Creating a Consulting Business Plan

We did 0 cold outreach in the last 15 months but closed 7 figures in contract value just using LinkedIn (@$20k+ ACV). If I were CMO at a B2B company, here’s the same playbook I’d replicate for my founder: 𝟭. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 • I’d set up a recurring 1-hour interview each week • Extract their expertise, stories, and vision by asking questions • Record & transcribe via Riverside - this is my raw material for content If the founder isn’t the right fit, I’d identify another subject matter expert. But typically, the founder holds the most trust in the market. _______ 𝟮. 𝗗𝗶𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘀 I would go through all meeting recordings inside of the org - sales calls, customer success calls - and find trends: • what questions do customers ask? • what problems do they face? • why did they decide to buy? This is a goldmine for customer-centric content. I’d notice recurring pains, decision triggers, and the language buyers use to build a library of content ideas. _______ 𝟯. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 • I’d centralize all of my content sources into one place (e.g., Notion). • Then I’d assign responsibilities for my team: writer, designer, video editor, … • Simple and organized so I can consistently source, produce and publish content. (PS: We’ve built a Notion system for this - check it out in the comments) _______ 𝟰. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 I’d turn the founder’s LinkedIn profile into a landing page • High-quality profile picture • Clean banner with client logos • A slogan that states who we help and how • Next funnel step linked in featured section _______ 𝟱. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 I’d focus on posting 4 content types: • Tactical: Immediately actionable information (like this post) • Aspirational: Case Studies & Success Story Breakdowns • Insightful: Insights & opinions on industry trends • Personal: Telling my story & building in public I’d commit to posting 3x per week. I wouldn't worry about impressions or followers, I’d focus on hitting the input goals. _______ 𝟲. 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 • I’d use Sales Nav to make a list of dream prospects. • Then send  100-150 connection requests to that list per week. • Caveat: unless hyper-personalized, I wouldn’t add a message. It decreases acceptance rates. _______ 𝟳. 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 • I’d take around 30 minutes a day to scan profile viewers, connection requests & post engagement. • If any of these fit into my Ideal Customer, I send them a quick message. “Hey [name], thanks for connecting with me, curious to know why you reached out? :)” • Based on this, I can find out more about their situation, provide value upfront & book a meeting. There’s more. (Step 8 in the comments)

For years I mistook being busy for being successful. Ten alerts before I'd had coffee. Fires until midnight. I was excellent at the work. The work was endless. I was running my company. I wasn't designing my life. That's the whole difference between an operator and an architect. Operators run the company. Architects design a life the company quietly supports, instead of one it slowly drains. The shift isn't about working less. It's about working one layer up. Here's the psychology of an architect vs an operator, and how to make the shift: 1. Design The Life First Operators run their company. Architects design their life and let the company support it. Most founders build a business and squeeze their life into whatever's left. Architects flip it. They decide what their days should feel like first, then build a company that protects that. 2. Build Leverage, Not Effort Operators wake up to ten alerts and put out fires until midnight. They're excellent at the work. But the work never ends. Architects design the system so the fires don't start. Effort gets spent once. Leverage keeps paying you back. 3. Stack Assets That Compound Leverage compounds when you build the right assets: • clear quarterly targets • a simple business scorecard • an email list you actually own • content that works long after you publish it • a personal brand that opens doors while you sleep Each one keeps working without you touching it. That's the point. 4. Work One Layer Up The shift isn't about doing less. It's about designing on the layer above. Operators ask, how do I get through today? Architects ask, how do I build a system so today runs itself? Same hours. Higher altitude. 5. Kill Problems Permanently Stop solving today's problem. Start designing the conditions that stop it from happening twice. Operators fix the same issue over and over and call it work. Architects fix it once, at the root, so it never comes back. 6. Build For Your Absence You'll know you've made the shift when you can step away for a month and come back to a company stronger than when you left. If it falls apart the moment you leave, it isn't a company yet. The real test of what you've built is what happens when you're not in the room. Until then, you don't own a company. You own the most expensive job you've ever held. Operators keep the machine running. Architects build a machine that runs without them. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to see how I measure exactly how trapped I am in my own business and what it takes to make the shift? Get the complete framework here: https://fos.now/dYhxTw

