This past Monday I accomplished something I never thought I could do: I ran an ultramarathon.

Talking about it like that makes it feel huge but in reality it was just the cumulation of many smaller steps (many, many steps).

12 months ago I was training for my first half-marathon and I kept at it. Every day built on the last until this week when I was ready run 50 km.

Consulting can be just like this. The work you’re doing now is built on the work from last week, last month, last year, and beyond.

But only if you keep improving and striving to be better.

– – – – – – – –

The Expert Myth: How Looking Up Can Hold You Back (consultingsuccess.com)

Michael Zipursky writes about how you don’t have to be the top consultant in your field, just that you have to keep improving.

How competitors can help grow your creative business (nusii.com)

If you feel like you’ve been losing out to your competitors Nathan Powell has some advice for turning competition to your benefit.

Learn How To Start Freelancing, Find Clients, and Create a Successful Business (theadmin.org) SPONSOR

If you’re starting to freelance or need help finding the ideal clients for you, join my free newsletter for freelancers. You’re sure to learn from the weekly lessons covering getting started, finding clients, focus, and much more

If you can’t write the questions you’re not ready for the test (curtismchale.ca)

Too many people jump right into a sales call with a client and then wonder why they didn’t win the project. Preparing ahead of time by knowing what questions a client will ask and having answers for them will go a long way.

Got Business Burnout? 4 Tips For Coming Back Strong (ittybiz.com)

When you start feeling burnt out at work it can be hard to get going again. I liked what Naomi Dunford said about taking a break but with an intention for the break.

Want to impress prospective clients? Show them tangible results (thecreativeclass.io)

Samar Owais writes about connecting your service to tangible results. So you’re not just a web designer, you’re improving the value of the website by decreasing its bounce rate.

Useful Estimates (expensiveproblem.com)

Estimating how a client will benefit financially from a project sounds daunting but Jonathan Stark shows one easy way to create a simple estimate.

Email Marketing with Rob Walling (devchat.tv)

We had a great conversation with Rob Walling about how to use email marketing with consulting.

Quick Links

Our work ego: the good, the bad, the ugly (pjrvs.com)

31 Major Causes of Failure, According to Napoleon Hill (ittybiz.com)

Did you set that expectation and tell no one? (curtismchale.ca)

Grow Or No : Bottom-Line Advice On Scaling Your Business (bidsketch.com)

You need to talk to ALL the decision makers (curtismchale.ca)

Thanks, I’ll see you next week

Eric Davis (@edavis10)