The Secrets of Consulting: A Guide to Giving and Getting Advice Successfully (Consulting Secrets Book 1)

around from change to constancy, that is, from what clients want to happen to what they don't want to happen: I ask a question such as, "As we implement this plan, what is the one thing you want to be sure doesn't change?" If I remember to ask this question before I start rattling off plans for change, I may avoid resistance altogether.

The Third Law of Trust: People don't tell you when they stop trusting you. After all, if the clients don't trust you, why should they bother communicating with you?

Five-Minute Rule: Clients always know how to solve their problems, and always tell the solution in the first five minutes.

Brown's Brilliant Bequest: Words are often useful, but it always pays to listen to the music (especially your own internal music). Which brings us full circle, back to knowing yourself, which is where all good consulting work originates. Being able to see what's missing in ourselves is the only possible way to keep us from looking more ridiculous t

Once again, I had failed to notice what wasn't there. I was so problem-oriented, that I missed the non-problems,

When you're not terribly smart, it helps to be a good listener.

"No. You see, after travelin' for a while, I saved enough to retire to the farm. I tried it, but I'd grown accustomed to the life of a wanderin' minstrel. After three months, I signed up for another tour, and I've been goin' ever since. I'll probably die in an airport somewheres." "That's the saddest thing I ever heard." "W

Weinberg's Law of Fetch I told the story about fifty times that day (even a retiring professor has some privileges). When I arrived home, I just couldn't resist telling Dani. I also told the two sisters, born to the same parents, on the same day, who are not twins. Although they probably didn't fully appreciate the story, Rose and Sweetheart love t

"Of course, I did a good job; I worked hard enough at it. And why did I do it? Because "When change is inevitable, we struggle most to keep what we value most." Illusions Only Make It Worse