"Working with friends and family will ruin your startup." Patrick Collison ignored that advice and built Stripe with his brother John, ran Fast Grants with Tyler Cowen and his wife Silvana, and now runs Arc Institute with people he already trusts. "Working with people you're close to is underrated," he says. The standard advice: separate personal and professional. Keep friends out. Never hire family. But most data I've seen shows it's not friendship that predicts success; it's shared reps. Teams that earned trust in the arena outperform teams on paper. What that “closeness” unlocks: 1. Faster decisions. You already know how each other thinks. You don't need to re-explain your logic from scratch every time. 2. Default trust. No energy defending motives. Disagreements are about ideas, not people. 3. Longer time horizon. You’d be okay working with them 10 years straight if need be. But closeness alone kills you. What makes it work is “complementarity.” Complementarity means skills that multiply each other's impact, not duplicate it. Your first people are like a starting lineup. You can't play all point guards. When you work with close friends, you might have too much in common. That's death; complementarity is the oxygen. Look at your backgrounds. If you both came up through engineering, one needs to own GTM. If you're both product people, one needs to own ops. Same skills mean someone needs to shift lanes. At Gamma, we started as friends from Optimizely. We'd already worked together in different roles - the ideal setup. This means we had less reason for caution than most. But we still built a prototype before raising a dollar. Those months tested if the trust we felt as friends could survive the stress of shipping. Rule one: Ship together before you sign. Three more: 2. Let the user break the tie. When you and your close cofounder disagree, ask which choice gets the user to the promised land. It depersonalizes conflict. 3. Write down who decides what. Before you have a disagreement, document decision rights. Which cofounder has final say on product? On hiring? This prevents spats from sinking the ship. 4. Vesting is friendship insurance. Four-year vesting with one-year cliff should be default, no exceptions. With those precautions in place, here’s how to start: Build a weekend prototype. Write a one-pager covering mission, roles, equity, and how you disagree. Run one user conversation together. If you're both more energized after than before, keep going. The formula you want to complete is this: (People you trust) x (skillsets that complement each other) x (a user problem you can't stop thinking about). If you lock that down, then Collison’s right: Working with people you're close to is a superpower.

I closed 5x my last salary in the last 8 months. If I had to start again... here's how I'd do it 👇 I would start with an ambitious but achievable goal. Let's say: $10K / month in under 90 days. Then I'd follow this blueprint step by step: 1. Create a plan Most people get stuck in planning. But as a planner, I'd feel lost without one. So I would spend 48 hours to: A) Think long-term Here I'd use Debbie Millman's Remarkable Life. 1. Close my eyes and imagine a day in 10 years 2. Let go of any fears and doubts 3. Write about the day in detail 4. Write until I can't possibly write any more B) Think short-term Here, I'd get more tactical. 1. Imagine the next 3 months 2. Map out major goals 3. Map out my daily routine Great, now I have a destination. And a direction - time to pick a skill. 2. Pick a skill I'd assess my skillset for value: - Ask my friends what I'm good at - Think about what businesses need - Think about type of work I love It could be: - Coding - Writing - Designing - Advertising - Automation - Lead generation For me, it's design. And every biz needs design. 3. Create a biz Most people overcomplicate this. I'd time box launch to 2 days. In the next 48 hours I would: 1) Pick a name (not than my personal name) 2) Make a site (keep it simple, one-pager for now) 3) Get generic emails (hello@ / support@) These are low ROI at the start - so I'd move fast here. Getting started is what matters. 4. Start telling people Most people crumble under peer pressure. I'd use it to my advantage. I'd tell everyone I'm starting an agency. Now I have people asking about it. I better do something about it. 5. Find my first 5 clients Here's where it gets real. Volume and persistence matter. I would: - Message my friends and family for referrals - Offer a reduced risk trial with a 'discounted' fee - Attend networking events with my target audience If I put myself out there everyday - I can't lose. 6. Nail the first call Now I'm not a salesperson. But what do I know? I know my craft. In the call, I would: - Be personable - Speak confidently - Show them my expertise - Ask questions (very important!) Also, I'd be prepared for 85% of calls to not be a good fit. It’s all part of the game. 7. Leverage results Now I have my first client. Time to overdeliver. I would: - Be easy to work with - Respond in under a day - Execute to a high standard Then ask for a testimonial and: - Add testimonials to my website - Add the work to portfolio link - Add the case study And then? 8. Rinse and repeat 💪 In summary: 0. Set a goal 1. Create a plan 2. Pick a skill 3. Create a biz 4. Start telling people 5. Find first 5 clients 6. Nail the first call 7. Leverage results 8. Rinse and repeat -- Hi! I'm Joumana - I built a $75K / month design agency for startups in 1 year. My goal is to help people where I can ✨

