Art of Consulting Podcast Andy Fry, Cat Lam

Episode Description:
In this episode of Blue Sky Consulting, Cat continues her insightful conversation with Trevor Blake, a visionary serial entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author. Trevor shares the innovative strategies behind his success, particularly his unique "hub model" for building companies without traditional employees. Tune in to discover how Trevor has managed to create and sell multiple companies with a combined value nearing a billion dollars, all while maintaining a balanced and fulfilling personal life.
Key Takeaways:
Introduction to Trevor Blake:
Trevor Blake is a successful entrepreneur who has founded and sold three companies since 2003, with a combined value close to a billion dollars.
He is known for his unique business model that does not involve traditional employees.
The Hub Model:
Trevor's "hub model" involves outsourcing all company functions to professional vendors rather than hiring full-time employees.
This approach stemmed from necessity, as Trevor didn't have the funds to hire employees when he started his first company.
Benefits of the Hub Model:
Allows flexibility and cost savings, especially in the early stages of a company.
Vendors work on a fee-for-service basis, motivated by profit-sharing arrangements and a sense of ownership in the company’s success.
Eliminates the need for extensive supervision and internal meetings, enabling a focus on core business goals.
Real-World Application:
Trevor provides examples from his own experience, including a story about successfully running a company while being out of the country for three weeks.
Highlights the balance this model offers, allowing Trevor to spend significant time on personal activities while his businesses continue to thrive.
Maintaining Relationships and Trust:
Trevor emphasizes the importance of trust and peer-to-peer relationships with vendors.
He shares the success of long-term partnerships, such as his finance team in Texas, whom he has never met in person but maintains a strong working relationship with.
Challenges and Solutions:
Addresses concerns about vendor reliability and turnover, noting that the hub model’s structure and profit-sharing incentives foster loyalty and long-term collaboration.
Discusses the ease of replacing vendors compared to employees, as contracts are more flexible.
Work-Life Balance:
Trevor contrasts his approach with more traditional, high-stress entrepreneurial paths, advocating for a lifestyle that combines business success with personal fulfillment.
Shares his daily routine, which includes spending several hours walking and enjoying nature.
Listener Questions:
Kat and Trevor discuss the sustainability of the hub model and its application across various business functions.
Trevor addresses potential pitfalls and how he mitigates them, providing insights into maintaining vendor relationships and ensuring consistent performance.
Personal Vendor Experience
Trevor shares a personal story about a long-term vendor relationship.
Despite a strong personal bond, Trevor had to part ways with the vendor due to professional reasons, highlighting the different dynamics in vendor relationships.
Employee Relationships and Company Dynamics
Trevor explains the difficulty of ending employee relationships and contrasts it with the maturity and flexibility of vendor relationships.
He discusses his approach to business growth and his preference for exiting companies once they've reached a certain level.
Trevor's Personal Development Programs
Trevor introduces his transformational personal development programs, emphasizing the need for self-transformation to achieve life goals.
He talks about the "transformation experience" which helps individuals rediscover their potential and power.
Transformation Experience Details
The transformation experience is described as a journey back to one's true self, usi

