"Everywhere Used To Be Like Alberta"

I am fortunate enough to speak to many consultants in varied practices across North America and what I began hearing as a whisper late in 2007 is now being discussed openly. Things are slowing down. Consultants are still working but the notion of actively seeking new engagements is now at the forefront, instead of the background.

As recently as early in 2007 everywhere I looked in North America, the consulting field was "just like Alberta" - Canada's larger than life, "boomingest" province. Busy, and no worries.

But in 2008, even before this week's stock market crash, and surprising semi-recovery, the consulting industry is starting to look a lot more modest. In case you were just thinking it, I can tell you that others are saying it.

So if you were "selling consulting while you were busy consulting" things will be fine. If you ignored your pipeline for the last few years you better get cracking.