Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel How to Be a Consultant—and Actually Make It Work
Jul 14, 2025
Erin Halper, founder and CEO of The Upside, is a veteran consultant who shares her invaluable insights on thriving in the consulting world. She talks about finding your niche, the critical role of community support, and the importance of strategic planning. Erin offers practical advice on pricing your services and communicating your value succinctly. She also discusses the mindset shift required when transitioning from full-time work to consulting and emphasizes the 'three C's'—confidence, clarity, and curiosity—as keys to client engagement.
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Finding Your Consulting Niche
- List everything you can do and cross off tasks you dislike to focus your consulting practice on work you enjoy.
- Pick tasks that pay well and are urgently needed by companies, leveraging your existing network's industries.
Don't Go It Alone
- Avoid trying to do everything yourself as a solo consultant and seek out communities for support.
- Surround yourself with people who have experience to save time, money, and prevent burnout.
Unpacking Pricing Psychology
- Pricing your consulting work involves overcoming emotional baggage from past pay experiences.
- You must unlearn old beliefs and feel confident charging for your true value, not just your time.