Over the last 18 months I’ve had the same conversation with dozens of fractional operators. It always lands here. “Where does your deal flow actually come from?” In my time working as a fractional cmo, connecting with fractional marketers, designers, PMs, and growth operators, this topic always comes up. No matter how experienced someone is, deal flow is always top of mind. And it makes sense. That’s just the nature of fractional work. So I wanted to share what’s worked for me. Importantly, this is not a universal playbook, just my lived experience. Here are my two primary sources of leads: 1. Warm inbound from venture firms I’ve spent 15+ years working in and around the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Over that time, I tried to: → Do strong work in every role → Be generous with time and insight → Help VCs think through markets and GTM → Support portfolio founders even when there was no immediate upside for me That goodwill has compounded over time. So when portfolio companies need fractional marketing or GTM support, those firms are often happy to make introductions. This channel is incredibly meaningful to me, and I’m grateful for the intros, but it’s also important to be honest: You can’t flip this on overnight. It’s built over years of showing up and providing value without expectation. 2. Cold inbound from LinkedIn This one typically surprises people less. I’ve posted on LinkedIn consistently for over a decade, sharing GTM frameworks, growth lessons, market observations, and real-world experience. Last year alone, my posts reached over 5M people organically. The result is a steady stream of founders who already understand how I think and reach out to explore working together. The key thing here is that this is not traditional selling. It’s just showing up, sharing what you know, and letting trust compound over time. The common thread is that though these are different channels and audiences, the underlying principle is the same: Consistently show up and add value over long periods of time. The part that should feel the most encouraging is that anyone can start doing this today. The hardest part I’ve found is consistency and patience. But once it becomes muscle memory, momentum will show up in ways that are genuinely surprising. Hope this is helpful and that everyone has a great weekend as I recover from this cold from my twins! ---— 👋🏾 Want more startup advice and tech news? Follow me here and save this post: Justin Gerrard And check out my podcast: Rush Hour Podcast ♻️ Repost if you think someone in your network would benefit! #fractional #fractionalcmo #startups

