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IT Consultant
Mary Weilage
TechRepublic Staff
Mary Weilage
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Why consultants should banish magical thinking
Chip Camden makes the case that magical thinking, or at least quasi-magical thinking, doesn't benefit consultants or their clients in the long run.
Posted by Chip Camden | October 25, 2011, 1:34 PM PDT | Latest comment by apotheon
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List the consulting tasks you find stupid and boring
Tell us which menial yet essential consulting chores bore you to tears. Chip Camden's list includes features of system maintenance and network administration.
Posted by Chip Camden | October 20, 2011, 9:48 PM PDT | Latest comment by apotheon
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Justify charging clients drive time
Drive time costs could jeopardize your consultancy's profitability. Read tips on calculating and talking to clients about drive time charges.
Posted by Erik Eckel | October 20, 2011, 7:06 AM PDT | Latest comment by VMXTECH
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Highlight missing baselines in Project 2010
Learn how to apply a custom filter to highlight the tasks missing baseline data in Microsoft Project 2010.
Posted by Andrew Makar | October 19, 2011, 8:52 AM PDT
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Why consultants should consider using ConnectWise PSA
ConnectWise PSA was designed specifically for IT consultants. Find out why Erik Eckel is intrigued by the software package.
Posted by Erik Eckel | October 14, 2011, 9:44 AM PDT | Latest comment by atuomala
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Overcome 'baseline bashfulness' with these techniques
Some IT project managers are still reluctant to baseline and commit to a schedule. Here's why, and some ideas about how to get past these concerns.
Posted by Andrew Makar | October 11, 2011, 11:58 PM PDT | Latest comment by alns@...
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Securing your independent consultancy
Consultants can be clients' biggest gaping security hole. Find out why, and learn about ways to lock down those potential leaks.
Posted by Chip Camden | October 7, 2011, 10:52 PM PDT | Latest comment by Sterling "chip" Camden
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What to do when your solution doesn't work
If you roll out a solution that doesn't work, your payment and your reputation could take a hit. Here's how to show the client you're on their side.
Posted by Erik Eckel | October 7, 2011, 1:22 PM PDT | Latest comment by mr_bandit
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Top three technologies all IT consultants should learn
Keep your IT consulting skills relevant by familiarizing yourself with the following three technologies.
Posted by Erik Eckel | September 30, 2011, 8:31 PM PDT | Latest comment by apacsydney
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Making money on free software
How can anyone make money from software development if nobody pays for software? Chip Camden thinks the answer is to stop treating software as a product.
Posted by Chip Camden | September 30, 2011, 3:09 AM PDT | Latest comment by tombonding
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Preventing code rot
Software developers call neglected code that stops working code rot. Chip Camden explains why this often occurs and how to avoid such trouble.
Posted by Chip Camden | September 27, 2011, 4:39 PM PDT | Latest comment by apotheon
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Adopt this flowchart to simplify triage
This IT Consultant Client Triage Decision Tree will help you get through customers' panicky calls when emergencies arise.
Posted by Erik Eckel | September 26, 2011, 4:06 AM PDT | Latest comment by randcon
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Weeding out potentially bad clients
Unless you want to get stuck in a relationship with a nightmare client, it's a good idea to do some sleuthing up front.
Posted by Susan Harkins | September 23, 2011, 10:56 PM PDT | Latest comment by andrewbestseo
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The importance of documenting clients' business objectives
From day one, IT consultants should ask about and document clients' business objectives before suggesting fixes for the current solution.
Posted by Erik Eckel | September 22, 2011, 8:05 AM PDT | Latest comment by D0c
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The seven day work week
Independent consultant Chip Camden sometimes enjoys work more on the weekend, though he wonders if he should scale back his workload on Saturdays and Sundays.
Posted by Chip Camden | September 19, 2011, 9:16 AM PDT | Latest comment by apotheon
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Cutbacks in tech investments leading to more client emergencies
If businesses don't invest in necessary technology upgrades, it will come back to haunt them. A "fire drill" meeting with such clients may be in order.
Posted by Erik Eckel | September 15, 2011, 7:31 PM PDT | Latest comment by Sterling "chip" Camden
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Tips for choosing your professional email address
Your professional email address is like a handshake to clients. Chip Camden advises what to do and what not to do when creating that email address.
Posted by Chip Camden | September 13, 2011, 7:14 AM PDT | Latest comment by Sterling "chip" Camden
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When to apply the shut up strategy
Before offering clients your unsolicited opinions, you should consider whether holding your tongue might be necessary in order to maintain a good client relationship.
Posted by Chip Camden | September 6, 2011, 12:07 PM PDT | Latest comment by susanb@...
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Same conversation, different client
Don't be blase when dealing with clients' major system upgrades. It may be just another day on the job for you, but for the client it's personal.
Posted by Erik Eckel | September 2, 2011, 7:17 PM PDT | Latest comment by AnsuGisalas
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How to know when you have too much business
What's the sweet spot for having enough consulting work and income? Chip Camden reveals the answer.
Posted by Chip Camden | August 29, 2011, 11:17 AM PDT | Latest comment by birumut
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Tips for choosing your professional email address
Your professional email address is like a handshake to clients. Chip Camden advises what to do and what not to do when creating that email address.
