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Title: From Serf to Surfer: Becoming a Network Consultant by Matthew Strebe, Matthew Strebe, Steven T. Klovanish, Matt Strebe, Marc S. Bragg ISBN: 0-7821-2661-8 Publisher: Sybex Pub. Date: 15 April, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.88 (16 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK !!
Comment: Overall this book was excellent. The only side of it that I didn't like is that a lot of the TAX/BUSINESS STARTUP information was directed to people living in the US (I figuered that before I purchased it anyhow). The book gets into detail and gives you some confidence in going in alone on this type of business. It's a good idea to read this book before you read others regarding this issue. The other books are 3 times the size and would probably turn the reader off before you get to the next chapter. I really enjoyed reading the book but I decided to start this business more on a part time level rather than quitting my job and going fulltime.
Rating: 4
Summary: Good book for the beginning consultant
Comment: Like a lot of underpaid, underappreciated network admins, I'm looking at going out on my own as a consultant. This is one of the few books available on network or computer consulting, but it's the best one I've read so far. I've bounced the ideas off of relatives and friends that are small business owners, and they generally agree with Matt.
My biggest question is: How do you evaluate the competance of subcontractors?
When you're just starting out, picking a bad subcontractor can torpedo your business before it gets off the ground. How does he work around that problem?
I would also like to see more information on the web hosting/e-commerce field from the small business perspective.
Those two questions are the only reasons that I've downgraded this book from five stars. Aside from that, I highly recommend it.
Rating: 4
Summary: I actually used it
Comment: I was heading out on my own in 2001 and my younger brother (also a network engineer) had a copy of this book and gave it to me. He's a fan of Strebe's writing style from other books, and although the unfortunate cover art almost turned him (and I until he explained) away, he bought it.
The book is really pretty useful. For retainers, I use a version of his retainer agreement. However, there are some things that my experience has found are different than his experience.
For example, mailing DOES work. I bet he sent a letter. You don't send just a letter. You send a letter and YOUR BUSINESS CARD. Because out of 1000 businesses, almost nobody might need you right now, but if your card ends up in 20 rolodexes or 50 rolodexes from that mailing, over the course of a year you might get ten calls from that mailing. Calls are worth the $37.00, if that's the formula. Trust me. .... I don't do it every month or even every other month but it does work, and him dismissing it out of hand because he tried it once and didn't get any calls is a little irresponsible.
Another thing is, this book is I'm sure quite true for Matthew Strebe's experience, but if you're doing this in the post-Tech-bubble world, you're going to have to expect that it's going to be harder to find the relationships and big jobs than it was during the years Strebe was gaining his experience as an independent. I'm doing okay, my business is growing SLOWLY but steadily (which is what every entrepeneur I've met and talked to since I started doing this has told me is completely normal) and if you have solid skills like Strebe and I do, you'll prevail eventually and it is worth it.
One other thing I disagreed with is that while it is true you don't want to be buddy-buddy with your customers too much, to the point that you get exploited, the reality is that non-tech type people are a lot more touchy-feely and relationship-oriented and they need to like and trust you because you are carrying the keys to their kingdom and they know it. People can say anything they want about the sales process but the reality is I walk out of a business with a deal or a relationship 100% of the time if I connected as a person with the customer, so they saw me as someone who had the experience and character to be mucking around in their stuff, and about 0% if I didn't. You can't get that by putting up a 100% wall between yourself and your customers. Getting by in this business is less about making "big scores" and more about having successful, long-term relationships where they call you and don't resent your fee because they know you're the best they're going to find. In the 90's it was about "big scores." Not any more, and remember that when you're reading this book. I wouldn't be surprised if Strebe has changed his focus a bit since then, too.
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Title: The Consultant's Quick Start Guide: An Action Plan for Your First Year in Business by Elaine Biech ISBN: 0787956678 Publisher: Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer Pub. Date: 09 May, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: MCSE Consulting Bible by Harry M. Brelsford ISBN: 0764547747 Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Pub. Date: 01 February, 2001 List Price(USD): $44.99 |
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Title: Start Your Own Computer Business: Building a Successful PC Repair and Service Business by Supporting Customers and Managing Money by Morris Rosenthal, Reva Rubenstein ISBN: 0972380108 Publisher: Foner Books Pub. Date: October, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Getting Started in Consulting by Alan Weiss ISBN: 0471384550 Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Pub. Date: 15 January, 2000 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: CCNA Certification Library (CCNA Self-Study, exam #640-801), Sixth Edition by Wendell Odom ISBN: 1587200953 Publisher: Cisco Press Pub. Date: 14 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $59.95 |
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