How can you transition from full-time brand strategist to self-employed consultant?

Before you take any of the steps mentioned here I would urge you to really take some time for deep introspection and clarity around what you want for your life as well as career. How do you want to work? Where do you want to work? How much do you want to work? Who do you want to work with? Do you want a team or to fly solo? Having a clear Understanding of your own personal goals, motivations, needs and values is the critical first step when starting any business or project.

Consider what value you bring to others while you have the security of a full-time job. As you work through your day, think about the things that you've become the go-to for. You can offer those services as you start your own business. The folks who champion you within your organization currently can inspire the avatars for your prospective clients and customers. Use your time with them to gather valuable intel about how their current reality differs from their desired reality. That is marketing GOLD!

Having done exactly this it was a realisation that having created a Top 100 branding agency I was spending all my time running a business (not always very well in all honesty) which required me to do things that I didn't like doing and that I wasn't good at. I'd morphed from a strategist to an MD and hated it most of the time. When I decided it was time to go alone I was fortunate enough to have already created an extensive network of clients and contacts which enabled me to seamlessly transition from employed to a consultancy role. I was also able to do this at a pace that suited me and choose the clients who I wanted to help. And by doing so I got back a work/life balance which I hadn't known for 20 years!

Ditch the cubicle shackles, spread your wings! Leaping from full-time drone to self-employed queen felt like skydiving without a parachute, exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. But here's the secret: you built your own parachute. Now, take a deep breath and jump! Embrace the freedom, the challenges, the exhilarating uncertainty. You're a self-employed maestro, crafting your own symphony. Every client, every project, a new harmony. Remember, you built this parachute, you can handle the wind. And trust me, the view from the top is breathtaking. That masterpiece is your business. Craft a brand that roars your essence.A playful name, a logo that winks, a website that sings your story – make it an experience, not a brochure.

Define skills and niche: Identify your core competencies and specialise in a niche area that highlights your strengths and where there is a need. Develop a business plan: Create a detailed business plan that includes your services, target audience, pricing strategy and financial projections. Build a personal brand: Use your experience and knowledge to develop a strong personal brand. Create a professional website and active presence on relevant social media and professional networks such as LinkedIn.

Congratulations – if you're becoming an independent consultant, you can now have a personal brand. This means you should turn yourself into your own case study: Treat your personal brand like you would build any client brand, then hit the market with it as soon as you can. Personal branding is a long-term game.

Accountability is a huge challenge for many self-employed consultants. Without the groupthink to align your priorities, it's easy to let distractions draw your attention to other things. What's more, you assume the responsibility of business development for your business and the responsibility of employee retention (granted to yourself). Over-scheduled entrepreneurs don't have the time to develop themselves, and they inevitably get stuck. You need to establish routines early to manage a focus for both working on your business and working in your business.

Warren Buffett spends most of his time reading. David Goggins spends most of his time reading, You should be no different. Excellence takes commitment and exploring new horizons: Never settle for the current version of your skillset. Remember that in life and business nothing ever stays still. You're always either advancing or regressing.

1. No amount of planning will replace action 2. You will end up in places you didn't expect Recognising that you start only with your skills, network and a few hypotheses can get you very far, because it pushes you to validate your ideas and let go of what doesn't work in favour of what works. Build, test, improve – that's how you conquer your niche.