5 Habits Needed to Start Consulting

Starting a consulting business at first can feel overwhelming. Instead of looking at the mountain ahead, begin with building strong habits.

That view step by step helped me remain focused, productive, and confident.?

These five habits continue to keep me going, even when things get tough.

If you're looking to start your own consulting business, try these habits to build momentum and stay on course.

1. Making Your Bed – Begin with a Small Win

You’re laughing, I know. It might sound simple, but making my bed each morning sets the tone for a productive day.

It gave me an easy quick win first thing in the morning that reinforces discipline and control over my environment.?

In consulting, small wins add up—whether it’s sending a follow-up email, refining your offer, or reaching out to one more potential client. Just like the snowman we built from small packs of snow, your momentum will build from action, no matter how small they may seem.

2. Time Blocking – Protecting Your Time

One of the biggest challenges in consulting is balancing client work, marketing, networking, current FT job and still having personal time.?

Without structure, it's easy to feel scattered and unproductive.?

Time blocking changed that for me. By setting dedicated times for deep work, content creation, and client calls, I became more intentional with my day and accomplished more with less stress.

3. Setting Daily Goals – Progress Beats Perfection

I used to make long to-do lists, but they often left me feeling overwhelmed!?

Instead, I started setting three non-negotiable daily goals.?

These were small, clear, and achievable—things like “Reach out to two potential clients,” “Draft a LinkedIn post,” or “Spend 30 minutes refining my offer.”?

Over time these minor but consistent actions will lead to major breakthroughs.

4. Practice and Refine – Learn as You Go

I didn’t wait until everything was perfect before taking action.?

Instead, I embraced imperfect action. That means building your plane while flying.

Every sales call, every post, every consultation and client is data and provides opportunities o improve.?

Rather than waiting until I felt 100% ready (which seriously never happens as a pharmacist!), I focused on testing, learning, and adjusting along the way.?

I spent much less of this cycle with my coach and more time in getting out speaking with clients knowing I had a solid foundation and process in works.

Your success in consulting isn’t about getting it right the first time—it’s about continuing to show up and improving with each step.

5. Remember Your Why – Your Fuel for Long-Term Success

When things got tough—and they did and still do- I reminded myself why I started.?

For me, it was about preventing diabetes and now helping pharmacists break free from burnout by creating fulfilling careers in consulting.?

Your "why" is what you can lean into in order to keep you going when motivation fades.?

Write it down on your mirror or at your desk!?

Say it out loud. Revisit it often. Let it be the anchor that keeps you steady through challenges.

Building Your Habits Makes Building a Business Possible

Momentum isn’t about waiting for your inspiration—it’s about creating realistic habits that will keep you moving forward.?

Start small, stay consistent, and trust the process.

Which one do you want to try this week?

Let me know—I’d love to hear from you!