0:05 - Introduction by Cat
Overview of Trevor Blake's remarkable career.
Mention of his achievements: founding, managing, and successfully selling three companies valued at over $300 million since 2003.
0:37 - Trevor's Business Model
Description of Trevor's innovative business structure based on alliances, promoting higher profitability and flexibility.
Trevor's philosophy of integrating work with personal passions for a balanced life.
1:18 - Trevor's Contributions and Recognition
Author of best-selling books: "3 Simple Steps: A Map to Success in Business and Life" and "Secrets to a Successful Startup: A Recession-Proof Guide to Starting, Surviving, and Thriving in Your Own Venture."
Featured in Business Insider, CNN, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal.
Trevor's mantra: Making a positive difference, having fun, and sharing rewards both materially and spiritually.
2:02 - Interview Begins
Trevor thanks Kat for the introduction and shares a light-hearted moment about how impressive his achievements sound.
2:20 - Trevor's Personal Story
Trevor shares his background and personal perception versus public perception.
Emphasizes staying true to his playful and curious nature from childhood.
3:23 - Trevor's Journey to Entrepreneurship
Discusses the importance of creativity and curiosity in his ventures.
Highlights his method of solving problems through fixing gaps he noticed, leading to his entrepreneurial success.
4:56 - Work-Life Balance and Success
Trevor talks about achieving success without overworking.
The importance of balancing productive work time with moments of relaxation and inspiration.
6:09 - Integrating Life and Work
Trevor's approach to integrating work, family, and personal passions for a harmonious life.
Story from "3 Simple Steps" about resolving conflicts among scientists by taking them out into nature.
10:09 - Nature and Problem-Solving
Trevor recounts an experience where taking a team of scientists outside led to a breakthrough.
Emphasizes the role of nature in fostering creativity and problem-solving.
12:22 - Changing Meeting Dynamics
Trevor discusses the impact of unconventional meeting settings on team dynamics and productivity.
Reflections on how stepping out of traditional environments can lead to innovative solutions.
14:49 - Connecting Through Nature
Importance of connecting with nature for mental clarity and creativity.
Trevor shares a personal story about learning more effectively outdoors.
16:09 - Practical Advice for Remote Work
Trevor offers resources on his website, including "The Practical Magic of the Five-Hour Workday."
Aimed at helping people find balance and productivity while working from home, especially during challenging times like COVID-19.
  [16:53] Changing Perspectives on Work Titles: Trevor reflects on the title of his book and the deeper message about structuring your day for optimal performance and well-being.
[17:13] The Importance of Scheduling Breaks: Discussion on the benefits of scheduled walks and naps, with insights from NASA's research on performance improvement.
[17:35] The Magic of Twilight Naps: Trevor shares his personal experience with 20-30 minute naps and their impact on creativity and productivity.
[17:47] Practical Magic of the Five-Hour Workday: Emphasizing the importance of scheduling downtime and "aha" moments for a balanced and effective work life.
[18:33] Insights from Nature and Ego Reduction: Exploring how being in nature can dissolve ego and foster collaborative and innovative thinking.
[18:53] Lessons from "A Course in Miracles": Only love is real; understanding perception problems and how nature helps us reconnect with this truth.
[19:11] The Power of Humility in Nature: How nature humbles us and creates a space where all voices are equal, encouraging idea sharing and innovation.
[21:33] Living Close to Nature: Trevor's personal lifestyle of

Introduction:
Andy and Kat introduce the podcast episode, highlighting their focus on valuable banter and dialogue between the hosts.
Exploring Specialization and Diversification:
Andy and Kat reflect on their backgrounds in ERP consulting, particularly within Oracle implementations, spanning several decades.
They discuss the importance of branching out from a niche specialization to explore transferable skills applicable to new niches and areas.
Kat emphasizes the significance of understanding both functional and technical aspects of consulting, underscoring the value of bridging the gap between business processes and technology.
Andy shares anecdotes illustrating the necessity of consultants to clarify client needs and outcomes, even when clients present partially baked solutions.
The hosts stress the importance of humility in consulting, advocating for asking questions to ensure clarity and alignment between consultants and clients.
Conclusion:
Andy and Kat wrap up the episode by encouraging consultants, especially those early in their careers or transitioning to new areas, to embrace curiosity and ask questions to better serve clients.

Key Points:
Identifying Transferable Skills: The conversation delves into the significance of recognizing transferable skills, regardless of one's specialization. Drawing from personal experiences, they highlight how skills acquired in one domain can be applied effectively in diverse contexts.
Tailoring Resumes for Impact: Rather than listing transferable skills generically, the hosts stress the importance of tailoring resumes to specific clients or projects. They advocate for a targeted approach that highlights relevant skills and experiences tailored to the client's needs.
Continuous Learning: Lifelong learning is emphasized as a crucial aspect of career development. They encourage listeners to observe and analyze business processes in various settings, fostering a mindset of curiosity and adaptability.
The Power of Networking: Building meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues is discussed as a valuable strategy for professional growth. They share insights on the benefits of informal networking, whether through coffee meetings or casual conversations, in gaining diverse perspectives and insights.
Actionable Takeaways: The episode concludes with actionable advice for listeners, including the importance of observing business processes, diligent note-taking, and cultivating genuine interest in people.
Final Thoughts:
By leveraging transferable skills, embracing continuous learning, and fostering meaningful connections, consultants can enhance their effectiveness and versatility in addressing client needs across various industries. The hosts underscore the importance of practical insights and actionable strategies for professional success in the consulting field.

