ABOUT
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Meet Paul Klein
In 2009 at the peak of the recession as layoffs and the economy were tanking with a family to support and hefty mortgage to go along with it I chose to leave a safe and secure successful 18 year career. I was at the top of my position with no commute in my home town with a full benefits, retirement and a 6-figure salary and left to start my own consulting business.
Most people thought I was nuts and didn't understand what the hell I was doing! Although I was experiencing a very successful career, I felt unfulfilled and miserable and just couldn't take it anymore. Following the principals of my virtual mentors such as Dan Miller and other's I decided I had to created my own way, figure it out and quit relying on others. I didn't make excuses, blame my employer, the system or others. I looked inward and said: "I am going to figure this out and make it work!" |
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I had no track record of my own as a company or business. I had always worked for someone else and yes, I had many contacts in my industry, but I didn't have my own business and was unestablished. I had so many thoughts:
- Would anyone take me seriously?
- Would I be laughed at by my peers and family?
- Where do I start?
- Is a business licenses and insurance required?
- Do I create corporation or sole proprietorship?
- Do I need to hire an expensive attorney?
- What about marketing?
- Where to start advertising?
- How do I get my first clients?
- I have a family to feed man!
Fast forward 9 years and I have started 3 successful businesses generating well over 6 figure incomes with no debt which allows me the freedom to work when I want, where I want and with who I want! I have worked with numerous national and international brands, including: Target, Slack, UC Berkley, Cracker Barrel, Holiday Inn, KFC, Taco Bell, Yum Brands, JC Penney, Bebe, Dollar General, Sherwin Williams, Les Schwab and more.
It hasn't all been unicorns and rainbows! As with any endeavor its allot of hard work, dedication and I have had my share of failures along the way.
One of my most memorable failures, was with Apple. Yes That Apple! The one that created the MAC I am working on right now. I had the opportunity to work on their new headquarters............ the spaceship building you may have heard of in Palo Alto, CA.
My consulting firm was invited to interview with a team of consultants as part of a selection process where Apple would hire us to consult and review their plans and the construction of their new headquarters. Needless to say I was ecstatic with the prospect of working with Apple and probably would have done the job for free just to have that Apple logo on my web page, but as you can see its not there.
We did the interview and I remember the day pretty clearly as, it not everyday that you get to go into Apple headquarters. Once we arrived our team of 15 or so had to check into security and then we went through this huge vacant office building on the old Apple campus. It had tons of models, samples and a complete replication scale model of the new Apple complex.
It was quite impressive and you could sense the amount of time and money they had spent to get every detail worked out.
Even constructing 20 - 30 full size office spaces with full furniture layouts for each of their staff to select prior to construction.
Expense was not an issue!
Once we were in with the team from Apple (no Steve Jobs was not there) each firm had to do a presentation representing their expertise and specialty. My firm had opportunity to go first and thought we did well and were on point, but as the meeting progressed I could quickly see that we were headed in in wrong direction collectively.
At one point, the Apple folks asked "At what point will you review our blueprints?" and without hesitation one of the other firms blurted out "We don't accept any blueprints or plans unless they are at least at 80% completion" This is common place in the construction industry and means very close to 100% complete. but my heart sunk as I thought, "Did he just tell Apple that we would not review their plans until they are at 80% completion"?
Apple doesn't care about industry standard! What they want to hear is that you will be at their desk when they draw a line on a piece of paper, that you are there ready to APPROVE IT! What they lack is time!.........Money is no object!
They were looking for a "partner" not "industry standard!
So needless to say we did not get the contract and the moral of the story is, choose your partners wisely and always know your client's needs and be ready to serve them and help solve their problems.
Consulting is what I do and what I enjoy. I love working from my home, on the road or on the beach in Hawaii with my family.
There is nothing more enjoyable than a location independent consulting business that generates the income to support you and your family and beyond.
I want to share my experience in consulting, starting and running successful businesses. The satisfaction, freedom, and opportunities out there are so great as we are at the dawn of this digital revolution and knowledge economy. So many people suffer from traditional self-limiting beliefs and don't know how or where to start. I want to show them what is possible and help them with their efforts so they can enjoy the same time, location and financial independence.
I am not a coach that helps people find their purpose or passion.
I leave that to others more suited for that but I guess you could call me a business or consultants coach. My wife and I have been married for 25 years and have a wonderful relationship, we have a 24-year-old daughter studying English literature at Arcadia University in Philadelphia, a 20 year old son in his second year of of college studying business and becoming an entrepreneur. Our youngest son is a senior in High School an plays on the varsity basketball team.
Consulting is my business and the business is good! - Paul Klein
It hasn't all been unicorns and rainbows! As with any endeavor its allot of hard work, dedication and I have had my share of failures along the way.
One of my most memorable failures, was with Apple. Yes That Apple! The one that created the MAC I am working on right now. I had the opportunity to work on their new headquarters............ the spaceship building you may have heard of in Palo Alto, CA.
My consulting firm was invited to interview with a team of consultants as part of a selection process where Apple would hire us to consult and review their plans and the construction of their new headquarters. Needless to say I was ecstatic with the prospect of working with Apple and probably would have done the job for free just to have that Apple logo on my web page, but as you can see its not there.
We did the interview and I remember the day pretty clearly as, it not everyday that you get to go into Apple headquarters. Once we arrived our team of 15 or so had to check into security and then we went through this huge vacant office building on the old Apple campus. It had tons of models, samples and a complete replication scale model of the new Apple complex.
It was quite impressive and you could sense the amount of time and money they had spent to get every detail worked out.
Even constructing 20 - 30 full size office spaces with full furniture layouts for each of their staff to select prior to construction.
Expense was not an issue!
Once we were in with the team from Apple (no Steve Jobs was not there) each firm had to do a presentation representing their expertise and specialty. My firm had opportunity to go first and thought we did well and were on point, but as the meeting progressed I could quickly see that we were headed in in wrong direction collectively.
At one point, the Apple folks asked "At what point will you review our blueprints?" and without hesitation one of the other firms blurted out "We don't accept any blueprints or plans unless they are at least at 80% completion" This is common place in the construction industry and means very close to 100% complete. but my heart sunk as I thought, "Did he just tell Apple that we would not review their plans until they are at 80% completion"?
Apple doesn't care about industry standard! What they want to hear is that you will be at their desk when they draw a line on a piece of paper, that you are there ready to APPROVE IT! What they lack is time!.........Money is no object!
They were looking for a "partner" not "industry standard!
So needless to say we did not get the contract and the moral of the story is, choose your partners wisely and always know your client's needs and be ready to serve them and help solve their problems.
Consulting is what I do and what I enjoy. I love working from my home, on the road or on the beach in Hawaii with my family.
There is nothing more enjoyable than a location independent consulting business that generates the income to support you and your family and beyond.
I want to share my experience in consulting, starting and running successful businesses. The satisfaction, freedom, and opportunities out there are so great as we are at the dawn of this digital revolution and knowledge economy. So many people suffer from traditional self-limiting beliefs and don't know how or where to start. I want to show them what is possible and help them with their efforts so they can enjoy the same time, location and financial independence.
I am not a coach that helps people find their purpose or passion.
I leave that to others more suited for that but I guess you could call me a business or consultants coach. My wife and I have been married for 25 years and have a wonderful relationship, we have a 24-year-old daughter studying English literature at Arcadia University in Philadelphia, a 20 year old son in his second year of of college studying business and becoming an entrepreneur. Our youngest son is a senior in High School an plays on the varsity basketball team.
Consulting is my business and the business is good! - Paul Klein
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