Here's how you can distinguish between being self-employed and working as a consultant.

"Success is not just about what you accomplish in your life, it’s about what you inspire others to do." – Unknown Self-employed individuals run their own business, handling all aspects and taking on broader responsibilities. In contrast, consultants provide specialized advice on a project basis, often through a firm. Self-employed professionals typically have ongoing client relationships and more operational control, while consultants focus on specific projects with defined timelines and less operational risk.

Self-Employed: Broad range of tasks and responsibilities. Manages all aspects of the business (marketing, finance, operations). Works on multiple projects or services simultaneously. Greater control over work schedule and client selection. Directly responsible for business growth and client acquisition. Consultant: Focused on specific projects or areas of expertise. Hired to provide specialized advice and solutions. Works within client-defined scope and objectives. Typically operates on a contract basis with defined deliverables. Engages with clients to solve particular problems or improve processes.

Being self-employed means running your own business, which could involve selling products or providing diverse services under your brand. You manage all aspects, from marketing to finances. As a consultant, you specialize in offering expert advice within a specific field to various clients, often on a project basis. While consultants can be self-employed, the key difference lies in their focus on delivering specialized knowledge and advice, rather than a broad range of services or products. This focus on expertise and client-based projects is what typically defines a consultant.

Is Ankur Adaptable? Today either you are an entrepreneur or a consultant, adaptability is the key. I joined a somewhat start-up wherein every vertical was being looked after from hiring, division of labour to execution of the project. Now, as an entrepreneur we are involved in the same. Pivoting and being adaptable to meet contingencies is the key!

Perception management : Against the misnomer, our clients aren’t external, we need to convince our internal stakeholders as well to ensure whole-hearted cooperation and devotion to success. Their perception management regarding the PMF, execution with optimal resources & closing the loop with correct deliverables takes centre stage.

Self-Employed: Direct Client Engagement: Manages client relationships personally. Long-term Relationships: Often works with clients on an ongoing basis. Client Acquisition: Responsible for finding and securing clients. Broad Services: Provides a wide range of services to meet diverse client needs. Personal Branding: Clients associate services directly with the individual. Consultant: Project-Based Engagement: Hired for specific projects or expertise. Short-term Relationships: Relationships are often limited to project duration. Client Specificity: Engages with clients to address specific issues or improvements. Defined Scope: Works within clearly defined project parameters and deliverables.

I serve : others or my employees:: No entrepreneur can vehemently proclaim of being ‘one’s own god’. Earlier in corporate settings one is bound by regulations of the corporate, as an entrepreneur you have deliverables and ownership of your employees. Believe me, it’s a far bigger responsibility. Then why entrepreneurship? It renders sense of bigger achievement, your capability to defy boundaries and ability to help many more.

Consultant and self employed are similar and different at the same time Self employed means that you own the company, and you are also working as an employee usually as a chief executive officer whereas the consultant is an expert on a specific domain. You can be a consultant and employed in yout owned company or any other company.

La libertad que te ofrece trabajar por cuenta propia es un valor diferencial siempre. Para ello, debes saber integrarte perfectamente en cualquier tipo de contexto empresarial, poseer una visión multisectorial y abrazar el cambio para poder ir pivotando de un proyecto a otro, sabiendo que en la diversidad está el aprendizaje y la sabiduría.

Never underestimate yourself: Most of us are tied to similar jobs and scenarios, for they render a comfort, a hidden security and limited ownership whilst entrepreneurship makes you the parent of a new born baby… Now imagine seeing it grow, crawl, walk and run!! Super executing and Super satisfying!!

self employed individuals often manage a range of tasks or services, while consultants focus on specific, specialized projects. Client relationships also differ, with self employed workers typically having ongoing interactions and consultants usually working on a project by project basis. In terms of autonomy, self employed individuals usually have more control over their business and work processes, whereas consultants may have less control but apply their expertise within client defined parameters. Financially, self employed people handle their own business finances, while consultants often command higher fees for their specialized skills.