| A big question when starting out is comparable to | | | | this perpetual challenge of computer consulting |
| the chicken and the egg dilemma. Do you get | | | | training versus obtaining clients. Some spend a couple |
| computer consulting training first and then look for | | | | of days a month or a couple of weeks a year going |
| clients? Or do you look for clients and then get the | | | | to formal classroom training. |
| relevant training. In this article, you'll learn why it's | | | | In addition, most consulting firms have "lab systems" |
| best to do them both at the same time. | | | | (for testing and computer consulting training) in their |
| How About Both? | | | | offices so these firms can work with basic, |
| When guiding owners of new computer consulting | | | | entry-level server hardware. These lab systems can |
| firms, my general preference is to do both client | | | | be used to do informal, self-guided computer |
| recruitment and skills development at the same time. | | | | consulting training on a continual basis. |
| You shouldn't take six months off to do computer | | | | Consider a Program |
| consulting training because six months later, how are | | | | You can belong to many different programs that |
| you going to pay the bills? You need paying clients to | | | | allow you to get you copies of software for your |
| survive and thrive in the computer consulting | | | | own internal use and training. If your firm is a |
| business. | | | | Microsoft Certified Partner ( your company gets a |
| On the other hand, if you let six months to a year | | | | certain amount of software for your internal use. |
| go by and you're not keeping your technical skills | | | | Lots of vendor partners do the exact same thing as |
| sharp, at some point you're not going to be able to | | | | part of their annual program membership fee. |
| take on the high-end projects anymore. You're not | | | | This evaluation software is a great way to keep |
| going to bid with confidence on certain kinds of small | | | | your technical skills sharp. Because you're running the |
| business accounts. | | | | programs internally, you and your staff are getting |
| The Ideal Scenario | | | | very proficient on the software before you go out |
| Here's the way most small business IT consulting | | | | and set it up in the field. |
| firms and most computer resellers generally balance | | | | |