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Circa 2010

In 2010 Bruce Katcher, Ph.D. an industrial/organizational psychologist, consultant, author, and speaker, founded the Center for Independent Consulting. This was it's website.
Content's from the site's 2010 archived pages.

The new owner of this domain has chosen to keep much Dr. Katcher's original content and to point visitors who have inadvertantly ended up here to Dr. Katcher's Discovery Surveys website for more information: http://www.discoverysurveys.com/ .
Discovery Surveys, Inc. provides strategic consulting based on high quality, customized research using paper, telephone, web, and focus group methods.

 

Dr. Bruce Katcher
Dr. Bruce Katcher,
Executive Director

Bruce Katcher, Ph.D. is an industrial/organizational psychologist, consultant, author, and speaker.  He founded Discovery Surveys in 1993 and specializes in helping organizations improve the morale, motivation, and productivity of their employees.  Bruce received his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in 1983 and has more than 25 years experience advising senior management.  He has consulted to more than 100 clients including Alcoa, Bankers Trust, Dunkin' Donuts, Fidelity Investments, Johnson & Johnson, Revlon, Sodexho USA, Timberland, the Tata Group, Tufts University, and W.R. Grace.

Bruce is the author of An Insider's Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice (AMACOM, 2010).  He recently founded the Center for Independent Consulting. The Center helps consultants to start and grow their consulting businesses. He served as president of The Society of Professional Consultants for four years and on the board of the New England Society of Applied Psychology for four years.

The Center For Independent Consulting
Sharon, Massachusetts
(781) 784-4367

 

 

As a personal injury lawyer, I spend my days advocating for those who've been hurt, often due to someone else's negligence or a lack of proper safety protocols. It's a field that demands meticulous attention to detail, a deep understanding of complex regulations, and the ability to articulate clear, compelling arguments. That's why, when I venture into my consulting niche, specializing in safety protocols for businesses, I look for resources that offer the same level of practical, actionable insight I expect in my legal work.

The Center for Independent Consulting website, and especially the material related to An Insider's Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice by Dr. Bruce Katcher, truly resonates with me. The challenges outlined here – firmly establishing a business, marketing services effectively, and proving value to clients – mirror many of the hurdles I face in my primary legal practice. Just as a consultant needs to stand out from the competition and establish credibility, so too does a personal injury lawyer in a crowded legal landscape. We both need to demonstrate our expertise, build trust, and deliver tangible results for our clients, whether that's a robust safety plan or a successful legal outcome.

What I particularly appreciate about this site and Dr. Katcher's approach is the emphasis on practical advice and real-world scenarios. It's not just theoretical; it's about what works and how to implement it. This is crucial for me because, much like a flawed safety protocol can lead to serious injury, a poorly executed legal strategy can leave a client without justice. This resource provides a solid framework for navigating the intricacies of the consulting world, and for someone like me, who brings a distinct professional background to the consulting table, that guidance is invaluable for ensuring I can effectively help businesses prevent the very accidents I litigate against. It's truly a must-read for anyone serious about making their consulting venture a success. Josh Hollander

 

 

Circa 2010

A Message from Our Executive Director

Welcome to The Center for Independent Consulting.

We are an international membership association for professionals aspiring to become successful independent consultants.

  • Are you a restless employee yearning to start your own business?

  • Are you an unemployed professional tired of job searches and layoffs?

  • Are you just sick of working for someone else?

  • Do you want the potential to make significantly more money?

  • Do you want more control of your life and your career?

  • Are a consultant who wants to jump-start your business?

If so, the Center may be right for you.

We can help you learn how to:

  • Firmly establish your consulting business;

  • Select the right business model to maximize your profits;

  • Focus your business;

  • Effectively market your services;

  • Succeed at selling;

  • Charge and receive higher professional fees;

  • Negotiate contracts;

  • Build a business that will thrive even during challenging economic times.

All members receive a combination of individual and group experiences tailored to their specific needs.

 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CONSULTING?

The Consulting Mentoring Program may be right for you if you are trying to answer the following questions:

  • Employee, contractor, or consultant: Which is right for me?

  • How do I get started?

  • How do I land my first client?

  • How much should I charge for my consulting services?

  • How can I stand out from the competition?

  • How do I establish my credibility in the marketplace?

  • Should I charge by the hour, by the project, by retainer, or for the value I provide?

  • How should I market my consulting services (without having to spend a lot of money)?

  • How do I write a winning proposal?

  • How do I successfully close sales?

