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Books:
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This is a compendium for beginner or veteran covering what to consider, possess, or create for a successful practice, with specific examples and templates to incorporate. -
"Breaking Through Writer's Block: Every Business Letter and Template You'll Ever Need for A Thriving Professional Services Practice." -
Alan's most definitive work on a subject he's become passionate about: blending life, work, and relationships into a holistic, fulfilling existence. -
Alan's only book written expressly for internal change agents, human resource professionals, trainers, and others who want to become more effective in internal change initiatives. -
This sixth book in "The Ultimate Consultant Series" provides the wisdom Alan has gleaned from his own practice--and from other veteran consultants--to help overcome both persistent problems and the challenges of reaching the next level of success. -
This is the first and most likely the only book that Alan Weiss has ever written on the methodology and techniques of consulting. This fifth book in "The Ultimate Consultant Series" is crammed with the detailed approaches Alan uses in all major aspects of consulting. -
The fourth book in "The Ultimate Consultant Series" from Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer focuses on the acquisition of new business, of more concern for consultants today than ever before. -
This is the third book in the seven-book "The Ultimate Consultant Series." It contains everything Alan knows about value-based fees, a concept he pioneered over a decade ago.
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The Dog Star: Taking A Sharp Right
(The Dog Star is a symbol of power, will, and steadfastness of purpose, and exemplifies the One who has succeeded in bridging the lower and higher consciousness. – Astrological Definition)
At the pool today, the dogs were fighting and playing as usual when Buddy suddenly ran onto the lawn between the pool and the pond. That is unusual, because Koufax can easily run him down in the open.
Buddy was running for all he was worth but Koufax, resembling nothing so much as a Cheetah running after an Impala, was just about on him. Suddenly, Buddy hit the ground and came to a screeching halt. Koufax couldn’t stop in time, and ran right over him. By the time Koufax turned, Buddy had taken a sharp right and ducked under the bushes. It was a brilliant, gutsy tactic.
I’ve told a great many of my clients to “take a sharp right.” That means you stop a fruitless, agonizing run that you are bound to lose, and set a new direction for yourself. I’ve told clients who are number three in their industry—when the number one competitor was so far ahead as to be over the horizon—that trying to overtake them was worse than impossible, it was a criminal misuse of resources and energy.
Countless prior consultants at my clients have taken an inevitable pharisaical position: keep striving, cut costs, innovate, motivate, yada yada yada. My advice was to end the Quixotic quest and tilt at a windmill you could actually arrive at first, before the competition.
Hence, instead of being number three in the lawn treatment business, why not take a sharp right and instantly be number one in non-toxic, organic lawn management? Instead of being the number four farrier, why not be the number one in equine foot health? Instead of being a distant number two in water treatment, why not be a solid first in effluent management?
The martial arts specialize in using an opponent’s momentum against himself. That’s what Buddy did to Koufax, then took a sharp right. Koufax is still a larger, more powerful dog, but Buddy got to his destination first.
© Alan Weiss 2007. All rights reserved.
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