Today is the start of a new offering / role for me!

Launching myself as a small Consultancy business caused me continuous conflict and confusion around how I offer my services to help Professional Service businesses.

I often hear "law firms don't know what an IT Projects Director is", so I worked hard to build a website and "business" which helped to inform Professional Service businesses how I can help them.

The issue with trying to set up and run as a Consultancy business is that it puts pressure on being able to deliver fixed fee work, an agreed set of results for a fixed project, or to create a "package" to help clients buy something.

This all conflicts with me, as it is not the reality of what I do. More importantly, this?exercise is not helpful for me OR FOR A CLIENT as it gives the impression there is a simple fix available, which is incorrect. (Probably why I have battled back and forth with this and never managed to deliver a fixed fee I want to put my name to! I have toyed with this a number of times, but never got to a position where I am comfortable to commit.)

WHY?

Well, the reality is, I help clients with Strategic IT Projects. These are typically either:

1. Turning around a failed investment in an IT System (no one uses it correctly; it was poorly implemented, and no real training was delivered... we are not benefitting as a businesses from this!)
2. Selecting new IT Software or Systems (ensuring they are selected correctly, successfully implemented... therefore used and delivering improved efficiency)
3. Helping firm's post-merger, consolidate into one successful IT operating system and work as one business. (realising the commercial benefits of a merger, instead of bumping into each other as a small group of separate businesses)

All of which are based on optimising the use of IT and Technology, for your people and your clients, but ultimately so you can deliver a return on the time and money invested!

This means my clients are firms who know they need some specialist skills to help turn things around. Someone who brings the expertise and resource they do not currently have in the business. Skills they probably don't need on the payroll full-time. Business must invest in the right skills and resources required to help transform a growing business. There is no fixed fee package to help this (well certainly not for the project I want to be involved with. Beware the poisoned?chalice!)?

That is why I will be letting Chatham the business, and the brand take a back seat from now on. What I do is not a business. It's me as an individual providing my skills to help make IT a success for your Professional Service business. As such, I will focussing on promoting myself as an individual who is a Strategic IT Consultant / Projects Director available for hire. A freelancer, a contractor... someone who is available for hire.

No magic wands, no big bang, no fixed fee , no package deals.

I appreciate some businesses may not be in a position to afford this, but the reality is, this is what it takes to make good change happen and deliver a successful IT Project. It requires an investment to make it a success. Me trying to work out a fixed service which can help smaller businesses is a square peg in a round hole and it's not a good use of time (for either party).

If you know you need some specialist skills, on your team, to help you steer your IT and Technology in the right direction then I would be very happy to speak with you.

If you know that in order to keep pace with competition, better serve your clients and retain your key people, you need to get IT working for you not against you, then I would be very happy to have a call.??

The work I do typically requires a 2 days per week, over a period of months. This is a Transformation. No quick fixes, but working to help change the destiny of your firm, it's relationship with IT and the return on investment you achieve from it.?

I think, having delivered multiple successful projects, I have now come to terms with the fact that there is a problem trying to turn what I do into a business. It doesn't work as a business. I am better off focussing on what I do, which is taking strategic roles, getting my hands dirty, taking ownership of problems and making good change happen for clients.

If you are looking for someone who is an expert in helping Professional Services businesses make their IT Projects or Direction a success, then let's talk. I'm happy to share how this new offering means I can offer a lower day rate (as no business to build!) and how we can use my expertise to help improve your business.

If this is you, or your firm, here is a link to arrange a call

If you are looking for someone who can help offer some advice for a couple of thousand and send you on your way, that is not me.??