Posted by Chip Camden | September 13, 2011, 7:14 AM PDT | Latest comment by Sterling "chip" Camden
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Create a one-page status report with Microsoft Project 2010
See how easy it is to customize Microsoft Project 2010 to create a custom view that filters detailed tasks and highlights the major deliverables that need reviewing in a status report.
Posted by Andrew Makar | March 13, 2013, 12:51 AM PDT
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Learn BYOD policy best practices from templates
No two BYOD policies are or should be alike. Here are four BYOD policy templates that might help you seed your BYOD policy discussion and development process.
Posted by Will Kelly | May 1, 2013, 6:03 AM PDT
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Microsoft Project Professional 2013 new features preview
After using the Microsoft Project Professional 2013 Preview, Will Kelly reports back on a handful of appealing new features and tools.
Posted by Will Kelly | September 18, 2012, 8:24 AM PDT
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Signs a client may not be ready for managed services
Warning bells should go off in your head if you spot any of these items indicating managed services are not a priority at a prospective client's site.
Posted by Erik Eckel | May 15, 2013, 9:44 AM PDT | Latest comment by secondstartech
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Configure automated backups using SyncToy and Windows 7's Scheduled Task
Learn how to create a new SyncToy task that automatically schedules backups of the directories clients need regularly backed up to a network share or external hard disk.
Posted by Erik Eckel | March 9, 2012, 2:34 PM PST | Latest comment by wdpcpa
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Define project scope to include deliverables, boundaries, and requirements
There are two places that scope is defined on your project. High-level scope is defined in your project charter. Low-level scope is defined in your business requirements document. High-level...
Posted by Tom Mochal | September 18, 2007, 1:01 AM PDT | Latest comment by user_786@...
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Customizable IT consultant sample contract
Chip Camden presents his standard consulting contract, along with explanations about each section. See if you can modify his contract to fit your needs.
Posted by Chip Camden | November 3, 2008, 6:31 AM PST | Latest comment by amilkh
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Seven rules for flying with a laptop: Share these tips with clients
A client is planning on flying for an upcoming trip, and you know he may not have time to check the TSA's guidelines on traveling with a laptop. Be a good little elf and prepare your client for...
Posted by Susan Harkins | October 22, 2008, 5:00 AM PDT | Latest comment by Marty R. Milette
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Maximize Office 365 for project management
Project managers can find a lot to like in Office 365 to keep their teams better connected and centralize their project information and communications.
Posted by Will Kelly | May 22, 2013, 5:55 AM PDT
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Herding tigers: How to manage subcontractors for your consultancy
Chip Camden tells a reader who is starting an IT consultancy that she has to coordinate efforts between clients and her genius subcontractors. Post your advice on managing subcontractors.
Posted by Chip Camden | May 7, 2013, 1:25 PM PDT | Latest comment by realvarezm
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Use PERT technique for more accurate estimates
Regardless of the technique you use, the tendency in project estimation is to provide one number for each estimate. In other words, if you have 100 activities on your schedule, each activity would...
Posted by Tom Mochal | June 25, 2007, 8:16 AM PDT | Latest comment by joebailey77
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Huddle: a worthy SharePoint alternative for client collaboration
SharePoint is the go-to collaboration suite for most professional services firms. Find out why the SaaS-based Huddle might be a more expedient and user-friendly client extranet option.
Posted by Will Kelly | May 16, 2013, 12:40 PM PDT
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Marketing trends and strategies for consultants
These survey results indicate what types of marketing consultants spend time on compared with how those varying time commitments result in income.
Posted by Chip Camden | April 23, 2013, 7:07 AM PDT | Latest comment by joerejeski
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Telling clients 'I don't know' is acceptable
Consultants should market themselves to clients as providing the right answers rather than having all the answers. This is why it's beneficial to know how to conduct reasoned research.
Posted by Chip Camden | August 23, 2011, 7:49 AM PDT | Latest comment by bobp@...
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Independent contractors: Make sure your contract protects your interests
Writing a contract can help independent contractors and clients iron out project details ahead of time and avoid potential disputes down the line. Meredith Little outlines what verbiage and...
Posted by Meredith Little | March 13, 2009, 12:25 PM PDT | Latest comment by PMPsicle
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How to determine your consulting fees
In my previous post I mentioned that I'm raising rates for most of my clients this year -- which brings up the question of how we consultants should determine our rates to begin with. Most...
Posted by Chip Camden | January 4, 2008, 1:55 PM PST | Latest comment by DonnaMitchell
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Only novices daisy-chain switches
If you support so many network nodes that multiple switches are required, technology consultant Erik Eckel encourages you to do it right.
Posted by Erik Eckel | November 11, 2011, 11:56 PM PST | Latest comment by spglmn
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Three strengths of a technical project manager
A technical project manager straddles the line between technical savvy and organizational skill. As I mentioned in my earlier blog, this combination makes him prone to the same kinds of...
Posted by Shannon Kalvar | April 14, 2007, 5:25 AM PDT | Latest comment by Todder
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Free project collaboration tools that rock
Andrew Makar explains why these three project collaboration tools are worth a look: Cohuman, Asana, and Trello.
Posted by Andrew Makar | December 3, 2011, 1:45 PM PST | Latest comment by Johndenham
