Comments on: Book Reviews http://www.zenofnptech.org/2007/10/book-reviews.html Thoughtful and sometimes snarky perspectives on nonprofit technology Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:30:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: admin http://www.zenofnptech.org/2007/10/book-reviews.html/comment-page-1#comment-4678 admin Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:44:07 +0000 http://www.zenofnptech.org/2007/10/book-reviews.html#comment-4678 I do see your point. It's one thing to justify huge consulting fees for large for-profit companies where the value can be measured in increasing profits, for instance, and the consulting fees are small fractions of the increased profits. And, of course, the CEO, or CFO, or Manager that hires you is making six (or more) figures. It's much harder to justify high consulting fees in a context where sometimes (not always) the benefit is less obviously measurable, or measurable in increased ability to serve people, and those that hired you are getting underpaid because they've chosen to be in the nonprofit sector. I agree with you that the real wealth is discretionary time, but there are all sorts of different ways to achieve that. My way is a simpler lifestyle. I do see your point. It’s one thing to justify huge consulting fees for large for-profit companies where the value can be measured in increasing profits, for instance, and the consulting fees are small fractions of the increased profits. And, of course, the CEO, or CFO, or Manager that hires you is making six (or more) figures. It’s much harder to justify high consulting fees in a context where sometimes (not always) the benefit is less obviously measurable, or measurable in increased ability to serve people, and those that hired you are getting underpaid because they’ve chosen to be in the nonprofit sector.

I agree with you that the real wealth is discretionary time, but there are all sorts of different ways to achieve that. My way is a simpler lifestyle.

]]> By: Alan Weiss http://www.zenofnptech.org/2007/10/book-reviews.html/comment-page-1#comment-4675 Alan Weiss Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:15:12 +0000 http://www.zenofnptech.org/2007/10/book-reviews.html#comment-4675 Thanks for mentioning my book. A great many people in my Mentor Program consult with non-profits. I infer from your comments that there is, in you view, something antithetical about providing quality consulting and making money. Money is simply a means to an end. The real wealth is discretionary time. If you don't help yourself, you can't help others. If I weren't making so much money, I couldn't contribute the substantial amounts I provide for charities. This is a business, and successful consultants have to regard it as such. Thanks for mentioning my book. A great many people in my Mentor Program consult with non-profits. I infer from your comments that there is, in you view, something antithetical about providing quality consulting and making money. Money is simply a means to an end. The real wealth is discretionary time. If you don’t help yourself, you can’t help others. If I weren’t making so much money, I couldn’t contribute the substantial amounts I provide for charities. This is a business, and successful consultants have to regard it as such.

]]> By: Michele Martin http://www.zenofnptech.org/2007/10/book-reviews.html/comment-page-1#comment-4671 Michele Martin Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:02:36 +0000 http://www.zenofnptech.org/2007/10/book-reviews.html#comment-4671 Hi Michelle--I've read the first two book and agree with both of your reviews. The third I have not read, but have seen similar books on how to charge for consulting. I actually agree that it makes no sense to use time as the unit for exactly the reasons he describes. I also think that when you bill based on time, you get away from the "results" piece of it. Considering that nonprofits are increasingly being held responsible for outcomes, not just activities, it makes sense that their consultants would move in this direction, too. I could see being paid some base for doing the work and then a bonus or something on top of that for achieving specific outcomes. I actually have a book around here somewhere that describes how to negotiate this kind of process. I'll have to look for it. Definitely an interesting conversation to have. Hi Michelle–I’ve read the first two book and agree with both of your reviews.

The third I have not read, but have seen similar books on how to charge for consulting. I actually agree that it makes no sense to use time as the unit for exactly the reasons he describes. I also think that when you bill based on time, you get away from the “results” piece of it. Considering that nonprofits are increasingly being held responsible for outcomes, not just activities, it makes sense that their consultants would move in this direction, too. I could see being paid some base for doing the work and then a bonus or something on top of that for achieving specific outcomes. I actually have a book around here somewhere that describes how to negotiate this kind of process. I’ll have to look for it. Definitely an interesting conversation to have.

]]>