Scott Curran, Founder and CEO of Beyond Advisers, shares his inspiring journey from corporate lawyer to social impact consultant. He discusses overcoming imposter syndrome and the value of a beginner's mindset in client interactions. Scott reveals his unique strategy of daily networking meetings to build his client base and emphasizes the importance of clear deliverables in consulting. He also explores transitioning to value-based fees, leveraging AI for efficiency, and how simplicity drives his practice.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Skepticism Rooted in Past Experience
Scott Curran was skeptical about consultants due to many failed consulting relationships he witnessed as general counsel.
His negative experience came from unclear scopes and agreements that locked clients in without exit options.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Clear Scopes and Easy Outs
Use clear, specific, exquisite statements of work to define project scope and deliverables.
Include easy out clauses to avoid locking clients into long, inflexible agreements.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Networking Through Intensive Meetings
To launch his consulting business, Scott scheduled breakfast, coffee, and lunch meetings twice a day for two work weeks.
This led to new leads and his first client through word-of-mouth connections.
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In 'Insanely Simple,' Ken Segall delves into the culture and strategies that made Apple a leader in innovation. The book highlights Steve Jobs' relentless pursuit of simplicity, which was a key factor in Apple's success. Segall shares personal anecdotes and stories from his time working with Jobs, contrasting Apple's approach with that of other companies like Dell and Intel. He emphasizes the importance of small groups of smart people, minimal bureaucracy, and the power of simplicity in achieving clarity and efficiency. The book provides valuable insights into how simplicity can be a driving force for success in any organization.
How does a seasoned corporate lawyer and former General Counsel for a global foundation transition from a world of high-stakes legal and philanthropic work to building a specialized social impact consulting firm - all while initially harboring deep skepticism about the consulting industry itself? Scott Curran, Founder and CEO of Beyond Advisers, shares his nine-year journey from in-house counsel, where he saw many consultant relationships go awry, to creating a thriving practice that now operates almost entirely on retainer and 100% through word-of-mouth referrals.
Scott reveals the pivotal moments and mindset shifts that propelled him forward, from confronting imposter syndrome to his early client acquisition strategy of scheduling daily breakfasts, coffees, and lunches for two straight weeks. He emphasizes the foundational lesson learned: "The most important thing I learned is to not overlook the importance of the beginner's mindset of your client... meet your clients where they are." Today, Scott breaks down his path, from the initial $2,500 project to developing a high-value, retainer-based model, and why "simplicity is at the core of everything I do."
In this episode you will learn about:
Scott’s move from corporate law/philanthropy to social impact consulting
The power of an "exquisite statement of work" and clear deliverables
Overcoming imposter syndrome: assessing risks, seeking advice, and planning
Scott’s 30-meeting networking strategy for early client acquisition
Identifying the market gap for "fractional General Counsel" services
Building a business on 100% word-of-mouth referrals over a decade
Evolving pricing: from a $2,500 first project to high-value retainers
Structuring retainers with clear opt-out clauses to build trust
Choosing fewer, higher-retainer clients over scaling into a large agency
Building a flexible team: core principals and "plug and play" specialists
Leveraging AI for research, like "Google on steroids."
The value of a "beginner's mindset" for deeper client relationships
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