Independent Consulting is Hard Because You Feel Like a Nobody

Becoming an independent consultant means trading the steady paycheck, expense account, steak dinners from salespeople, and speaking invitations to that hot conference in Orlando—to be a nobody.

No one knows about you, no one cares about your business, and no one is depositing a tidy sum in your bank account every other Friday.

Whatever your reason for taking the leap—freedom to travel, working fewer hours, only taking jobs you want, or spending more time with your kids—it’s hard to enjoy it when you’re worried about the mortgage and deciding whether to cancel Amazon Prime so you spend the $16 on tacos instead.

And as you puzzle out how to survive, the decisions hit you like body blows from a prize fighter.

• You have 2 hours. Do you spend it on LinkedIn? Emailing former coworkers? Booking “virtual coffees?” Begging for referrals? What is the best use of those two short hours?
• Do you start a podcast? A blog? A LinkedIn live show? An email newsletter?
• Do you hire a graphic designer, or try to fake it with Canva templates?
• Which CRM should you use? How should you set it up?
• How often do you follow up?
• What words do you write when you’re following up?
• How many times do you follow up before you look like a stalker?
• Do you say “following up,” “touching base,” or “reaching out?” What’s the least nausea-inducing disguise for your desperation? (Answer: None. Never say these awful things.)

Before you know it, you're clocking 60-hour weeks while staring at an empty pipeline in a CRM you’re not sure is even configured correctly. On top of that, you're cranking out content, building a lead magnet, redesigning your website, and—why not?—launching a podcast.

So what do you do instead of spiraling into burnout or silently nurturing an existential crisis? I have a few ideas:

1. Give yourself time. I quit my corporate job four years ago this week. While I still face challenges, they’re different from the challenges 4 years ago. The only way to get to these new problems was to solve the old ones. I used to subcontract—now I hire subcontractors. I used to struggle to explain my offer—now I’m juggling three clients while still producing marketing content. Give yourself time. Solving today’s problems is the only way to unlock tomorrow’s.
2. Stick with what works. If your email newsletter brings in clients, stick with it—even when it’s hard. This is week 16 of Weekly Nuggets, and I haven’t missed an issue, even during a family vacation (it was queued in advance so I could unplug). If LinkedIn messages work, keep doing them. Every day. No matter how tedious. Don’t chase shiny tactics. They’re all hard. Do the one that you’ve proved will work.
3. Learn how to sell. Not high-pressure tactics—but how to guide the conversation, ask the right questions, and qualify (or disqualify) prospects quickly. Sales isn’t a mystery—it’s a combination of mindset, behaviors, and skills. Chicken Dinner Club focuses on all three.

No matter how you feel right now, you are succeeding. Think back to all your past challenges. All the obstacles you overcame. They got you here: Owner. Founder. Principal Consultant. You made it this far. You’ll get through this too—and unlock the next level of challenges when you do.

You can do this.