Ep. 8: Alec Sharp | a 4+ Decade Independent Consulting Journey

In this episode of the How I Started Career Stories podcast, Alec Sharp shares his extensive journey as an independent consultant over the past 4+ Decades. He discusses his early career experiences, the transition to independent consulting, and the innovative approaches he developed in data modeling. Alec emphasizes the importance of focusing on the people who do the work and how his business model revolves around consulting, developing intellectual property, and delivering value through teaching. He reflects on the evolution of data modeling needs and concludes with insights on maintaining a successful independent consulting practice.Takeaways- Alec Sharp has 4+ Decades of experience as an independent consultant.- Early career lessons include the importance of taking initiative and not being constrained by job titles.- Transitioning to independent consulting doubled Alec's income overnight.- Building a unique value proposition is crucial for success in consulting.- Alec emphasizes the importance of focusing on the people who do the work.- His business model includes consulting, developing IP, and teaching.- Alec decided against building a larger firm after realizing he enjoys hands-on work.- Data modeling needs have evolved, but the fundamentals remain important.- Alec's approach is to give away knowledge, leading to more opportunities.- Contacting Alec directly is encouraged for those interested in his work.Chapters01:07 - Early Career and Lessons Learned07:53 - Transition to Independent Consulting10:45 - Innovating in Data Modeling12:42 - Client Acquisition and Engagement14:34 - Focus on the People Who Do the Work16:40 - The Business Model of Consulting18:27 - Deciding Against Building a Larger Firm24:25 - The Evolution of Data Modeling Needs27:56 - Conclusion and ResourcesLearn more about Clariteq Systems Consulting: https://www.clariteq.com/Read Alec’s book Workflow Modeling:Workflow Modeling: Tools for Process Improvement and Application Development, 2nd EditionConnect with Alec Sharp:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alecsharp/LucidChart Webisodes series on process mapping methodology:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUr2vo1BNYKWYrzCjCXmYXimCOFTWDTaB&si=tauHVuIhC4VSXNSsQuestions or Guest Ideas? Contact the Host Andrew Kappel on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewkappel/