Читать книгу The Consulting Bible - Alan Weiss - Страница 31

Here's an area that can cost you a bundle if you're not careful, and here's why.

When I was fired as president of a consulting firm in 1985 (the owner and I shared a mutual antipathy), I told my wife I was going to go out on my own and no moron would ever be in a position to fire me again. She said fine, what was I planning to do first?

“Get an office,” I responded.

“Why?” she asked.

“I'll be out on my own.”

“Why do you need an office?”

“I won't have any support staff otherwise.”

“Are people going to come to see you, or are you going to go visit them?”

“Uhhhhhh …”

“If it turns out you need an office, then get one. But for now, why not forestall that expense?”

I still don't have an office, or a staff, or an assistant, real, virtual, or imagined (well, there is that picture of Michelle Pfeiffer). My two children went to private school from preschool through their undergraduate degrees at major universities. The total of those tuition payments was $450,000 (don't smirk—it's even worse now). I calculated that, over 21 years, a modest office with utilities, insurance, rent, repairs, and part‐time help would have cost me … $450,000.

Are you getting the picture?