Consulting Matters

What do consultants and coaches who are still successful and thriving after 15-plus years in business know that the rest of us don’t?

In this episode, my guest is my longtime friend and colleague Dan Weedin, an author, speaker, and president of Emerging Risk Solutions, for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build a sustainably profitable business that keeps evolving over time.

You’ll discover why your consulting expertise alone isn’t enough, how embracing marketing and thinking like a business owner changes the game, and why knowing where your clients actually come from can help you build a more reliable path to new business.

We also cover how to know when to stay the course versus pivot, why some things that don’t work can ultimately lead you in the right direction, and the role trusting yourself plays in your long-term success.

If you want to build a consulting or coaching business you’ll still love years from now, this conversation is for you.

Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog → betsyjordyn.com/blog/how-to-build-a-consulting-or-coaching-business-that-lasts

NEXT STEPS

Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services

Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads

If you’re on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

I'm talking about your intake form.

You might think of an intake form as simply a way to collect basic information before meeting with a potential client. But I use mine for a whole lot more.

In this episode, I’m sharing how to use an intake form to get more out of every discovery meeting and client opportunity. You’ll discover what to ask potential clients before you meet, how to use their answers to arrive prepared and position yourself as a strategic partner, and how to turn their responses into voice of the client data you can use in your marketing and content. If you want a simple way to improve your discovery meetings while making your entire business development process more productive and effective, this episode is for you.

Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog → 

RELATED EPISODES

How to Land Strategic Client Engagements without Pushy Sales (Ep129) →
https://www.betsyjordyn.com/podcasts/consulting-matters/episodes/2149081551

How to Use a Discovery Meeting to Multiply Revenue and Impact (Ep132) →
https://www.betsyjordyn.com/podcasts/consulting-matters/episodes/2149090265

The Anatomy of High-IMPACT Sales Pages and Proposals (Ep85) →
https://www.betsyjordyn.com/podcasts/consulting-matters/episodes/2148233168

How to Conduct a Market Scan and Find Your Niche →
https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/how-to-conduct-a-market-scan-and-find-your-niche 

NEXT STEPS

Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services 

Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads 

If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/ 

In this episode, I’m sharing five lessons I’ve learned from 20 years of running my own consulting and coaching business. You’ll discover why most of us need a push to finally become our own boss, how the pain that pushed you onto this path can become part of your purpose, and why long-term success requires you to think and act like a business owner, build the right business for you, and stop trying to do everything alone. If you want to build a consulting or coaching business that doesn’t just succeed now but can grow and evolve with you over time, this episode is for you.

Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/5-Lessons-from-20-Years-of-Running-a-Consulting-and-Coaching-Business

See you back on September 24th! 

Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services

Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads

If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

Wondering if it's really possible to launch your consulting or coaching business in less than 30 days...without cutting corners or relying on AI? If you've spent decades building your expertise but feel overwhelmed by turning it into a business, you might assume launching the right way has to take months. It doesn't.

In this episode of the Consulting Matters podcast, my guest is my client Dorothy Mosby, who went from senior academic leader to consulting and coaching business owner in less than 30 days — complete with a clear brand position, compelling messaging, a professionally designed website, and a successful launch just in time for a critical speaking event at a conference filled with her ideal clients.

Together, we pull back the curtain on what made that possible, why speed doesn't have to come at the expense of quality, and why AI can be a valuable tool at times but can never replace the strategy, creativity, and human insight required to build a business that truly represents who you are and connects you to the clients you're meant to serve.

See full show notes and transcript here → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/How-to-Launch-a-Consulting-or-Coaching-Business-in-Less-Than-30-Days
 

At first, relying on referrals to get consulting or coaching clients is great… and reliable. Or at least reliable enough. Your generous network sends business your way. Then thrilled former clients introduce you to new ones. Only problem? This works…until it stops and the question sets in:

What do I do when getting clients primarily through relying on connections and referrals is no longer enough?

If you have been asking yourself these questions, this episode is for you!

In this conversation, seasoned leadership coach and my client Cori Crawford Van Oss and I take you behind the scenes of what it really takes to make the shift from the hustle of getting clients through asking for referrals and the agonizing waiting game to the flow of attracting the right clients – the ones you’re called to serve - to you. 