Introduction:
Host welcomes listeners back to another episode of Art of Consulting.
Introduces Jason Hofley as a guest who understands the transformative power of technology in the business world.
Highlights Jason's 20-year career in telco and technology, emphasizing his expertise in enhancing business operations through digital technology.
Mentions Jason's role in aiding small startups, large organizations, and public sectors to scale businesses, increase efficiencies, and boost profitability.
Guest Introduction:
Jason began his career at Bell before moving into business development, particularly at Punch Card Systems.
Jason's expertise includes workflow and process automation, digital workspace solutions, and custom app development, among others.
Acknowledges Jason's numerous accolades, including recognition as a top performer at Bell and Chapter Member of the Year at BNI Alberta North.
Discussion:
Host expresses excitement about the conversation with Jason.
Jason discusses his current focus on preparing for multiple races in the su

Introduction:
Andy and Kat introduce the podcast episode, highlighting their focus on valuable banter and dialogue between the hosts.
Exploring Specialization and Diversification:
Andy and Kat reflect on their backgrounds in ERP consulting, particularly within Oracle implementations, spanning several decades.
They discuss the importance of branching out from a niche specialization to explore transferable skills applicable to new niches and areas.
Kat emphasizes the significance of understanding both functional and technical aspects of consulting, underscoring the value of bridging the gap between business processes and technology.
Andy shares anecdotes illustrating the necessity of consultants to clarify client needs and outcomes, even when clients present partially baked solutions.
The hosts stress the importance of humility in consulting, advocating for asking questions to ensure clarity and alignment between consultants and clients.
 
By combining anecdotes, reflections, and practical insights, Andy and cat provide listeners with valuable guidance on navigating specialization and transferable skills in the consulting industry.
 
In this episode, Andy and the guest explore the concept of transferable skills in the consulting field. They discuss how seemingly unrelated experiences can inform and enrich one's ability to tackle diverse projects and industries. Through anecdotes and insights, they emphasize the importance of continuous learning, note-taking, and building meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues.
Key Points:
Identifying Transferable Skills: The conversation delves into the significance of recognizing transferable skills, regardless of one's specialization. Drawing from personal experiences, they highlight how skills acquired in one domain can be applied effectively in diverse contexts.
Tailoring Resumes for Impact: Rather than listing transferable skills generically, the hosts stress the importance of tailoring resumes to specific clients or projects. They advocate for a targeted approach that highlights relevant skills and experiences tailored to the client's needs.
Continuous Learning: Lifelong learning is emphasized as a crucial aspect of career development. They encourage listeners to observe and analyze business processes in various settings, fostering a mindset of curiosity and adaptability.
The Power of Networking: Building meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues is discussed as a valuable strategy for professional growth. They share insights on the benefits of informal networking, whether through coffee meetings or casual conversations, in gaining diverse perspectives and insights.
Actionable Takeaways: The episode concludes with actionable advice for listeners, including the importance of observing business processes, diligent note-taking, and cultivating genuine interest in people.



Conclusion:
Andy and Cat wrap up the episode by encouraging consultants, especially those early in their careers or transitioning to new areas, to embrace curiosity and ask questions to better serve clients. By leveraging transferable skills, embracing continuous learning, and fostering meaningful connections, consultants can enhance their effectiveness and versatility in addressing client needs across various industries. The hosts underscore the importance of practical insights and actionable strategies for professional success in the consulting field.
 

Introduction:
Kat introduces Pam August, founder and president of Connecting Potentials, as a visionary leader in the realm of organizational development and consulting.
Pillars of Pam's Work:
Pam's approach revolves around three fundamental pillars: organizational development, team effectiveness, and relationship systems.
She emphasizes strategy and culture alignment within organizations, highlighting the importance of coaching and embodied development practices like yoga and mindfulness.
Insights into Human Systems:
Human systems are complex and adaptive, unlike technical systems, making them unpredictable and emergent.
Pam discusses the challenges of change management, citing examples of how humans resist change due to the metabolic cost of active thought and action.
Compliance vs. Commitment:
Pam distinguishes between compliance, complacency, and commitment, illustrating how different approaches yield different results.
She shares anecdotes about compliance, complacency, and commitment in various contexts, emphasizing the importance of engaging individuals to build commitment.
Navigating Organizational Culture:
Pam delves into the unconscious, implicit, and invisible aspects of organizational culture, stressing the need to make unconscious biases and assumptions conscious.
She advocates for intentional team dynamics, where roles and contributions are made explicit and visible to foster collaboration and alignment.
 
Unveiling Potential: Pam introduces her forthcoming book, emphasizing the inherent capacity for exponential impact within individuals, teams, and cultures. She highlights the interconnectedness of personal and collective potential, setting the stage for a deeper exploration.
 
The Three Pillars of Action: Pam unveils three foundational actions—intend, notice, and move—as catalysts for navigating dynamic environments. Through intentionality and acute awareness, individuals and teams can drive meaningful progress towards desired outcomes.
 
Intention vs. Outcome: Drawing a clear distinction between intention and outcome, Pam underscores the importance of aligning personal intentions with collective objectives. By setting intentions grounded in purpose and embodying desired states of being, individuals can foster authentic connection and collaboration.
 