  • How can I make more money than I made as an employee?

Bruce will work with you in-person, via phone, or via teleconference on an on-going basis. He will provide you with solid advice, challenging homework assignments, motivation, and inspiration.

If you are interested and willing to make a serious commitment to jump-start your consulting business, contact Bruce today at 781-784-4367 or BKatcher@centerforindependentconsulting.com. (Serious inquiries only.)

 

 

AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CONSULTING PRACTICE

Do You Have What It Takes to Make It as an Independent Consultant?

AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CONSULTING PRACTICE

Bruce L. Katcher, Ph.D.
with Adam Snyder

Becoming your own boss… It's a dream shared by many recent casualties of corporate layoffs as well as restless employees who are tired of the shackles of the corporate world. Launching a solo venture, however, can lead to a nightmare of demoralizing failure and financial disaster for those who lack a clear business plan and realistic sense of the hard work ahead. After recovering from the shock of getting laid off more than seventeen years ago, Bruce Katcher vowed to take total control of his financial fate by going into business for himself. Through trial and error, continuous learning from his fellow consulting colleagues, and perspiration, he eventually made himself into a respected, valued, and financially comfortable consultant. And he has never looked back. For anyone drawn to the dream of becoming his or her own boss, Katcher now offers the benefit of his experience-and the experiences of other consultants in diverse industries with an original survey of 200 successful independent consultants-in AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CONSULTING PRACTICE (AMACOM; March 16, 2010; $19.95 Paperback).

"It's not rocket science," Katcher assures everyone who longs for financial independence and more control over how, where, and when they work. "All you need is the willingness to get out of your comfort zone, learn, and work hard, as well as the ability to meet the needs of clients…and a method for finding more clients."

To make sure that every aspiring consultant is truly on the best course, Katcher begins by clarifying the critical differences between an employee, a contractor, and a consultant. Then, he gets down to the business of making the dream of becoming your own boss a reality. All self-contained, each chapter focuses on a particular challenge faced by independent consultants and presents several different solutions. To keep the lessons interesting, relevant, and useful, each chapter opens with a story that demonstrates how that challenge was faced by a real, live successful consultant.

An invaluable resource for established as well as fledgling consultants, AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CONSULTING PRACTICE offers specialists in all fields proven, simple, and highly effective ways to:

  • Establish credibility through writing articles, delivering speeches, and other approaches.

  • Market their consulting services, with an emphasis on providing value to potential clients.

  • Nurture strategic relationships and leverage networking opportunities.

  • Sell their consulting services and set fees that are fair but reinforce the value of their service.

  • Deliver tangible results and make certain their recommendations are implemented.

  • Manage their time, maintain their motivation, avoid loneliness, and handle the other perils of working on your own.

To offer more valuable insights, Katcher shares the results of his original survey of 200 successful independent consultants. Among the sample's characteristics, 63 percent had never worked for a consulting firm before starting their own consulting business and 41 percent earn more than $100,000 a year from their consulting work. Practical and realistic, AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CONSULTING PRACTICE leads the way to living the dream and prospering from doing the work you love.

 

+++++

 

AMAZON REVIEWS

***** Eric Bloom
I found many of the book's concepts of great interest and others that will truly transform my business.
January 6, 2018
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This book contains a wide array of valuable topics for both new and experienced consultants and entrepreneurs in general. I found many of the book's concepts of great interest and others that will truly transform my business. I highly suggest this book to those who are new to consulting as well as for those with significant experience.

+++
*****  eackbarali
Really really good book.
January 3, 2013
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I have not even completed reading this book and I can give it 5 stars. The author is ultra practical in his approach which I really appreciate. Too many books talk too much on concepts. He really gives it to you in plain English. As a consultant for about 10 years, I can say that he hits the nail on the head almost every time (thus far) which respect to screw ups that can be made. Heaven knows I have made more than a few. I wish I had this book 10 years ago.

Once of the most important points coming out from the book is the ability of any consultant to find a proper niche. Dangerous to be a jack-of-all-trades in this business. And this is something I had to correct just a few years ago. And it has made a big difference.

Two thumbs up on this work.
+++

 

**** Corn Cob
Great except for one thing.
February 25, 2013
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This is a very good guide for those entering, or with a little experience in, consulting. The author describes alternatives, and their pros and cons, very well. It provides advice on important choices a consultant will have to make. It is also easy, and enjoyable, to read.
There is one reason I gave it four, rather than five, stars. In Chapter 3, the author states that consultants should focus on a narrow niche, rather than generalizing. He writes that consultants should not provide a wide variety of services. I have known other successful consultants who state that a specialist niche can be restrictive; and that being a generalist is good. The truth is; the trade-offs depend on the consultant and the consultant’s field. It is unfortunate that the author did not describe the various reasons a consultant might tend towards generalizing or specializing, as he did with other issues.

