What it means to be a consultant?

According to Alan Weiss in his book Million Dollar Consulting - the Professional's Guide to Growing a Practice, being a consultant means the following:

1. First, you have to be cool, retain your sense of humour and perspective at all times. Do not over react, easily get upset or quick to jump to conclusion.

2. Your relationship with the client has to rock solid, enough to make you as part of the family. Client will not likely to call you and share their concerns if they do not trust you. With strong relationship, justification for higher fee tend to be easier.

3. Do not take things for granted. You must be ready and alert at all times to respond to interference and static.

4. You have to see all the twists and turns as opportunities, not threats, and learn to exploit them, not flee from them.

5. You have to be confident about who you are, what you are doing and why are you doing it. Self-esteem is not a function of win or loose; it's the results of knowing that you are prepared, qualified and doing your absolute best, cognizant of the fact that, on accassion, even your best will not be enough.