Craig 4.0 - My Final Work Chapter

It’s now 2018 and that means that it is time to reinvent myself … again. My first reinvention was in 2006 when I made the decision that I no longer wanted to work in management and that I wanted to work for myself. That was Craig 2.0.

In 2006 I was associated with a company as a quasi independent contractor but, in 2010 (Craig 3.0) I decided to go all in and operate entirely as a solo enterprise. Mind you, I had begun to set the foundations for this move back in 2007. During the past seven years I have prepared myself for my final working chapter … Craig 4.0.

All of my iterations have been carefully designed to gradually move myself toward retirement. Craig 4.0 is expected to last five years +/-. I will ride into the sunset before I am 70. I don’t need to work but, until I master the guitar and become a Rock God … it is my hobby and I want my hobby to take up 20 hours or less per week.

NetWorks! Boise

I have taken on a partner for my weekly networking group with the plan for her to assume full control in four to five years. Until then, this will be an every other week responsibility and that gives me a lot more free time. Still, NetWorks! is the gift that keeps on giving and it is my/our full intention to continue to build it. Aside from this. what should I do? A few more vacations and camping trips, for sure, and I’m moving my work focus to …

I’ve never been big on Facebook, Google Plus never really took off, and I recently suspended my activity on Twitter in protest of it becoming a sewer. Let’s face it. Much of social media has become a cesspool. LinkedIn, not yet. It is where my potential clients can be found and I will be focusing my social engagements on this platform only.

As my area of expertise, assuming that I have one, is B2B selling (traditional and social) … LinkedIn is a natural part of this and further mastering it lends itself well to my consulting and training services.

Sales consulting

Sales consulting casts a pretty wide net including … selling, CRM, communications, and salesperson assessments. I’m not looking for long-term engagements. Those would be called “jobs”. Optimal contracts might be 10 hours or less but, no more than 20. I’m going to be very selective about who I work with because … I can.

Workshops

I’ve done a lot of workshops in the past. I think that I am quite good at them and I also enjoy doing them. However, logistically, they are a pain in the ass. I’m not a marketer so that’s a challenge. Finding a place to hold them where the cost of the facility won’t drive the necessary attendee investment in the workshop out of reach … it’s tough.

Therefore, my focus will be on company workshops. I only have to sell you, you provide the facility, and you supply the attendees. I’m charging you hourly so, the more folks that you have, the more cost effective it is for you. I’m thinking about having two or three easily customized programs ranging from two to four hours each.

Sales assessments

Several years ago I invested in the training and the certification needed to properly represent a respected line of assessment tools. These include sales specific instruments that can be used to assist with salesperson hiring including job position benchmarking. There are a number other strong selling related applications.

While I have long since recouped my investment in this line, I have never really pushed it. I started but, my focus was way too broad and it took me into areas that were not sales related and that were definitely not my areas of strength. We all make mistakes. I’ve learned from these and I am relaunching this service with a sales focus only.

Marketing

As I stated earlier, I am no marketer. I’m also not about to go around knocking on doors. I am an excellent networker who knows what it takes to earn referral opportunities. My writing and my real-life and online relationships will, without any doubt at all, provide me with all that I require.

Writing

I have already modified my writing schedule to a manageable workload. I will consider requests to write for others (for free) very carefully. Honestly, if we do not have some sort of pre-existing mutually beneficial relationship, it probably ain’t gonna’ happen.

Of course, if you want to pay me for an article, that might be something to discuss. My hourly rate is $195.00 so please don’t even think about asking me to do it for less. The management thanks you in advance.

I have written a book and an ebook. The ebook is free. Based on what I have been paid in royalties on the book, it might as well have been free. That’s ok. It has met my expectations. I do have two books in draft. They are longer than a typical ebook but shorter than a traditional book. I’m going to finish those up and then self-publish both via Amazon.

Volunteering

I currently volunteer to do a quarterly LinkedIn workshop for job seekers at the department of labor. I have done this same workshop for our local Air Force base as well as some local nonprofits that provide career placement services. I will continue to do this and may expand this offer. Mentoring is another area that I am considering.

It’s going to be a fun ride!

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Craig M. Jamieson

Managing Member at Adaptive Business Services

Craig M. Jamieson is a lifelong B2B salesperson, manager, owner, and a networking enthusiast. Adaptive Business Services provides solutions related to the sales professional. We are a Nimble CRM Solution Partner. Craig also conducts training and workshops primarily in social selling and communication skills. Craig is also the author of "The Small Business' Guide to Social CRM", now available on Amazon!