Madison Who’s Who Blog

We talk often about the unprecedented personal and professional freedom available by virtue of the Internet and the utilization of effective global networking to disseminate info and services.

The idea of the portfolio career where you bundle your skills, deriving streams of income from a variety of means and sources is extremely appealing both for the new generations entering business and the exiting boomer who isn’t quite ready for retirement.

The role of consultant is another service that fits perfectly into that portfolio.

“Whether you’re in a tiny hamlet or mid-town Manhattan, you can take up consulting. Many companies will work with remote consultants. When I was just starting out, the Internet helped me find clients in California, Georgia and Ontario, even though I was based in Vancouver.”.

If you are an expert at what you do, you can supplement your current income, or, as this post from Get Rich Slowly suggests, whittle away a big debt or eliminate a mortgage.

“If you’re new to moonlighting, “consulting” may sound intimidating. It’s really just a fancy word for someone who trades their knowledge and expertise for pay. Every time you make a suggestion, recommend a process, draw up a plan or manage a process, you’re using consulting skills. To get into consulting, you just need to find someone who can use your expertise.
[…]
So, if you’re trying to deal with a mountain of debt, consider looking for ways to pay it off sooner. Although it’s often easy to find a second job at minimum wage, you may be in for a long struggle. Instead, look at ways to earn a professional income so that you can pay down your debt faster or at least with fewer hours of work.”