+++

***** Paula Usrey
I like practical, meaty books
January 24, 2016
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I like practical, meaty books. This book had lots of useful information and "how to" sections. Too many of these books rely just on personal experience and include a lot of fluff. I didn't find this to be the case with Katcher's book.

+++

***** Daniel Schrader
Aspiring independent consultants start here
February 27, 2018
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This might be the first book I've ever written a review for, but I couldn't resist. This book is incredible: clear, concise, and informative. It's hard imagine a better overview of the subject. Each chapter covers a concept that's vital to think through before getting started and by the time you get to the end of it, you will have a general idea about the direction of everything you never even knew you'd have to think through.

If you're thinking about becoming an independent consultant, this is where you should start.

+++

N. Putman
5 stars
Great and practical book for consultants!
June 2, 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is a great book on consulting services. It serves equally well aspiring consultants as well as experienced professionals in the consulting business. The book offers practical advice with plenty of great tips that I have not found so abundantly in other best-selling consulting books. I have read Getting Started in Consulting by Alan Weiss and The Business of Consulting by Elaine Biech, and although these are good books, I found Successful Consulting Practice to be extremely useful and pragmatic.

I had considered starting a consulting business for several years before I took the leap. Initially hired to work for a specific e commerce site, I had worked as their webmaster for many years. Later when many online sites unexpectedly saw their ranks drop precipitously due to bewildering google penealties, I branched out as a freelance SEO Google penalty expert actually learning on the job, so to speak, since each penalty unwind was different. Clients whose google penalties I unwound successfully started to ask if I could become their primary webmaster. That was not quite the direction I wanted to move in. I wanted to continue as an independent consultant advising on a higher level of SEO than a webmaster. I really enjoyed the sleuthing involved in unwinding google penalties. When I first worked with an e commerce client that sold sports clothing and equipment they were pretty small. The the business started growing. I found myself actually perusing their site looking for a new North Face jacket as the ski season approached. Since I had done so much work for the business, the owner gave me  (and continues to give me) a very nice discount on any product I want. I admit North Face became the brand I most like. I must have bought at least four North Face jackets over the span of a year. A ski jacket, a rain jacket its with GoreTex technology, a wind breaker and a great hoodie. Well, that can sometimes be one of the perks in this business. However, as one client referred me to another client and then another, I stopped looking for new clients. People started asking me what I did and I would answer, I am a consultant. I realized at some point that I really need to educate myself about how I wanted to approach this consulting thing. It turns out I was already doing some of the things suggested in AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CONSULTING PRACTICE. However reading the book opened my eyes to

One observation I want to make is that if you read the book on a Kindle some of the chartd are hard to read. However, in general, this is a excellent purchase.

+++

***** Jean Ntayomba
Best book on consulting
September 11, 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Best book on consulting. This book walks you step by step through all stages of consulting practice from setting up business to management. A must read.

+++

***** Theresa
Practical advice
January 23, 2018
I enjoyed Dr. Katcher's writing style as well as his practical advice. I look forward to implementing my learnings and getting my consulting practice off the ground.

+++

***** Amazon Customer
The right book and reference for anyone want to start work in consulting
August 5, 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Valuable, comprehensive, clear and it is really the right book for anyone want to start work in consulting. Organized and easy to read I think because of the coauthor who is an editor. The book supported by survey results, summarize ideas and contains real stories relevant to each chapter topic then challenges, solutions and conclusion. It is really an excellent reference for anyone interested in consulting business.

 

 

More Background On CenterForIndependentConsulting.com

 

The consulting profession has long attracted experienced executives, managers, psychologists, engineers, accountants, technology specialists, and other professionals seeking greater independence, flexibility, and financial opportunity. Yet making the transition from employee to successful independent consultant is rarely straightforward. It requires far more than technical expertise. Successful consultants must also master marketing, sales, pricing, networking, proposal writing, client management, and business development.

