The Wonderful World of WTHDYD (What The Hell Do You Do)

I am often asked what it is that I do as a consultant. The answer, in my case, is everything and anything. Ultimately, this is a valid question that needs answering. How do I let people know that I can help them without them having first-hand knowledge of what I have to offer? You would think an “Occupation” title would be useful; but that would require specificity.

You can’t put “I do anything” on a business card and you wouldn’t want to either; because it is not true. I don’t consider production work in my “anything”; that isn’t something I am good at. I assist people with examining and streamlining their production, but at my core I am a knowledge worker. I also shy away from rote administrative functions like switchboard and data entry. This doesn’t mean that I won’t chip in and do that type of work to get the job done, but my clients pay me quite a bit for my background, judgment, and ability to move large pieces; not to do entry level tasks.

What I do in a nutshell is this: I am a short-term mercenary executive-level proxy. If there is work that needs guidance and you or your executive team do not have the bandwidth to manage it along with all of the everyday strategic management tasks, I can be called in to handle it. I have firsthand knowledge of business best practices; financial and operational controls; contractual compliance auditing; and communication strategies. I do not have an MBA, so letters and certifications will not tell you right away what I know. So I have chosen the catch-all ‘Consultant’.

Ask me what the hell I do and I will tell you I:

• manage projects, resources, and production;
• write, manage, and audit contracts;
• assist in business development;
• run a non-profit organization;
• and manage the administration of small events.

Look at that! You all helped me figure out that Management is in a lot of those items. We’re going with Management Consultant from now on.

Dave ‘Bully’ Bjorn, Management Consultant

What does that mean to you?

Truthfully, that feels wrong to me. I am so much more – and also much less – than that. I have never held the title of manager, but I will try and manage.

Forever yours in metal,

Bully

Commitment and Focus

I have begun my new life as a consultant. It is exciting and inspiring to finally be able to select projects that I am passionate about and to work in the manner that I choose. It has been enlightening to find that I am able to use this new way of looking at my paying gigs that is similar to the way I view my volunteer projects.

It is easier to keep all the balls in the air and keep tabs on what needs to be done when you actually care about the results.

While I am not employed by any one company and therefore should not really feel any core connection to their success (but in essence only the success of the piece, or project, that I am helping with), what I am finding is that I feel like I am committed to the success of every one of the people I work with.

This may seem like a dangerous path to go down, since my time will be short-lived with each of these groups; but I find it easier to manage the tenuous personal connections with a little commitment on my part. I haven’t spent a lot of time working with the teams I am engaged with currently and haven’t built the congeniality and respect that comes from time in the trenches. I won’t be around in the future, in most cases, to see them through. It’s an interesting position to be in and it makes some of the job harder. I simply have to make it known that I am paying attention; I have a skill to bring to the table; and I am one of them for the time being.

The other interesting facet of this kind of work that I have noticed is that I have to be able to compartmentalize each job I work on to make sure that I maintain focus. When I am working for one client, I can’t be thinking about another. One of the tricks I have used is moving physical locations whenever I need to switch clients. Since a portion of my work can be completed independently I have decided that if I am working on one client’s project during coffee at a particular shop, when that is completed or billable hours exceeded for the day, I just pick up and move to my new “office” for the next client. It seems like a silly trick but it works.

So now I want to ask: what tips do you have for keeping your commitment and focus when carrying multiple clients?

Reasons to believe…and not

Of all the things I do, the only one I do solely for money is my State job. I chose this position for the following reasons:

Stability

Longevity

Retirement Package

Location

Experience

Yeah…

All of those are gone. In the 4.5 years that I have been wed to the State of Arizona, I have been repeatedly subject to hiring freezes that keep us understaffed; frustrations with lagging technology; institutional roadblocks; false promises of advancement opportunity; and most recently a 5% pay cut (with raises, I have now lost 2.5% of my salary in 5 yrs).

I’ve gained all of the experience available in my current position. I have no promise that my vested retirement fund will have any money to pay out when I’m done. I am under constant threat of layoffs as an uncovered policy maker. Now I hear you might not be able to pay me in real dollars but instead with Monopoly money IOUs.

Yeah Arizona, we’re currently separated on the way to divorce. But it’s not me, it’s you.

Yes. A lot of the problems over the past few years have been budget related. But I have much less interest in money than you would think. I’m more worried about the future of the State from a workforce standpoint.

I want to work for a concern that has a future and is planning for it. I also want to work with people that can have reciprocal and inspirational business relationships.

Let’s look at this from a much higher view. The State of Arizona does not attract young creative professionals. In the past 2 months, 3 of my compatriots retired and 5 more are eligible. At 34 years old, I am the youngest member of my division. That breeds a lot of “same old same old”.

You need a mix of institutional knowledge and new ways of thinking to move forward. People with energy, enthusiasm and innovative thinking don’t want to work here; and now I don’t either. 

Congratulations on focusing on all the wrong things AZ. You have a system that supports the training of unskilled labor on the cheap and rewards longevity instead of merit.  The few creative folks you attract have chosen to forgo better financial opportunities; are here for calculated reasons; and will not stay for your awesome retirement benefits.

People today don’t think about retiring to enjoy their golden years. We will have to work into our 70’s unless we are successful; and State service isn’t gonna make us successful. People want to enjoy their lives now. I want work to be another part of my full day. I want to work on projects that both use my skill and challenge my problem solving abilities. I want to be able to at least rotate duties, if not blow up job titles altogether.

So, here’s to you. I believe that you have taken away all of my reasons to believe in your bright shiny future. Mine’s looking better by the minute.

Loathe,

Bully