Will the Real Expert Please Stand Up? Let's Talk
One thing that has always bothered me is this concept that if someone dresses in a suit and tie, and acts very professional that they can get away with pretending to be an expert as long as they have a somewhat padded resume. Then these folks go out, often with no experience and shout from every mountaintop their expertise, and then dutifully attempt to charge you an arm and a leg for their mere presence and advice. Okay so, let's discuss this for a moment shall we?
For many years I was literally blown away by how many people would contact my business, claim they were a consultant and able to help me do something better than we were already doing it. Some of them were marketing consultants, branding consultants, management consultants, and engineers who could help us design our equipment better, or help us build a better computer system. The reality was that we were number one in our industry, and we didn't get there because we didn't know what we were doing.
One thing I found out right away, and it always bothered me, was that when I would question them as to their expertise, and give them a scenario as to what they might do in a given situation, they would hand me a form to sign, to engage them as a consultant. Why an Earth would I hire someone just because they are wearing a suit and tie, have a nice business card, and promise me they know what they are talking about? I want to see what's behind the cover. Anyway, as an entrepreneur, and literally running the show, I always felt if the consultant knew so much, why were they busy trying to do consulting, rather than actually doing it.
Yes, I know there's a difference between doers, movers, shakers, and teachers. But at some point a teacher, or an industry consultant that really knows what they're doing should have experienced the real world and learned what it takes to make it happen. There was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal on November 5, 2011. It was by Joe Queenan and titled "Some Expert Advice: Get a Clue." The article had a funny line and it; "that snowstorm will barely leave a trace. Nobody's going to beat the Red Sox. Pan Am will be a big hit. Wrong wrong wrong." And you know what, he's right.
There just too many people running around giving advice who don't know what they're talking about. Worse, their information knowledge base is last year's textbook, and generally they don't know anything I can find on the Internet. If you're going to hire a consultant or an expert make sure they know what they're talking about, otherwise show them the door, and save yourself some time and money.
For many years I was literally blown away by how many people would contact my business, claim they were a consultant and able to help me do something better than we were already doing it. Some of them were marketing consultants, branding consultants, management consultants, and engineers who could help us design our equipment better, or help us build a better computer system. The reality was that we were number one in our industry, and we didn't get there because we didn't know what we were doing.
One thing I found out right away, and it always bothered me, was that when I would question them as to their expertise, and give them a scenario as to what they might do in a given situation, they would hand me a form to sign, to engage them as a consultant. Why an Earth would I hire someone just because they are wearing a suit and tie, have a nice business card, and promise me they know what they are talking about? I want to see what's behind the cover. Anyway, as an entrepreneur, and literally running the show, I always felt if the consultant knew so much, why were they busy trying to do consulting, rather than actually doing it.
Yes, I know there's a difference between doers, movers, shakers, and teachers. But at some point a teacher, or an industry consultant that really knows what they're doing should have experienced the real world and learned what it takes to make it happen. There was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal on November 5, 2011. It was by Joe Queenan and titled "Some Expert Advice: Get a Clue." The article had a funny line and it; "that snowstorm will barely leave a trace. Nobody's going to beat the Red Sox. Pan Am will be a big hit. Wrong wrong wrong." And you know what, he's right.
There just too many people running around giving advice who don't know what they're talking about. Worse, their information knowledge base is last year's textbook, and generally they don't know anything I can find on the Internet. If you're going to hire a consultant or an expert make sure they know what they're talking about, otherwise show them the door, and save yourself some time and money.
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