How to Start Speaking the Consulting Language| For Current and Aspiring Public Health Consultants

Resources Mentioned:Free Translation Guide — Translates your public health skills into consulting language for nonprofits, health systems, and private organizations. Free inside The Public Health Club: https://www.publichealthclub.com/Public Health Consulting 101 — Free live workshop, June 16 + June 17. Register at https://www.publichealthclub.com/publ...Subcontracting to Six Figures (S26F) — Dr. Des's six-week course for landing your first contract. Learn more at https://www.publichealthclub.com/courseThe fastest way to lose a consulting contract before it starts? Walk in talking like you're applying for a job. In this episode — kicking off Public Health Consulting Week — Dr. Des breaks down the language shift every new public health consultant needs to make, why your grant-writing instincts will backfire with nonprofits, and how two S26F students translated their skills into a $67,000 contract for a library.In This Episode, You'll LearnWhy switching from "I" to "we" is the first move you need to make as a consultantHow to translate public health terminology into language your clients actually useWhy writing proposals like a federal grant will get you rejected by smaller clientsThe two paths to landing contracts — and which one Dr. Des shifted toward after burning out on RFPsHow public health skills like strategic planning and facilitation transfer to non-traditional sectorsWhat Dr. Des's first three contracts looked like — $40K, $7K, $85K — all while fully employedFrequently Asked QuestionsHow do you start speaking the consulting language as a public health professional?Shift from "I" to "we." Refer to your business by name — "Strickland Health Consulting provides..." — even as a solo consultant. It positions you as a business, not a job applicant. Exception: when a client specifically requests a solo contractor.Why do public health consultants struggle to win contracts with nonprofits?Most PH professionals are trained to write long federal grants. Smaller nonprofits can't absorb a 50-page proposal — and academic language signals a mismatch. Write shorter, outcome-focused proposals and translate your terminology. "Impact reporting" lands; "evaluation" often doesn't.Do I need to leave my full-time job to start consulting?No. Dr. Des's first contract — $40,000 — came while she was fully employed. Her second was $7,000, her third was $85,000, all alongside a full-time job. The best time to start is while your salary still covers the bills.https://www.drdesshow.com/https://www.publichealthclub.com/