CenterForIndependentConsulting.com was created specifically to address these challenges. Established in 2010 by industrial and organizational psychologist Dr. Bruce L. Katcher, the website served as both an educational resource and professional membership organization dedicated to helping independent consultants build thriving businesses. Although the original organization is no longer active in the same form, the website remains historically significant because much of its educational content has been preserved and visitors are redirected toward Dr. Katcher's continuing consulting work through Discovery Surveys.

Unlike many consulting resources that focused on large consulting firms or enterprise consulting methodologies, the Center concentrated almost exclusively on helping individual professionals become successful solo consultants. Its practical, experience-based guidance appealed to professionals who wanted greater control over their careers after corporate downsizing, layoffs, retirement, or simply a desire for greater independence.

The Origins of the Center for Independent Consulting

The Center for Independent Consulting emerged during an especially turbulent period in the American economy. Following the financial crisis of 2008 and the recession that followed, many highly experienced professionals found themselves unemployed or uncertain about long-term corporate employment. Others voluntarily left large organizations seeking greater flexibility and better work-life balance.

Recognizing these trends, Bruce Katcher launched the Center in Sharon, Massachusetts as an international membership association for professionals interested in becoming independent consultants. Rather than functioning as a traditional consulting company, the Center acted as an educational organization that provided mentoring, coaching, publications, and practical advice designed to help consultants launch and expand their own practices.

Its messaging reflected the realities facing many professionals during that era. Visitors were asked whether they were tired of layoffs, frustrated with corporate employment, interested in earning more money, or looking for greater control over their careers. These themes resonated strongly during the post-recession economy, making the website particularly timely for professionals considering self-employment.

About Founder Bruce L. Katcher

The credibility of the website rested heavily upon the extensive professional background of its founder.

Bruce L. Katcher, Ph.D., is an industrial and organizational psychologist who earned his doctorate from the University of Maryland in 1983. Before establishing the Center for Independent Consulting, he built an extensive consulting career advising senior executives and organizations on employee engagement, workplace motivation, organizational effectiveness, and management performance.

Earlier in his career he founded Discovery Surveys, Inc., a consulting and research firm specializing in employee surveys, organizational assessments, and strategic workplace research. Discovery Surveys developed customized research programs using web-based, telephone, paper, and focus-group methodologies to help organizations improve employee morale and productivity.

Over the course of his consulting career, Katcher advised more than one hundred organizations ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to universities and international businesses. Clients included companies such as Alcoa, Johnson & Johnson, Fidelity Investments, Revlon, Dunkin' Donuts, Timberland, Sodexo USA, Tufts University, W.R. Grace, and India's Tata Group.

His professional leadership extended beyond consulting engagements. He served as president of the Society of Professional Consultants for four years and also held leadership positions within the New England Society of Applied Psychology. These experiences provided both practical consulting knowledge and insight into the challenges facing independent professionals.

Purpose and Mission

Rather than promising overnight success or emphasizing entrepreneurial hype, the Center promoted consulting as a disciplined professional business requiring careful planning and sustained effort.

Its mission centered on helping professionals:

  • Establish independent consulting businesses
  • Select profitable business models
  • Develop specialized consulting niches
  • Build professional credibility
  • Market consulting services effectively
  • Increase consulting fees
  • Negotiate client contracts
  • Develop sustainable long-term practices

The site's messaging consistently emphasized practical execution rather than theory. Visitors were encouraged to develop clear business strategies, identify specific markets, and continuously improve both their expertise and their ability to attract clients.

This pragmatic philosophy distinguished the Center from many broader entrepreneurship websites that focused primarily on startup motivation rather than the operational realities of professional consulting.

Location and Geographic Reach

The Center for Independent Consulting operated from Sharon, Massachusetts, a suburban community approximately twenty miles southwest of downtown Boston.

Although physically based in New England, the organization described itself as an international membership association. This broader reach was made possible through telephone mentoring, teleconferences, publications, and online educational resources that allowed consultants throughout the United States and internationally to participate.

Its proximity to Boston likely offered several advantages. Greater Boston has long been recognized as one of America's major centers for higher education, healthcare, biotechnology, management consulting, and professional services. The region's concentration of universities, research institutions, and technology companies created a rich environment for management consultants and organizational psychologists.

Rather than limiting its services to local businesses, however, the Center positioned itself as a resource for consultants regardless of geographic location, reflecting the increasingly national and international nature of professional consulting even before widespread remote work became commonplace.

Intended Audience

One of the website's strengths was its clearly defined audience.

Instead of attempting to appeal to all entrepreneurs, the Center focused specifically on experienced professionals possessing valuable expertise who wanted to monetize their knowledge independently.