If I had 10+ years of experience as a GTM leader with deep expertise, here’s exactly what I’d do to build a high-income, low-stress business: Step 1: Niche Down The fastest way to get premium clients is to be known for solving one problem for one type of company. ✅ “I help B2B SaaS companies with $5M–$20M ARR scale pipeline efficiency.” ✅ “I work with Series B+ fintech startups to shorten deal cycles.” ❌ “I do GTM strategy for anyone and everyone.” Example: check out Lydia Flocchini LinkedIn profile who focuses on legal tech fractional work only and is killing it by niching down in one industry! Step 2: Simplify the Offer No more laundry list of services. Make it so clear that a CEO can repeat it to their board. 🎯 “GTM Advisory + Execution with a guarantee” 🎯 “90-Day Revenue Acceleration Sprint” Example: check out Shelli Ryan, APR, Fellow PRSA who is laser focused on her services. Step 3: Use a Framework (Build or Borrow) You don’t need to reinvent the wheel— …but you do need to give your work a name and a process. Frameworks turn expertise into assets: The GTM Operating System The Revenue Growth Blueprint Example: check out Sue Foley based in Australia build a global fractional business on the GTM Operating System Step 4: Join a Community — Don’t Go Solo Trying to build your fractional business in isolation is a slow, expensive mistake. The right community will give you: ✅ Referral partners ✅ Feedback on your offers and pricing ✅ Confidence from seeing what’s working for others Fractionals who grow fast don’t do it alone — they do it in a room full of peers who push them forward. Step 5: Announce on LinkedIn Your audience won’t hire you if they don’t know you’re available. Post your announcement with: ✅ Your niche + offer ✅ Why you’re doing this now ✅ How people can take the first step (course, assessment, or DM) Example: Check out Sarah Allen-Short’s post on her announcement on LinkedIn Step 6: Do 10 Calls With 1:1 Messages Forget mass outreach. Start with the 10 people most likely to hire you or refer you. Send a personal message, invite them to a conversation, and listen more than you talk. Example: Check out Don Drury’s video on how he is able to get qualified 1:1 meetings Step 7: Build a $250K+/Year Business With AI + EA This is where freedom happens - for real! AI handles research, content drafts, details that you rather not do EA (Executive Assistant) handles scheduling, DMs, admin, follow-ups Your time goes to the high-leverage work: strategy, client delivery, and relationship building. What This Looks Like in Real Life: ✅ 3–5 active clients at any given time ✅ $7K–$12K/month retainers or $20K–$30K projects The Takeaway: If you’ve already put in the reps as a GTM leader, you have everything you need to build a $250K–$1M fractional business. You just need: ✅ A clear niche ✅ A simple offer ✅ A framework ✅ A community ✅ A visible announcement ✅ 10 intentional conversations ✅ Leverage through Network + AI + EA love, sangram

If you are building a business - you must ask yourself this critical question! Are you building a lifestyle business or a growth business? This decision shapes not just our companies, but our lives. Let's dive deeper into both paths: 🌴 Lifestyle Business: 1. Work-Life Balance: Prioritizes personal time and flexibility. 2. Sustainable Income: Aims for steady, predictable earnings. 3. Control: Often owner-operated or managed by a small team. 4. Limited Scalability: Typically serves a niche market or local area. 5. Lower Stress: Generally involves fewer external pressures. 6. Personal Satisfaction: Aligns closely with the owner's passions and values. 7. Examples: Local restaurants, boutique consultancies, niche online stores. 🚀 Growth Business: 1. Rapid Expansion: Focuses on capturing market share quickly. 2. High Returns Potential: Aims for significant financial upside. 3. External Investment: Often requires venture capital or other funding. 4. Scalable Model: Designed to serve large markets or go global. 5. Higher Risk: Involves more uncertainty and potential for failure. 6. Exit Strategy: Often built with the goal of acquisition or IPO. 7. Examples: Tech startups, franchises, disruptive D2C brands. Here are some key considerations before you make that decision: - Financial Goals: Do you prioritize steady income or potential windfall? - Time Commitment: Are you willing to work 80-hour weeks for years? - Risk Tolerance: Can you handle the stress of rapid growth and investor expectations? - Legacy: Do you want to build something that outlasts you? - Impact: Are you driven by the desire to create large-scale change? Neither path is superior - it's about aligning your business with your personal goals, values, and vision for the future. Many successful entrepreneurs have found fulfillment in both models. Are you building a lifestyle business or a growth business? What factors influenced your decision? Let's discuss in the comments below! . . #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #StartupLife #WorkLifeBalance

