From Serf to Surfer: Becoming a Network Consultant

Rating:
Summary: Thorough, easy reading, enjoyable, INFORMATIVE
Review: Book covers the business, legal, technical ends of consulting. I feel greatly enlightened after reading it. It was recommended on the Cisco Newsgroup, and I thank the person that told us about it. After reading it, the book will now stand as a reference for me, especially the fine examples of contracts included. A real book written by a real professional, and not stuffy like technical books from experienced people can be. I have nothing bad to say about the book, but everything good. If you have any inkling to become a consultant, or need to know more to help you make the decision, read and absorb this informative how-to manual. It accomplishes what it is supposed to in a somewhat enjoyable/light touch manner, and there isn't any more to say!

Rating:
Summary: Very good!
Review: For those wanting to know about this book. It was excellent. It tells you how to do pretty much EVERYTHING in detail. It answered all the questions I spent days trying to figure out, in a few short paragraphs. Not only that, but it's actually funny. My gf kept teasing me for laughing out loud. Keep in mind it's only $20 too...heh...it costs that much just for a pizza (or 2) these days.

Now for those of you that have already read the book, or know something about consulting, I have a question for you...

I'm trying to start my own consulting business (go figure), but I have absolutely NO clients. What I'm trying to figure out is the marketing aspect. He answered quite a few questions about marketing in the book, but I have a unique problem that he didn't address. I recently moved to a new city, and I don't know anyone. If I knew people, I'd know what to do, but seeing as how I don't... He said to call sales people. I'm trying to find out exactly what he meant by this. What sales people am I supposed to call? Should I get out the phone book and start going through it, asking for a sales person for each business or...?

Please contact me at [e-mail] if you can help with this problem.

Thanks in advance, Brent

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I am halfway through this book and laughed out loud in the company of my friends who asked what I found so funny. I tried to explain, but it was definitely an insiders joke. The scenarios are a great insight to what it must be like as a consultant and the book gives a crystal clear path on how to set yourself up. I wish that I had read this book earlier and I may not have made some of the mistakes which he warns about, though he has saved me from making some that I had plannned eg newspaper adverts A great and entertaining book.

Rating:
Summary: I actually used it
Review: I was heading out on my own in 2001 and my younger brother (also a network engineer) had a copy of this book and gave it to me. He's a fan of Strebe's writing style from other books, and although the unfortunate cover art almost turned him (and I until he explained) away, he bought it.

The book is really pretty useful. For retainers, I use a version of his retainer agreement. However, there are some things that my experience has found are different than his experience.

For example, mailing DOES work. I bet he sent a letter. You don't send just a letter. You send a letter and YOUR BUSINESS CARD. Because out of 1000 businesses, almost nobody might need you right now, but if your card ends up in 20 rolodexes or 50 rolodexes from that mailing, over the course of a year you might get ten calls from that mailing. Calls are worth the $37.00, if that's the formula. Trust me. .... I don't do it every month or even every other month but it does work, and him dismissing it out of hand because he tried it once and didn't get any calls is a little irresponsible.

Another thing is, this book is I'm sure quite true for Matthew Strebe's experience, but if you're doing this in the post-Tech-bubble world, you're going to have to expect that it's going to be harder to find the relationships and big jobs than it was during the years Strebe was gaining his experience as an independent. I'm doing okay, my business is growing SLOWLY but steadily (which is what every entrepeneur I've met and talked to since I started doing this has told me is completely normal) and if you have solid skills like Strebe and I do, you'll prevail eventually and it is worth it.

One other thing I disagreed with is that while it is true you don't want to be buddy-buddy with your customers too much, to the point that you get exploited, the reality is that non-tech type people are a lot more touchy-feely and relationship-oriented and they need to like and trust you because you are carrying the keys to their kingdom and they know it. People can say anything they want about the sales process but the reality is I walk out of a business with a deal or a relationship 100% of the time if I connected as a person with the customer, so they saw me as someone who had the experience and character to be mucking around in their stuff, and about 0% if I didn't. You can't get that by putting up a 100% wall between yourself and your customers. Getting by in this business is less about making "big scores" and more about having successful, long-term relationships where they call you and don't resent your fee because they know you're the best they're going to find. In the 90's it was about "big scores." Not any more, and remember that when you're reading this book. I wouldn't be surprised if Strebe has changed his focus a bit since then, too.

....

