Are You Ready to Strike Out on Your Own?

FS: What are the main pieces of advice a consultant can glean from the book?

LL:

• There is no one way that is right for everyone.
• To endure in this field, you need to have a solid business plan, strong ethics and a sense of humor.
• Mentors can be invaluable, even if you think they are your competition.

SS: Linda said it all, but I’d emphasize her first point: If there’s one thing I gleaned from our 25 contributors, it’s that there are many paths to a successful business. I’d also add that you can sustain a long career as a consultant and reinvent yourself — multiple times, if necessary — to keep things interesting. There are some inspiring examples in the book.