We talk about the role that content plays in expanding your reach and your impact, and how to overcome the #1 barrier to getting started – which is clarity and confidence in who you help, the problems you solve, the value you create, and your unique perspective that drives how you think about and approach your consulting or coaching.

We also got into how calling herself a trusted advisor (in addition to a coach) with the eyes to see things her clients can’t, helped her not only differentiate herself in the market but truly own her unique God-given gifting. 

We talk about how remarkable content doesn’t just showcase our big ideas but meets clients where they are at each step in their buying journey.

But the real power of owning our unique brand position, clarifying our message, and creating content isn’t about marketing but creating the conditions for transformation, as it provides the psychological safety that it requires. It’s about instilling trust, living our purpose, and making meaning out of our deepest wounds and most painful experiences, which is where the sources for our greatest credibility, empathy, and uniqueness lie. 

If your real question isn’t just about making a shift in your approach to getting clients from chasing or waiting for them to drawing them to you, but it’s more about how to create sustainable success from the inside out, this episode is for you. 

[00:00] When Referrals Aren't Enough

[01:48] A Decades-Long Connection Comes Full Circle

[06:12] From Global Mission Work to Going Solo

[12:06] Why the Rebrand Had to Start From Scratch

[16:13] Naming the Real Problem: Growth Without Burnout

[20:16] The Pregnancy Metaphor: Growing at a Human Pace

[37:23] Your Ideal Client Is an Earlier Version of You

[41:05] Mapping Content to the Buyer's Journey

[54:13] The Rocket Metaphor: Superpowers Born From Pain

Thanks for listening. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified.

If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all my episodes on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/BetsyJordyn

If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

Learn more about Cori Crawford Van Oss's leadership coaching, trusted advisor, and workshop that sustain and increase the impact of mission leaders without burning out staff and volunteers → https://coricrawfordvanoss.com/

Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads

Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more consultants and coaches who need these insights and inspiration 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Consulting Matters! See you next week!

You won’t be after you tune into this episode of the Consulting Matters podcast!

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my brand positioning process and sharing the four questions I ask every client to help them discover their niche fast – without the spin or second-guessing. 

I’ll reveal to you why trying to answer, “What’s my niche?” directly rarely works, why all the time you’ve spent with AI trying to get clarity is leaving you more confused, and what you should be asking yourself and doing instead. 

Ready for a more strategic approach to clarifying your niche, while addressing the very fears of choosing the wrong direction or limiting yourself? Tune in now! 

What you’ll discover in this episode:

0:00 – Struggling to find your niche?
0:22 – Welcome to Consulting Matters
4:47 – Q1: What your niche actually is
7:09 – The "spotlight" mistake everyone makes
9:23 – Why AI can't nail your brand position
14:04 – Q2: Defining your ideal client
21:09 – Q3: The context for your help (the big one)
25:42 – Q4: Filling the market gap
27:57 – Recap and final takeaways

Thanks for listening. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified.

If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all my episodes on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/BetsyJordyn

If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads

Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more consultants and coaches who need these insights and inspiration 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Consulting Matters! See you next week!

If you're a mid-career professional with years of experience, strengths, and possibilities, it's not always obvious which direction is right.

In this episode of Consulting Matters, my client Deborah Masak shares what she's learned about transforming decades of corporate leadership experience into a consulting and coaching business built around the highest level of expertise she earned throughout her career. Together, we explore why so many experienced professionals unintentionally build businesses around an earlier version of themselves instead of giving themselves the promotion they've earned.

This conversation will show you how setting the intention to give yourself a promotion can fast-track your clarity and confidence, keep you from selling yourself short, and lead you to a business that reflects who you've become, not just what you've done.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

01:11 – Deborah's background & how she met Betsy
02:03 – 30 years in corporate L&D, why she wanted out
07:46 – Finding clarity: testing different business directions
16:08 – Trusting the process through the uncertainty
21:30 – Why we undervalue our newest skills vs. our past selves
34:36 – Deborah's offer: elevating L&D as a measurable driver
36:45 – Quick plug: Betsy & Deborah's joint ROI partnership 
40:28 – Building the website & brand messaging
45:09 – The photo shoot "moment of truth"
48:46 – AI vs. human copywriting 
54:49 – Deborah's closing advice
56:19 – Where to find Deborah

Thanks for listening. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified.

