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The most expensive mistake new consultants make

Feb 21, 2026
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Quick invite (before we start):

On February 26 at 5:00 p.m. CET, I’m hosting a live 90-minute workshop:

From Executive to Entrepreneur.

If you are serious about building a consulting business — not experimenting, but building something that works — this session will give you a structured view of what actually matters in the first 0–2 years.

Positioning. Offer. Sales. Trust.

How they fit together — and where most executives lose time.
No hype. No shortcuts.

Just the system.

If that’s relevant for you, join us live — or register to receive the recording.

Registration link: https://caerus.academy/webinar/ 


Dear reader,

When you leave corporate and enter entrepreneurship, one thing disappears:

Structured urgency.

No quarterly targets.
No board pressure.
No reporting rhythm.

And that’s where many new consultants lose momentum.


Your only non-renewable asset

As a solopreneur, your most critical asset is not your network.

Not your expertise.
Not your tools.

It’s your time.

Everything else can be arranged for.
Time spent — or lost — can never be recovered.

And with nearly 90% of new consultants, I observe the same issue:
A missing sense of urgency.

Not a lack of competence.
Not a lack of ambition.
But a lack of speed.


What "Sense of Urgency" really means

It does not mean stress.
It means clarity + action + results.

It means:

  • Don’t wait for the perfect setup.
  • Don’t polish your offer for months without feedback.
  • Don’t hide behind preparation.

Instead:

1️⃣ Talk to potential clients as early as possible.
2️⃣ Experience their real challenges.
3️⃣ Create → start → fix — fast.
4️⃣ Decide what type of consulting business fits your life — and focus.

Speed creates learning.
Learning creates clarity.
Clarity creates revenue.

The Pattern I See

In the first 12–24 months, many consultants spend too much time:

  • Refining slides
  • Adjusting branding
  • Thinking about strategy

And too little time:

  • In sales conversations
  • Testing real offers
  • Closing real mandates

In corporate, you were paid to optimize systems.
In entrepreneurship, you are paid to create traction.
That is a different game.


4 shifts if you're 0-2 years in

What I had to learn and what I strongly recommend to all that get into Consulting is the following:

1️⃣ Replace perfection with iteration.
2️⃣ Schedule weekly market conversations — non-negotiable.
3️⃣ Measure activity, not comfort.
4️⃣ Decide your game, learn and improve — commit to it.

If things are “moving” but not accelerating, ask yourself:

Am I truly operating with urgency or just staying busy?

Freedom without urgency becomes drift.
And drift costs years.


P.S.

If you missed it above: February 26, 5:00 p.m. CET 
From Executive to Entrepreneur (live 90 minutes).

Register now: https://caerus.academy/webinar/ 

 

 

 

 

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