Andrew's Mindmate (00:00):
Hey, everyone, ready to dive in Today, we're all about building a consulting business that really thrives and we've got some great material to work with.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (00:07):
Yeah, this is going to be good. We're unpacking the insights of consultant Andrew Lawless.
Andrew's Mindmate (00:12):
He's got a really interesting approach, blending that sort of classic business wisdom with some of these cutting edge AI strategies.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (00:20):
And it's not just about the tech, which I think is really refreshing. Lawless really seems to get the importance of human connection, making a real impact, that kind of thing.
Andrew's Mindmate (00:30):
Absolutely. And his track record is pretty impressive. I mean, we're talking FBI agents, a consultant running her business from a camper van.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (00:37):
Wait, what? From a camper again?
Andrew's Mindmate (00:39):
Yeah. Tripled her business during the pandemic all while working remotely. It's a pretty wild story.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (00:44):
Okay, now I have to hear more about that later, but first, let's talk about this simplify sell scale framework. Is that like the secret sauce to consulting success?
Andrew's Mindmate (00:54):
Well, it's not exactly a magic bullet, but it does seem to offer really solid roadmap for growth. One of the big things Lawless talks about is the danger of trying to be everything to everyone.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:05):
Oh, I see that whole jack of all trades problem. Right,
Andrew's Mindmate (01:08):
Exactly. He says so many consultants, especially when they're starting out, try to offer every service under the sun instead of honing in on their real strengths.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:16):
It makes sense though, when you're starting out, you're eager to take any client you can get.
Andrew's Mindmate (01:20):
Right. But Lawless argues that that approach can actually hold you back in the long run. He's all about finding that unique niche where your expertise really shines, and then of course, figuring out how to attract those perfect fit clients.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:33):
And that's where this 90 day LinkedIn quickstart comes in.
Andrew's Mindmate (01:37):
Exactly. And it's not about those pushy sales tactics that make everyone cringe.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:41):
Thank goodness for that.
Andrew's Mindmate (01:42):
It's more about building genuine relationships and showcasing your expertise in a way that feels authentic and engaging,
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:50):
Which makes sense, especially considering his background. Did you see that he's coached FBI negotiators and Special Forces teams?
Andrew's Mindmate (01:57):
Yeah. Talk about credibility. Makes you wonder what kind of next level persuasion techniques he picked up from those guys.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:03):
I know, right? But anyway, going back to his approach, he talks a lot about these consultant business motivators. What are those all about?
Andrew's Mindmate (02:10):
So think of them as the five pillars of a successful consulting practice. You've got product positioning, prospects, profits, and processes.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:20):
So pretty much everything you need to think about, all wrapped up in five handy words.
Andrew's Mindmate (02:24):
Exactly. But here's the thing. Lawless warns against trying to tackle all five at once. He says that's a recipe for overwhelm and burnout. Instead, he recommends a more focused approach.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:38):
Oh, I like where this is going. So how do you decide what to focus on?
Andrew's Mindmate (02:42):
Well, he suggests using what he calls a six week cycle. Basically, you identify the two motivators that are most critical for your business right now and pour all your energy into those for the next six weeks.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:53):
And then I'm guessing, reevaluate and choose two more.
Andrew's Mindmate (02:56):
You got it. It's about creating this rhythm of growth, making significant progress without getting completely overwhelmed.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (03:02):
That makes a lot of sense. And this is where he starts talking about incorporating AI not as some magic solution, but as a way to amplify your efforts in those key areas.
Andrew's Mindmate (03:10):
Exactly. So let's say you're struggling to attract new clients for that six week cycle. You might focus on prospects and positioning. You'd refine your ideal client profile, maybe use AI tools for super targeted outreach,
Ann's Digital Ambassador (03:24):
And then boom, you've got a steady stream of those perfect fit clients rolling in.
