I picked up The Real-World Consulting Playbook by Deepto Bhattacharya because I wanted something short, honest and useful for real consulting work. The book is compact and focused, and it felt like advice from someone who has actually been in the room and seen things go right and wrong.
What the book is about
In simple words, this book mixes the how and the why of consulting. It explains how to move from a corporate job to consulting or freelancing, how to package what you do so clients understand the value, and how to handle the emotional side of the work — things like burnout, layoffs and doubt. It does not try to be a textbook. Instead it gives short rules, checklists and practical prompts you can use right away.
The tone and style — my take
The writing is very plain and direct. No fancy business jargon, no long theory chapters. That made it easy for me to read in one sitting and then flip back to sections when I needed them. The examples and short tools feel like something I could actually try the next day instead of bookmarking for later.
What helped me the most
I liked the parts about building simple offers and about client conversations. There are small frameworks and rituals the author suggests for creating credibility and staying calm in client meetings. Those felt actionable and not overcomplicated. The book also gives short prompts to think about pricing, scope and how to say no without burning bridges. The practical, checklist style was the most useful thing for me.
Who this book works best for
If you are thinking of starting as a solo consultant, or you are early in your consulting journey and want straight advice, this is a good fit. It is also useful for people who are leaving corporate jobs and want a fast, realistic view of what consulting life looks like. Because it is short, it is not a deep academic manual, but it is very practical.
A small critique
My only real quibble is that at roughly 96 pages the book is very compact, so some topics get only brief treatment. I wished for one or two longer, worked examples that walked through a full client engagement from first contact to delivery. That said, the book’s brevity is also its strength for quick reference, so this is a gentle note rather than a major complaint.
Final thoughts
Overall I found this book to be a friendly, no-nonsense companion for anyone starting or scaling consulting work. It gives clear, usable ideas and reminds you that consulting is part craft and part emotional work. I keep it as a short reference to reread when I need to set boundaries, price an offer, or prepare for a tough client call.
No comments:
Post a Comment