Also, when you’re internal to an organization, you know the lay of the land in terms of the internal organizational workings and politics, and who is an ally, who is a detractor, and how to manage that in the day-to-day.

When you’re coming in from the outside, usually you don’t have the benefit of that knowledge, so there’s a fair bit of detective work because you need to understand your client’s organizational dynamics but, luckily, you are not embroiled in them in the same way in-house employees are.

How should you prepare for this transition?

Before you leave your job, begin to understand yourself as an internal consultant. Once you understand yourself as an internal consultant, you have already begun living that role out and it becomes just a matter of location. You soon realize how much of what you do is transferable when you go external.

It is also important to understand how much runway you can give yourself financially. Be clear on how much you have, what you need every month, and how much time you have to build your business.

What are the top mistakes people make with this transition?

One of the top mistakes people make is underestimating how long it will take to get a revenue stream. This can be very challenging for people who are accustomed to receiving a steady paycheck. It’s important to be honest with yourself about your finances and devise a clear strategy for how you will create a consistent income flow.

Another common mistake is you will get to work on only the things you prefer without having to work on the parts of the business you don’t enjoy or that may be draining to you. There will be parts of the business that simply have to get done whether you want to do them or not. You have to be able to manage yourself so you get done the parts of the job you don’t find to be within your preferences.

Time management can also be a challenge for many people. When no longer tied to a specific schedule, people can end up not working enough or working way too much. It is really important to figure out what work hours will work for you in your life and your energy levels. Working from home can also often mean frequent interruptions, so setting up a workspace that allows you to focus and creating boundaries are essential.

There may not be any such thing as a smooth transition, but there’s positive transitions.

There will always be things that happen to us during the transition that we would wish didn’t happen, but your transition can be a net positive if you are well prepared. We believe it’s worth it.

Our advice: If you really have a burning desire to enter consulting, then do it!

Resources Mentioned:

Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used by Peter Block