Andrew's Mindmate (03:28):
Ideally, yes, but let's address the elephant of the room. We keep hearing about how AI is going to revolutionize everything. Is this just hype or is it the real deal?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (03:38):
That's the million dollar question, isn't
Andrew's Mindmate (03:40):
It? Right. And Lawless is a huge proponent of ai. In fact, he calls his approach the AI first framework, and this is important. He also warns against getting caught up in what he calls shiny object syndrome.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (03:54):
Tell me you haven't been there. That's me with every new productivity app,
Andrew's Mindmate (03:56):
Every single time. But with ai, the stakes are even higher. You can waste a lot of time and money chasing the latest gadgets if you're not careful. That's why Lawless stresses the importance of having a clear strategy. He says, don't chase the hype, chase your goals, figure out what you want to achieve, and then see if there are AI tools that can help you get there faster or more effectively. It's like you know that saying, don't bring a knife to a gunfight. It's kind of like that. But with ai,
Ann's Digital Ambassador (04:22):
Don't show up to a client meeting with the latest AI app unless you know exactly how it's going to help you seal the deal.
Andrew's Mindmate (04:29):
Exactly. So how do we cut through all the noise? How do we figure out which AI tools are actually worth our time?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (04:35):
Well, lawless talks about this idea of what he calls Asperger's like focus, and he's not being flippant about it or anything.
Andrew's Mindmate (04:42):
Oh, I was wondering about that, how he was using that term.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (04:45):
Yeah, he's really sensitive to that, but he makes this point that this ability to really hone in on what matters, to tune out all the distractions. It's like a superpower in this day and age,
Andrew's Mindmate (04:56):
Especially with ai, right? Everything's moving so fast. There's always something new. It's easy to get caught up in the hype cycle.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:03):
It's true. And he actually draws a parallel to some of those past tech trends, like the whole ERP craze back in.
Andrew's Mindmate (05:10):
Oh yeah, I remember that. Or even the social media explosion. Everyone was saying it was going to change everything about how we do business.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:17):
And to be fair, there were definitely success stories, but there were also a lot of businesses that kind of got swept up in the hype.
Andrew's Mindmate (05:25):
They invested a ton of time and money and ended up right back where they started.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:28):
And that's what Lawless wants us to avoid with ai. He's all about learning from those past mistakes, approaching this new technology with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Andrew's Mindmate (05:39):
Okay, so how do we do that? What's the key to avoiding those AI pitfalls?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:43):
It all comes back to strategy. Before you even think about integrating ai, you need a clear set of goals, and those goals should be tied directly to those consultant business motivators we were talking about earlier.
Andrew's Mindmate (05:55):
Right? So it's not about just using AI for the sake of it.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:57):
Exactly. It's about using it to achieve specific outcomes, to get you closer to where you want to be with your business.
Andrew's Mindmate (06:03):
So let's say I'm a consultant. I'm listening to this and I'm thinking, okay, this all sounds great, but where do I even start?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (06:10):
Lawless would probably tell you to take a deep breath, put down the latest AI gadget and pick up a pen and paper
Andrew's Mindmate (06:16):
Low tech solution for a high tech world. I like it.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (06:20):
It's all about getting back to basics, right? Remember those five consultant business motivators, product positioning, prospects, profits, and processes? He'd tell you to take a hard look at your business and figure out which two are your biggest pain points right now,
Andrew's Mindmate (06:36):
The bottlenecks to grow.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (06:37):
Exactly. And for the next six weeks, those become your laser focus.
Andrew's Mindmate (06:41):
And then once you've identified those key areas, that's where you start looking at how AI can amplify your efforts. Right?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (06:47):
Exactly. Let's say you're struggling to attract those high quality clients. You could use AI powered tools for hyper personalized outreach on LinkedIn or to help you identify those high value prospects who are most likely to convert into paying clients.
Andrew's Mindmate (07:02):
It's about working smarter, not harder, right?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (07:04):
A hundred percent. And what I appreciate about Lawless is he doesn't just talk about this stuff in the abstract.
Andrew's Mindmate (07:09):
He's
Ann's Digital Ambassador (07:10):
Actually developed a bunch of tools and resources to help consultants implement these strategies.
Andrew's Mindmate (07:15):
Really? Like what?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (07:17):
Well, for example, he's got this really cool chat GPT powered app that helps you identify and define your niche in five minutes.