Its primary audiences included:

  • Corporate professionals considering self-employment
  • Recently unemployed executives
  • Human resources professionals
  • Organizational psychologists
  • Engineers
  • Financial consultants
  • Information technology specialists
  • Healthcare professionals
  • Management consultants
  • Experienced independent consultants seeking business growth

The website recognized that many prospective consultants already possessed deep technical expertise. Their greatest challenge was not learning more about their profession but learning how to transform professional expertise into a successful consulting business.

This distinction shaped nearly every aspect of the Center's educational materials, which concentrated heavily on marketing, positioning, pricing, relationship building, proposal development, and long-term business sustainability rather than technical consulting methodologies.

Reviews and Community Reception

Although the Center for Independent Consulting itself was a relatively specialized professional resource rather than a mass-market website, one of its strongest indicators of credibility came from the reception of Bruce Katcher's companion book, An Insider's Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice. The book became the centerpiece of the Center's educational philosophy and was widely recommended by professionals entering or expanding consulting careers.

Readers consistently praised the book for its practical, no-nonsense advice. Rather than presenting abstract theories about entrepreneurship, reviewers emphasized that Katcher provided actionable recommendations based on real consulting experience. Many appreciated the inclusion of stories from practicing consultants, which illustrated both common mistakes and successful strategies.

Several recurring themes emerged from reader reviews:

  • Clear explanations that were accessible to first-time consultants.
  • Practical marketing and business-development techniques.
  • Realistic discussions of pricing consulting services.
  • Valuable guidance on choosing a profitable niche.
  • Honest treatment of the challenges of independent consulting.
  • Useful advice for both beginners and experienced consultants.

Numerous reviewers commented that they wished they had discovered the book years earlier because it could have helped them avoid costly mistakes while establishing their consulting businesses. Others noted that the advice remained applicable across many consulting disciplines, from management consulting and information technology to engineering, healthcare, organizational development, and human resources.

A small number of readers disagreed with certain recommendations, particularly Katcher's strong emphasis on specialization rather than operating as a generalist consultant. Even these reviewers, however, generally praised the overall quality of the material while acknowledging that different consulting markets may require different business strategies. This balanced reception suggested that the book encouraged thoughtful discussion rather than presenting rigid formulas for success.

Press Coverage and Professional Recognition

The publication of An Insider's Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice generated attention within the consulting and business publishing communities. Released by AMACOM (the publishing division of the American Management Association), the book benefited from distribution through established business channels, helping introduce Bruce Katcher's consulting philosophy to a broader audience.

Professional publications highlighted several distinguishing features of the book, including:

  • Original survey research involving approximately 200 successful independent consultants.
  • Numerous real-world case studies.
  • Practical recommendations based on decades of consulting experience.
  • Coverage of business topics often overlooked by technically skilled professionals.

The survey itself added credibility because it moved beyond one consultant's personal experiences. Instead, Katcher incorporated insights gathered from practicing consultants representing diverse industries and backgrounds. Findings showing that many successful consultants had never previously worked for consulting firms challenged common assumptions about how consulting careers begin.

His leadership within the Society of Professional Consultants further enhanced his professional reputation. Serving as president of a nationally recognized professional organization exposed him to a wide variety of consulting practices and reinforced the Center's position as a serious educational resource rather than simply a marketing website.

What Made the Website Different

During the late 2000s and early 2010s, many business websites focused primarily on entrepreneurship in general. They discussed raising venture capital, launching technology startups, or developing scalable online businesses.

CenterForIndependentConsulting.com occupied a very different niche.

Instead of encouraging readers to build startups employing dozens of people, the website focused on professionals selling their own expertise. Its content recognized that consultants are fundamentally different from product businesses because their knowledge, credibility, and relationships are the primary assets they offer clients.

Several characteristics distinguished the Center from many competing resources:

Practical Rather Than Motivational

The site devoted relatively little attention to inspirational success stories or motivational slogans. Instead, it emphasized practical implementation through pricing strategies, proposal writing, contract negotiation, networking, and client acquisition.

Experience-Based Advice

Nearly every recommendation reflected lessons learned through decades of consulting experience rather than theoretical business models. This practical orientation appealed to seasoned professionals who wanted actionable guidance.

Broad Applicability

Although Bruce Katcher's own background centered on organizational psychology and employee engagement, the Center intentionally designed its educational materials to benefit consultants from many disciplines.