Meta Skills and Collective Intentions: Pam introduces the concept of meta skills as amplified intentions, transcending individual agendas to shape collective experiences. By fostering shared intentions and meta skills, teams can cultivate a cohesive culture of engagement and alignment.
 
The Power of Noticing: Through a compelling anecdote, Pam illustrates the transformative impact of acute awareness in team dynamics. By actively noticing underlying patterns and implicit barriers, individuals can initiate meaningful dialogue and catalyze positive change.
 
Purpose-driven Vision: Addressing challenges in articulating mission and vision, Pam emphasizes the importance of grounding organizational goals in purpose. Rather than fixating on semantics, individuals and startups can align their actions with core values, fostering organic growth and evolution.
 
 
 
 
Unpacking Potential: A Deep Dive
Pam elaborates on the narrative journey within her upcoming book, "Potential: How to Connect What's Already There for Exponential Impact." Through storytelling, she guides readers in shifting their mindset from focusing on problems to recognizing and harnessing potential. Pam emphasizes understanding the human operating systems and capacity to act, feel, and think, supported by insights from neuroscience.
Dimensions of Connection:
She outlines experiences of disconnection characterized by strain, swirl, or being stuck, contrasting with the state of connection marked by energy, ease, and effectiveness. Pam introduces the practice of "intend, notice, and move" as a transformative tool, backed by behavior

Welcome to another episode of "The Art of Consulting Podcast" with your hosts, Andy Fry and Cat Lam. As seasoned IT consultants, CPAs, and professional development connoisseurs, we aim to bring you inspiring messages to help you discover the X factor in your professional field, leading to the success you truly deserve in your career and life.

About Our Guest Today:
Edmund Metera is a senior project manager at CWB Financial Group in Canada.
He firmly believes that the keys to delivering successful projects are not only founded upon expert project management and business analysis competencies but on recognizing, tailoring and applying the best-suited methodologies and techniques to suit the unique technologies, constraints and opportunities at hand.
That philosophy is loud and clear in Ed's book: Universal Process Modeling Procedure: The Practical Guide to High-Quality Business Process Models. He has taught and mentored project managers and business analysts in best practices for professional organizations such as PMI, IIBA, and CMMI. He teaches IIBA-registered business analysis courses and serves as an advisor to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology's Corporate and International Training department’s Business Analysis Certificate Program. He is also the founder of www.ProcessModelingAdvisor.com and a regular BATimes, Modern Analyst and IRM Connects contributor.
 
Episode Summary:
In this episode, Our host Cat Lam and our special guest for today, Ed Metera delve into the world of project management, specifically focusing on the PRINCE2 methodology. They explore the significance of shifting the focus from activities to products, and how this approach enhances project effectiveness and delivery.
Key Points Covered:
Introduction of Guest: Ed Matera
Highlighting Ed's extensive experience in project management, including his roles as a book author, conference speaker, tutor, and senior project manager at Canadian Western Bank.
Emphasizing Ed's dedication to advancing the practice of process modeling through ProcessModelingAdvisor.com.
Understanding PRINCE2 Methodology
Comparison with the Project Management Institute's Body of Knowledge (PMI BOK).
Exploring the seven philosophies of PRINCE2, particularly the principle of "Focus on Products."
Ed's personal experience as a certified PRINCE2 practitioner and its impact on his project management approach.
Product-Focused Project Management
Defining products within a project lifecycle, emphasizing tangible deliverables over activities.
Illustrating the product-oriented approach through the example of implementing a mobile application.
Assigning clear responsibilities to specialists based on product delivery, enhancing accountability and efficiency.
Integrating the product-focused mindset into project planning, scheduling, and communication strategies.
Addressing challenges and dependencies within the project by prioritizing critical path products.
Managing risks and issues by aligning discussions with product delivery milestones.
Overcoming Resource Overlap
Mitigating resource overlap by assigning single individuals responsible for specific products.
Ensuring clarity in roles and responsibilities to minimize disruptions and prioritize product completion.
Product-driven Approach:
Instead of focusing solely on activities, Prince2 emphasizes being product-driven.
Each project team member is clear on their responsibility for a specific product or activity within the project.
Collaboration is encouraged, but accountability remains paramount.
Accountability:
Prince2 advocates for appointing one spokesperson or accountable individual for each micro-product or aspect of the project.
This ensures clarity and efficiency in decision-making and progress tracking.
The question of "Is it done yet?" becomes pivotal in assessing progress and meeting objectives.
Defining Success Criteria:
Success cri