Andrew's Mindmate (07:25):
Wow, that's impressive. See, that's what I mean about walking the walk. He's not just throwing around buzzwords, he's putting these tools into action.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (07:32):
Exactly. And it's not just about making more money or whatever. He talks a lot about this idea of leaving within, which I find really interesting,
Andrew's Mindmate (07:40):
Leaving within, what does that mean?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (07:41):
So it's like, yeah, you want to build a successful business, but it's also about making a real difference in the lives of your clients, leaving a legacy that goes beyond just the bottom line.
Andrew's Mindmate (07:52):
So much good stuff here. For our listener who's thinking, okay, I'm ready to put this into action. What are some of the key takeaways? Where do they start?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (08:01):
I think that consultant business motivators framework is a great place to start. Really? Remember those five pillars?
Andrew's Mindmate (08:08):
Product positioning, prospects, profits, processes,
Ann's Digital Ambassador (08:12):
Right? Exactly. Lawless would probably say Pick two, the two that are causing you the most trouble right now. The ones that are holding you back
Andrew's Mindmate (08:19):
Your biggest bottlenecks.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (08:20):
Yeah, exactly. And those become your obsession for the next six weeks. You pour all your energy into those two areas.
Andrew's Mindmate (08:26):
No more spreading yourself too thin.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (08:28):
Exactly. It's about laser focus and then bringing those tools that can help you make the biggest impact in those areas. Maybe it's ai, maybe it's something else.
Andrew's Mindmate (08:36):
And then after six weeks, rinse and repeat. Right? Choose two more and keep that momentum going.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (08:41):
That's the idea. Now, one thing we haven't really touched on is how lawless' own background plays into all of this. I mean, this is a guy who's worked all over the world.
Andrew's Mindmate (08:50):
That's right. We're talking world bank startups, the whole nine yards. It makes you wonder how that global experience has shaped his approach to consulting.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (08:59):
Well, I think it definitely gives him a unique perspective. It's easy to get caught up in your own little bubble, especially if you're running a niche consulting practice,
Andrew's Mindmate (09:07):
Right? You're focused on your specific area of expertise, your specific client base.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (09:10):
Exactly. But the world is so interconnected now. It's a global marketplace, really. And even if your consulting niche is hyperlocal, those global trends still matter.
Andrew's Mindmate (09:21):
So you're saying that even if you're not advising Fortune 500 companies or jet setting around the world, there's still value in understanding of what's happening on a larger scale.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (09:30):
Absolutely. The challenges your clients face, the solutions you're offering, they might have parallels in different industries, different cultures all around the world.
Andrew's Mindmate (09:39):
Interesting.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (09:40):
So by tapping into those global insights, you're opening yourself up to new ways of thinking, new approaches to problem solving.
Andrew's Mindmate (09:49):
It's like you know that saying, think globally. Act locally.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (09:51):
Exactly. It's about recognizing that there's always something new to learn, no matter how niche your area of expertise might be.
Andrew's Mindmate (09:58):
And who knows? Maybe that global perspective could even lead to new opportunities for growth, right?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (10:03):
Absolutely. I mean, maybe you start attracting international clients or collaborating with thought leaders from all over the world,
Andrew's Mindmate (10:09):
Or maybe you take your consulting business to a whole new level.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (10:12):
Exactly. The possibilities are endless, really. But I think the key takeaway here is it's not just about building a business, it's about building a legacy.
Andrew's Mindmate (10:20):
And that legacy can extend far beyond our immediate reach. That's something lawless emphasized, that idea of making a real difference in the world.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (10:28):
Absolutely. It's not just about the bottom line.
Andrew's Mindmate (10:30):
Well, there you have it. We covered a lot of ground today. Building a thriving consulting practice, the power of AI and the importance of, as lawless would say, leaving within.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (10:41):
There's a good one.
Andrew's Mindmate (10:41):
It really was. And for our listeners, we're excited to see what you achieve. Maybe one day we'll be featuring your success story right here on the show. Until next time, keep learning, keep growing, and as always, keep diving deep.
This transcript was exported on Oct 05, 2024 - view latest version here.
How AI Could Be Quietly Sabotaging Your Consulti... (Completed 10/05/24)
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