Rating:
Summary: I actually used it
Review: I was heading out on my own in 2001 and my younger brother (also a network engineer) had a copy of this book and gave it to me. He's a fan of Strebe's writing style from other books, and although the unfortunate cover art almost turned him (and I until he explained) away, he bought it.

The book is really pretty useful. For retainers, I use a version of his retainer agreement. However, there are some things that my experience has found are different than his experience.

For example, mailing DOES work. I bet he sent a letter. You don't send just a letter. You send a letter and YOUR BUSINESS CARD. Because out of 1000 businesses, almost nobody might need you right now, but if your card ends up in 20 rolodexes or 50 rolodexes from that mailing, over the course of a year you might get ten calls from that mailing. Calls are worth the $37.00, if that's the formula. Trust me. .... I don't do it every month or even every other month but it does work, and him dismissing it out of hand because he tried it once and didn't get any calls is a little irresponsible.

Another thing is, this book is I'm sure quite true for Matthew Strebe's experience, but if you're doing this in the post-Tech-bubble world, you're going to have to expect that it's going to be harder to find the relationships and big jobs than it was during the years Strebe was gaining his experience as an independent. I'm doing okay, my business is growing SLOWLY but steadily (which is what every entrepeneur I've met and talked to since I started doing this has told me is completely normal) and if you have solid skills like Strebe and I do, you'll prevail eventually and it is worth it.

One other thing I disagreed with is that while it is true you don't want to be buddy-buddy with your customers too much, to the point that you get exploited, the reality is that non-tech type people are a lot more touchy-feely and relationship-oriented and they need to like and trust you because you are carrying the keys to their kingdom and they know it. People can say anything they want about the sales process but the reality is I walk out of a business with a deal or a relationship 100% of the time if I connected as a person with the customer, so they saw me as someone who had the experience and character to be mucking around in their stuff, and about 0% if I didn't. You can't get that by putting up a 100% wall between yourself and your customers. Getting by in this business is less about making "big scores" and more about having successful, long-term relationships where they call you and don't resent your fee because they know you're the best they're going to find. In the 90's it was about "big scores." Not any more, and remember that when you're reading this book. I wouldn't be surprised if Strebe has changed his focus a bit since then, too.

....

Rating:
Summary: Serf to Surfer
Review: If your not currently an independent Network Consultant and you have ever dreamed of breaking those 9-5 chains, this book is for you. If you have already broken those chains and are looking for additional good advice, this too is a great book for you! Matthew Strebe obviously speaks from experience. His open honesty is not only on the money, he made me laugh out loud as it seems we have shared many of the same joy's and agony of going it alone. I highly suggest this book to anyone in the field as it offers excellent and accurate advice in the crazy field we are in. This is a must read. GREAT JOB Mr Strebe!

Rating:
Summary: Good book for the beginning consultant
Review: Like a lot of underpaid, underappreciated network admins, I'm looking at going out on my own as a consultant. This is one of the few books available on network or computer consulting, but it's the best one I've read so far. I've bounced the ideas off of relatives and friends that are small business owners, and they generally agree with Matt.

My biggest question is: How do you evaluate the competance of subcontractors?

When you're just starting out, picking a bad subcontractor can torpedo your business before it gets off the ground. How does he work around that problem?

I would also like to see more information on the web hosting/e-commerce field from the small business perspective.

Those two questions are the only reasons that I've downgraded this book from five stars. Aside from that, I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: From Serf to Surfer
Review: Outstanding ! ! Most "consulting guides" seem like they should be college textbooks, and contain a lot of generic recommendations. This book is different. It is a manual to use in the real world, and relates many of the author's actual experiences as object lessons. It gives plain answers to the questions "How do I get started?", "What do I do now?" and "What are the pitfalls to avoid?". If you want the meat and potatoes instead of the fluff, read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Great enlightenment if you stuck in a stagnant work place
Review: This book is not just for people thinking about consulting business. It's also for people who are stuck in work place and wondering about meaning of job. You read how to take advantage of being employed. Most IT workers with mundane routine would be amused and find the author's insight informative. While you don't find much technical aspect of being a network consultant, this book is a great reading and gives you an idea of network consultant life.

Rating:
Summary: Great enlightenment if you stuck in a stagnant work place
Review: This book is not just for people thinking about consulting business. It's also for people who are stuck in work place and wondering about meaning of job. You read how to take advantage of being employed. Most IT workers with mundane routine would be amused and find the author's insight informative. While you don't find much technical aspect of being a network consultant, this book is a great reading and gives you an idea of network consultant life.