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Welcome to your FastTrack Field Report with bite-sized insights to accelerate your shift from employee to confident solo consultant.
The focus here is a foundational one: Getting Out of Employee Mode.
You might have left the job, but the job hasn’t quite left you.
That’s normal. Most of us carry hidden habits from employment into our consulting journey—things like waiting for permission, undervaluing our time, or over-preparing behind the scenes instead of engaging with clients.
Here, we provide the 9 mindset shifts that will help you break out of employee thinking—and start showing up like the strategic advisor you are.
Let’s dive in.
Section 1: The Mindset Shifts
1. Stop Asking for Permission.
You’re no longer reporting to anyone. As a consultant, you’re a peer, not a subordinate. Start trusting your judgement. Own the room.
2. Think in Value, Not Time.
Employees sell hours. Consultants sell outcomes. Start pricing and positioning based on the business value you deliver.
3. Solve Problems, Don’t Fulfill Tasks.
You’re not here to be micromanaged. You’re here to bring clarity, direction, and real change. That’s your lane.
4. Lead the Relationship.
Initiate, propose, structure. Clients feel safer when you lead. Be the guide, not the passenger.
5. Ditch the Job Title.
No one buys a “former engineer.” They buy solutions. So describe yourself by the problems you solve and the outcomes you deliver.
6. Start with Clients, Not Content.
Don’t wait until your website is perfect. Talk to people. Learn their problems. Then build offers that solve them.
7. Charge Like a Business, Not an Hourly Worker.
Hourly rates keep you stuck. Package your services. Anchor your fees to results—not effort.
8. Be Selective, Not Grateful.
Not every client is a fit. Say no when needed. You’re building a business, not collecting random gigs.
9. Get Comfortable with Visibility.
Post. Speak. Write. Visibility builds trust. You don’t need to be perfect—just present and consistent.
Section 2: Your Next Steps
Now—three quick actions to put this into motion.
First, audit your beliefs.
Write down three things you still think or do that feel very “employee.” Then reframe them.
Second, reword one of your services in value terms.
Instead of saying “I do process improvement,” say “I help teams cut delays by 30% through process redesign.”
Third, practice your intro.
Record a one-minute voice note of how you now describe your consulting work. Focus on results. You’ll use this everywhere—from networking calls to client pitches.
These shifts might sound simple, but they’re game changers. They’ll help you stop thinking like a worker-for-hire—and start operating like a business owner.
If you want to go deeper, check out the full PDF version of this Field Report, which includes links to further reading, actionable worksheets, and more tools to support your solo journey.
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And if this helped, share it with someone else who’s on the same path.