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Notes on independent consulting, positioning, and pipeline.
Practical writing for experienced professionals in international development, climate, and sustainability — on packaging your expertise, finding clients, and why 2026 is a reasonable time to take this seriously.
Why hire a coach in 2026
5 articles
Why Hire an Independent Consulting Coach in 2026
The impact sector is contracting. Here's why a coach shortens the path from expertise to paid, independent work.
Read Why hire a coach in 2026Why the Impact Sector Job Market Is Shrinking in 2026
USAID cuts, sustainability rollbacks, and multilateral hiring freezes are reshaping how climate and development work gets done.
Read Why hire a coach in 2026Salary vs. Day Rate: What Independent Consultants Actually Earn
A $120,000 salary works out to about $545 a day. Here's the arithmetic behind why organizations pay consultants more.
Read Why hire a coach in 2026The Hidden Cost of Full-Time Employment in a Shrinking Sector
Relying on one employer for 100% of your income feels safe. In a contracting market, it can be the bigger risk.
Read Why hire a coach in 2026Is Independent Consulting Right for You? A Self-Assessment
Five honest questions to ask before you decide whether to build a consulting practice or keep looking for a role.
ReadPositioning & offer
5 articles
How to Package Your Expertise Into a Sellable Offer
The consultant in the room isn't paid more because they know more. They're paid more because they packaged it.
Read Positioning & offerHow to Name Your Consulting Niche
You don't need a completely new specialty. You need a name for the thing you're already good at.
Read Positioning & offerFrom Generalist to Specialist: Positioning 15+ Years of Experience
Broad experience is an asset until you have to explain it in one sentence. Here's how to compress it without losing it.
Read Positioning & offerHow to Price Your First Consulting Engagement
Under-pricing feels safe. It usually costs you more than asking for what the work is actually worth.
Read Positioning & offerWhat Makes a Consulting Offer Sellable to NGOs and Donors
Impact-sector buyers evaluate offers differently than the private sector. Here's what actually moves them to say yes.
ReadFinding clients & pipeline
6 articles
Your Former Employer Could Be Your First Consulting Client
A former employer is the most underutilized starting asset in independent consulting. Here's why.
Read Finding clients & pipelineHow to Build a Consulting Pipeline Before Job Ads Even Post
Most of next year's consulting work is being talked about right now, in private conversations, months before anything is advertised.
Read Finding clients & pipelineLinkedIn Outreach for Impact Professionals: What Actually Works
Seventeen conversations in a month started with a connection request and a brief message. Here's what made them work.
Read Finding clients & pipelineWhy the '140 Applications' Problem Is a Signal to Stop Applying
140 applications sent, 2 automated rejections, and silence on the rest. That's not a resume problem.
Read Finding clients & pipelineHow to Network Without It Feeling Transactional
The strongest consulting relationships rarely start with an ask. Here's how to build them anyway.
Read Finding clients & pipelineWhy Timing Your Consulting Launch Before Budget Season Matters
Most of the work that gets commissioned early next year is being decided right now — quietly, before budgets lock.
ReadGetting started & working together
5 articles
Why You Don't Need a Website or an LLC to Start Consulting
So many professionals spend months on branding and business setup before ever talking to a client. It's usually optional.
Read Getting started & working togetherFrom Layoff to Independent Consultant: A Practical Timeline
Six months of watching savings drain, a few false starts, and one conversation that changed the direction.
Read Getting started & working togetherCareer Coaching vs. Independent Consultant Coaching: Which One Do You Need?
Both start from the same place — an unclear story about your own value. They lead in different directions.
Read Getting started & working togetherPower Hour vs. the Full Programme: How to Choose
One session or six over twelve weeks — the right starting point depends on what's actually missing.
Read Getting started & working togetherWhat to Expect in Your First Consulting Coaching Session
Nothing formal to prepare. Here's what actually happens in session one of the programme.
ReadPrefer something shorter?
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