The Blog
Long-form essays, field notes, and frameworks from the FIRMSconsulting team — published weekly.
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Published weekly-
Building a Consulting Practice: From First Client Meeting to a Scalable Business
This week, we begin the release of the very first documents (wrap-up meeting of the engagement that led to the new engagement and five issues meetings). *** This is for a significant and much-requested program: Building a Consulting Practice – from the first meeting to the methodology, proposals, books, and new revenue streams. Documents are being released to SCRA and…
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The Science of Personal Power with Chris Lipp
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 534, an interview with the author of The Science of Personal Power: How to Build Confidence, Create Success, and Obtain Freedom, Chris Lipp. Powerful people operate with a fundamentally different mindset. While others seek approval and dodge accountability, influential individuals take ownership and remain anchored to their goals and values.…
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The Blind Spot in Modern Strategy
The Leaders Who Grasp This Will Own the Future. The Rest Will Be Obsolete “Executives talk about ecosystems like they’ve discovered something new, but most don’t understand what they’re dealing with. It’s not a supply chain. It’s not a partnership. It’s a system. An evolving, self-reinforcing structure that dictates behavior, outcomes, and competition itself. You…
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Anne Marie Anderson on Being Audacious
For episode 533 of Strategy Skills, we interviewed Anne Marie Anderson, the author of Cultivating Audacity: Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win. In this episode, Anne Marie Anderson shared her journey from being rejected by ESPN at 21 to working there for 35 years and becoming one of the most experienced female play-by-play announcers in…
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[NEW SCRA] Investor Relations Strategy Proposal
We remain focused on a Year of Consulting Sales. In an earlier post, we laid out the program and explained the five sales meetings. The documents from those meetings and the explanation will soon be loaded. We have just released the Investor Relations Strategy Proposal, the third engagement generated by those five sales meetings. It is accessible within…
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Caroline Adams Miller on Setting Big Goals and Creating Your Best Life
Strategy Skills episode 532 is an interview with the author of Big Goals: The Science of Setting Them, Achieving Them, and Creating Your Best Life, Caroline Adams Miller. In this episode, Caroline takes us through her journey of overcoming personal challenges to becoming an expert in positive psychology and goal setting. She breaks down why…
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The superior advantage only audit firms have
Missing One Crucial Step in a Business Case Can Turn A Winning Strategy Into a Costly Failure As part of our Year of Sales theme, we also focus on how strategy/business consultants within audit firms should effectively compete against more focused strategy firms. We refer to them as Audit-Based Consultants (ABCs) even though they reside within an audit firm’s…
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How to develop a compelling idea for clients
How to develop a compelling idea for clients Earlier we discussed a truly unique and significant program. One of the most exciting things we will be doing, based on strong demand from our members. There is nowhere else in the world you can see the step-by-step development of a major consulting practice built to the standards of the top firms.…
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Harvard Law Professor Bob Bordone on Negotiation, Making ‘Messy Conversations’ Work for You
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 531, an interview with the author of Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In, Bob Bordone. Most of us instinctively avoid conflict, seeing it as a threat rather than an opportunity for growth. What if the conversations you dread most could actually strengthen your relationships and lead…
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Sabina Nawaz, Bill Gates & Steve Ballmer’s Direct Advisor: Leadership, Self-Management, and Life Lessons
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 530, an interview with a seasoned executive coach and the author of You’re the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need), Sabina Nawaz. In this episode, Sabina shares her journey from software development at Microsoft to advising C-level executives. She explains the dangers of pressure overpowering…
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Kathleen deLaski, Founder of Education Design Lab, on ‘Who Needs College Anymore?’
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 529, an interview with the author of Who Needs College Anymore?, Kathleen deLaski. In this episode, Kathleen shares her journey from journalism to education reform. She talks about her time as a TV and digital journalist, White House correspondent, and Pentagon spokesperson, as well as her transition to education reform,…
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Kellogg’s JP Pawliw-Fry on Aggressive Learning, the Last 8%, and Training Attention
For Strategy Skills episode 528, we interviewed the author of Performing Under Pressure: The Science of Doing your Best When it Matters Most, JP Pawliw-Fry. In this episode, JP walks us through the concept of pressure management—how to reduce pressure in our personal and professional lives to better excel in whatever we do. He also…