Idea In your head,you simply cant fail.Years ago, I made the jump from working for someone else to becoming a business owner. It has been the best thing Ive done in my life. However, before you changeyour LinkedIn job title, quit your job, and throw a party, you need totake a step back and breathe. Write youridea down somewhere and put it away. Sleep on it, and continue your life as it always was. After some time passes, reread your idea and decide whether or not you still want to go through with it.Make Sure You Love What ReachingThis Goal Will InvolveIf you have a big goal or dream that will impact acertain industry (e.g., writing a book, selling your fashion designs on Etsy, starting a new technology company), its safe to assume that you have some experience in or passion forthe activity itself. If the ultimate goal is to do what you love, you should really, really love what youre about to do eno ugh to take it to the next level.In the beginning ofthis new venture, you should keep asking yourself if youre willing to love it this much if, for example, you love it enough to start learning unrelated skills (like light programming, finances, editing, and social media) just to make it work.People are mora motivated and accomplish mora when they love what theyre doing, so make sure this is worth it for you.Visualize Your End Goal With as Much Detail as You CanDo you know what realizing your dream looks like? Can you see yourself on that podium, collecting your trophy? Do you know what your acceptance speech would sound like? Can you taste the celebration dinner when you finally go public with this company that you are willing into existence? Take a moment toindulge in your fantasy.Visualize your end goal in rich detail. The more clearly you can see what success looks like for you, the more attainable your goalswill be.Our minds are often swimming in negative thoughts of. We doubt our credentials or our ability to achieve what we want. We compare ourselves to others and feel like their accomplishments will always overshadow our own. In these moments, Ihave to remind myselfof the victories Ican taste and fill myheart with the positivity Iwas full of when Istarted.Research, Plot a Strategy, and Break It All Down Into Actionable StepsTry to get a better idea of whats ahead. Look for people who have pulled off similar projects or started similar companies, talk to professionals in the space, andmap out what it would mean for you to get to where you want to go. This means researching a variety of different fields, like business and finance or search engine marketing. When you have an idea of what reaching your goal entails, break down your strategy into small, actionable steps.For example, your strategy might be something likeKnit a small collection of sweaters.Hold a photo shoot.Set up an Etsy shop.Make a blog.OrMap out a story outline with a list of characters. Write character backgrounds.Write for three hours a day.OrDo a market study of the product youre thinking of launching.Work a ton of overtime to save capital.Look into grants.Reorganize Your Routine or (StartOne)The most important part of realizing your dream is doing thework. There is no successful person out there who hasnt done the work insome wayoranother. If youre serious about your goal and you have a strategy for tackling it, you have to work at it every day. This could mean getting up a few hours earlier to write a few chapters every day or dedicating time after work to building out your social media presence, for example.Its important to stop framing your goal as adream project or an idea. Once you have decided to go through with your dream, it stops beingdream and becomesa real responsibility that you owe yourself.Get Into a Growth MindsetIf you believe that your big idea is an opportunity to learn more and improve your skills, you will be more motivated to continue reachi ng above and beyond what you had set out to do. People who believe that intelligence and skill levels are fixed quantities tend to give up and use their lack of aptitude or intelligence as an excuse not to continue.However, those who adopt agrowth mindsetare more likely to keep traveling down the path to success. They believe that every goal, every challenge, every obstacle is an opportunity to learn and improve.It is dangerous to say, Im not an organized person, because it assumes you are incapable of getting your life in order. Similarly, saying Ive always been an introvert implies that introverts cant, or shouldnt, try to challenge themselves socially.Recognize your challenges and setbacks now and know that there willalwaysbe challenges and setbacks but that you can handle these problems. Then you can say to yourself, I can overcome this and learn from it, and youll have much greater potential for growth and success with your next big idea.-A version of this article originally a ppeared on BusinessCollective.John Ramptonis the founder of Palo Alto, California-basedDue, afree online invoicing company specializing in helping businesses bill their clients easily online. You can connect with him on Twitter johnrampton.

Rajaratnam Found Guilty on All 14 Accounts

Rajaratnam Found Guilty on All 14 AccountsRajaratnam Found Guilty on All 14 AccountsOh, dude, Raj is f-ed.Indeed he is, Rengan. The Galleon founder and now convicted inside trader stands to serve 19 and a half years in prison for his crimes nine counts of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and five counts of securities fraud. The unanimous verdict came back earlier today after 11 days of deliberation (and one juror change).The verdict was not a surpristing one, as many close observers of the trial believed Rajs defense gruppe could not beat the mountain of evidence presented by the prosecution. Particularly damning were the 45 wire-tapped phone conversations between Raj Raj and his co-conspirators (including his brother Rengan Rajaratnam), many of who have pleaded guilty to insider trading charges of their own.While he awaits sentencing in July, Raj Raj will not be behind bars, but he will be fitted with an electronic device to monitor his whereabouts. Presumably, he will not be m aking too many phone calls.Though a huge blow to Raj Raj and his defense team (which will be entering an appeal), the guilty verdict was a huge win for the SEC, which has come under fire for not convicting any men, women or children in the wake of the financial crisis. However, the Commission has done a pretty good job of nailing inside traders, and Raj Raj is by far their biggest catch yet.(WSJ Galleon Founder Raj Rajaratnam Convicted)(Related Take the RRAT (Raj Rajaratnam Aptitude Test), I Rest My Case, Says Raj Rajaratnam, Why the Rajaratnam Trial Will Increase the Greed on Wall Street)