If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all my episodes on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/BetsyJordyn

If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

Learn more about Deborah’s strategic coaching and measurement studies for L&D leaders (and how my team and I brought her brand positioning and messaging to life through copy, photos, and visuals)→ https://deborahmasak.com/

Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads

Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more consultants and coaches who need these insights and inspiration 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Consulting Matters! See you next week!

If you think building a thriving consulting or coaching business requires sacrificing your health, relationships, or personal life, think again.

In this episode of Consulting Matters, executive coach and burnout resilience expert Rachelle Stone shares what she's learned after more than a decade of helping high achievers create success on their own terms. Together, we explore why burnout isn't just about working too hard. It's often the result of building your business and life around someone else's definition of success instead of your own.

This conversation will show you what's really required to build a consulting or coaching business that creates meaningful success year after year while also creating a life you love.

What you'll discover in this episode:

WHERE TO DIVE IN

0:00 Rachelle opens with the question that changes everything: whose success script are you actually living?

4:23 The I-95 moment: how Rachelle burned out without even knowing it

9:36 The coaching class epiphany that finally gave it a name

14:44 Where the tagline "no one should burn out of a life they love" was born

20:13 How to identify and rewrite the scripts running your life

31:18 Prevention vs. recovery: why you want to choose prevention

46:08 How Rachelle lives the mission today, including coaching for free at industry conferences

53:57 The one thing to focus on if you want sustainable success

NEXT STEPS

Thanks for listening. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified.

If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all my episodes on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/BetsyJordyn

If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

Learn more about Rachelle's executive coaching for high-performing leaders and burnout resilience → https://rstoneconsulting.com/

MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU

Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads

Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more consultants and coaches who need these insights and inspiration 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Consulting Matters! See you next week!

Five years ago, J. Kyle Howard hired me because he was struggling to articulate what he did and how to package it into a business.

At the time, he was a former CIO trying to figure out how to turn decades of experience into something other people would understand, value, and buy.

In other words, he thought he had a messaging problem.

What neither of us realized was that the challenge wasn't really about messaging.

As we worked together, something deeper began to emerge.

Questions about identity.

Questions about purpose.

Questions about who he was apart from the career he had spent years building.

This week, as part of my "Where Are They Now?" series on Consulting Matters, J. Kyle returns to the podcast to reflect on what happened next.

And what a journey it has been.

Over the past five years, he tried on different business ideas, moved across the country, went through a significant personal healing journey, and ultimately found his way back to an idea that had been trying to get his attention for more than 30 years.

What I love about this conversation is that it captures something I've observed throughout my career.

People often come to me because they think they need help with positioning, messaging, offers, or marketing.

And sometimes they do.

But for many consultants and coaches, particularly those leaving established careers to build something of their own, the real journey isn't about marketing.

It's about becoming.

It's about discovering who you are when the title, the role, the organization, and all the external markers of success are no longer defining you.

It's about finding the courage to build a business that reflects who you actually are, rather than who you think you're supposed to be.

J. Kyle's story is a powerful reminder that clarity doesn't always arrive in a straight line.

Sometimes the detours are part of the path.

00:00 — Entrepreneurship forces inner work

02:09 — What Jay really needed in 2020 wasn't a business plan

06:01 — The promotion that should have been everything

17:33 — Choosing himself over the Northrop Grumman job

18:58 — The hotel lobby stranger who cracked him open

21:20 — 15 days later: two clients and a 35th floor view

23:16 — The question that had bothered him for 30 years

30:11 — What the business actually is in plain English

37:44 — How Jay accidentally became an OD consultant

40:52 — Live messaging coaching on air

50:21 — Three things Jay would tell his 2020 self

Other episodes you may enjoy:

What it Really Means To Be On-Purpose (Ep166)

Are We Aligned on What People-Centered Leadership and Organizations Really Mean? (Ep164)

About my guest: J. Kyle Howard is an organizational systems strategist and founder of the Opportunity Systems Institute. With over three decades spanning oil and gas, healthcare, media, and enterprise technology, he developed Opportunity Systems Architecture — a methodology for diagnosing why talented people inside broken systems produce inconsistent results. His work has driven outcomes like a 17% to 98% project completion rate improvement and $2.4M in savings. Learn more at opportunitysystemsinstitute.com.

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling. Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services