Today's tip is about reflection and perspective on what delights you about the profession and your practice of consulting.

Spend a few minutes thinking back over your consulting career. Close your eyes (after you are done reading this) and go over the research, marketing, selling, engagements, client conversations, analyses, interviews, publicity events presenting findings and recommendations and being called back to provide additional services. What were the one or two most satisfying and rewarding events or moments you have experienced?

Was is when a team received applause at a board meeting for your work? Was it winning an engagement you had been pursuing for some time? Was it reaching a unique conclusion or insight after a long period of analysis? Was it the times you spent with a valued colleague working on a hard problem? What about being able to speak to audiences about your work or about consulting? Or is it the flexibility of lifestyle consulting can accord?

Tip: Is there a pattern? What were you doing when you experienced your favorite moment? If you think about a few of your favorite moments, is there a pattern? Are they all related to selling your services and wining an engagement, or re they mostly about doing the work? Are the winning moments all of one type? If so, how will you make 2009 a year when you get to experience more of those delightful moments? Why shouldn't you focus your efforts on living a consulting life full of joy?

P.S. Conversely, what were some of the worst moments of your consulting career. Is there a pattern? Can you restructure your practice to eliminate or at lest mitigate them?

© 2008 Institute of Management Consultants USA