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A Consulting Chamber of Horrors
Consulting can be fun, challenging, and rewarding, but sometimes weird stuff happens.
Twenty-seven years ago, I left the security of a good corporate job for the excitement — and uncertainty — of being an independent consultant and trainer. I’ve enjoyed most of the work and most of the clients. My one-person company was vastly more successful than I ever imagined. However, I encountered my share of horror-story experiences.
Some of these are the kinds of things that can happen to anyone who travels frequently. Others are specific to being a freelancer. All of them were surprising. None of them were pleasant. Perhaps sharing these stories can alert you to some things to beware of in your own career. If you’re had similar experiences, I’d love to hear about them in the replies section.
What Day Was That Again?
One Tuesday , I flew to Newark and then drove in a snowstorm to a city in the wilds of New Jersey to teach a class. However, there was no one at the client site the next morning except a security guard. The guard’s records didn’t show that I was supposed to be there that day, although they did show that I was going to be delivering training on Thursday and Friday. That was strange, considering that we had scheduled a three-day class. I…