Visitors included professionals working in:

  • Information technology
  • Human resources
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Engineering
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturing
  • Education
  • Organizational development
  • Executive coaching

Because the underlying business principles applied across industries, the Center attracted a diverse consulting audience.

Long-Term Business Development

Many entrepreneurial resources emphasize rapid growth or short-term revenue generation. The Center instead encouraged consultants to build sustainable businesses capable of surviving changing economic conditions through careful positioning, specialization, relationship building, and consistent value delivery.

Cultural and Professional Significance

Although the Center for Independent Consulting never became a mainstream consumer destination, it occupied an important place within the professional consulting community during a period of significant workforce transformation.

The years following the 2008 financial crisis saw dramatic increases in freelance work, contract employment, and independent professional services. Many experienced professionals questioned the traditional assumption that long-term corporate employment offered greater security than self-employment.

The Center directly addressed this changing reality by reframing consulting not as a fallback career but as a deliberate professional choice capable of offering:

  • Greater autonomy
  • Increased earning potential
  • Flexible schedules
  • Greater control over client selection
  • Opportunities to specialize deeply within particular industries

These ideas anticipated broader workforce trends that accelerated throughout the following decade. Today, independent consulting has become increasingly common across numerous professions, aided by remote work technologies, digital marketing, virtual meetings, and online collaboration platforms.

In many respects, the Center represented an early voice advocating for knowledge-based entrepreneurship long before freelancing and independent consulting became mainstream career options.

Legacy of the Website

Although the original Center for Independent Consulting no longer operates as an active membership organization, its educational legacy continues through several channels.

Much of the website's original content has been preserved, allowing visitors to continue accessing foundational information about consulting careers. The domain also directs users toward Discovery Surveys, Bruce Katcher's consulting organization specializing in employee engagement, workplace surveys, organizational effectiveness, and strategic research.

Perhaps the Center's greatest lasting contribution lies in the enduring popularity of An Insider's Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice. More than a decade after its publication, professionals continue recommending the book to individuals considering careers as independent consultants.

Its emphasis on specialization, value-based consulting, client relationships, and practical business development remains relevant despite dramatic technological changes affecting how consultants communicate and market their services.

The Center therefore occupies an interesting place in the history of professional consulting education. Rather than promoting fleeting business trends or fashionable management theories, it focused on timeless consulting principles grounded in credibility, expertise, trust, and delivering measurable value to clients.

 

CenterForIndependentConsulting.com represented a thoughtful and highly practical resource for professionals seeking to transform specialized expertise into successful independent consulting businesses. Rather than emphasizing entrepreneurial hype or unrealistic promises of overnight success, the website reflected the accumulated knowledge of an experienced organizational psychologist who had spent decades helping businesses improve performance while simultaneously building his own respected consulting practice.

Bruce Katcher's professional background, academic credentials, leadership within the consulting profession, and extensive client experience gave the Center a level of credibility that distinguished it from many business coaching websites. His emphasis on practical implementation—finding a profitable niche, building credibility, developing relationships, pricing services appropriately, and consistently delivering measurable value—addressed the actual challenges faced by independent consultants rather than simply encouraging people to start businesses.

The Center also reflected broader economic and workforce changes occurring during the late 2000s and early 2010s. As corporate restructuring, layoffs, and evolving employment models prompted many experienced professionals to reconsider traditional career paths, the website offered a structured roadmap for those seeking greater autonomy and control over their professional futures. Its focus on knowledge-based entrepreneurship anticipated trends that have only accelerated with advances in remote work, digital communication, and the expanding freelance economy.

Although the Center itself no longer functions as an active membership organization, its influence continues through Bruce Katcher's ongoing work at Discovery Surveys and through the continued availability of An Insider's Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice. The book remains widely recommended within consulting circles because its core principles are largely timeless. Consultants still face many of the same questions regarding positioning, specialization, client acquisition, proposal development, pricing, networking, and long-term business growth that the Center sought to answer when it first launched.

The preserved content of CenterForIndependentConsulting.com therefore serves as both a historical snapshot of consulting during the post-recession era and an enduring educational resource. It illustrates that successful consulting depends not merely on technical expertise but on the ability to build trust, communicate value, establish meaningful professional relationships, and continually adapt to changing business environments.

For aspiring consultants, experienced independent professionals, and anyone interested in the evolution of professional consulting as a career, CenterForIndependentConsulting.com remains an informative example of how practical education, experienced mentorship, and evidence-based business advice can help professionals successfully navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur.

 

CenterForIndependentConsulting.com