Many professionals build businesses that look successful from the outside. Over time, they quietly feel constrained by them. It rarely starts that way. Most people want autonomy, flexibility, and alignment. Then momentum takes over. Opportunities pile up, and commitments accumulate. Eventually, the business shapes your life instead of supporting it. I’ve been thinking about one central question: How do you design a business that supports your life? Not formulas, but repeatable ways of thinking. The most satisfied professionals design for fit first. They do not default to growth. They protect flexibility deliberately. Boundaries matter more than good intentions. They don’t wait for certainty before changing course. They run small experiments and learn quickly. They also plan the return, not just the break. Insight only lasts if behavior changes. The common thread is agency. Supportive businesses are built intentionally. I explore these patterns in this week’s LinkedIn newsletter. It’s about work that fits your life. 🛟 Save this if you’re rethinking how your business serves you. ♻️ Share it with someone quietly questioning their direction. ➡️ Follow Dorie Clark for ideas on building work that compounds without costing what matters.

How I found my business idea from leveraging skills I already have Struggling to find your business idea? Don’t overcomplicate it. The biggest mistake is looking too far for answers—they’re already within you. Here’s how I have helped many of my clients transition to business by unearthing a business idea that aligns with their strengths and passions/ curiosity: ✅ Audit Your Skills: What comes naturally to you? What do people ask for your help with and thank you for? Start there. ✅ Look Back at Career Wins: Think about the moments you felt on top of your game. Were you solving problems, teaching, or creating? ✅ Get Curious About Your Interests: What energises you? The topics you can talk about all day often hint at your ideal business. ✅ Mindmap It Out: Get creative and mindmap it out - write down your skills, interests, and experiences. Look for overlaps. That’s where the magic happens. Next: Explore possibilities & take it further (with the help of your favourite AI tools, ChatGPT, Perplexity.ai etc.) Here are 5 simple prompts to get you started with generating / refining your business ideas: 1️⃣ "What business opportunities could I create based on my skills in [specific skill] and my experience as the ‘go-to’ person for [specific task or problem]?" 2️⃣ "Combine my interests in [passion or curiosity] and my career wins in [specific field] to suggest 5 business ideas that solve a problem for [target audience]." 3️⃣  "What unique services could I offer based on my natural ability to [specific skill] and the fact that others often ask me for help with [specific topic]?" 4️⃣  "If I wanted to monetize my expertise in [career area] while incorporating my interest in [specific hobby or passion], what are some business ideas I could explore?" 5️⃣ "Based on my past experience excelling in [specific role or project], suggest a business model that leverages those strengths and appeals to [specific audience]." So stop overcomplicating it. Start where you’re strongest and let that idea evolve. The deeper market research, evaluating the idea, positioning work and so on happens after this but at the start, just take action and get started. See comments for more prompts and ideas for your brainstorm & research. P.S. Which prompt is your favourite? P.P.S. Will you get started before 2024 ends?

7 Ways to Turn Knowledge Into Cash Flow After a decade on Wall Street And writing a NYT bestseller about money I learned something powerful: Knowledge isn't power. Monetized knowledge is. Here's how to turn what you know into what you earn: 1. Digital Guides • Turn your best work process into a PDF guide • Add simple worksheets people can fill out • Sell through Gumroad (easiest platform to start) 2. Paid Newsletter • Write weekly insights about your expertise • Share what's working in your industry • Use Substack to handle payments and delivery 3. Templates & Checklists • Document your daily/weekly workflows • Create checklists others can copy • Share through Notion or Google Docs 4. Group Coaching • Gather 5 people who want to learn your skill • Meet weekly on Zoom for 60 minutes • Record sessions for future students 5. Video Tutorials • Record your screen showing how you work • Use Loom to capture step-by-step guides • Package related videos together 6. Exclusive Community • Start a private group on Circle or Discord • Share daily tips and answers • Let members help each other grow 7. Done-For-You Services • Package your skill into a specific service • Create clear deliverables and timeline • Start with just 2-3 clients The Blueprint: • Pick the easiest method for you • Focus on solving one clear problem • Start before you feel ready • Improve based on feedback Here's what Wall Street taught me: Your salary caps your income. Your knowledge compounds forever. ↓ Which method will you start with? Comment below ♻️ Share this with someone sitting on valuable knowledge 🔔 Follow Kabir Sehgal for more systems to monetize your expertise