Mike Driver
styofa doing anything
One Nice Bug Per Day
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
Monterey Bay Aquarium
shark vs the universe
almost home
ellievsbear
izzy's playlists!
TVSTRANGERTHINGS
Sweet Seals For You, Always
❣ Chile in a Photography ❣
Game of Thrones Daily
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
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will byers stan first human second
Cosmic Funnies
祝日 / Permanent Vacation
Andulka
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@michaeltabirade
Contracting vs Consulting: Which One Should You Start With?
Introduction I remember helping a mid-career professional step into the world of contracting. They were exhausted by corporate politics and craved autonomy. We worked out the transition, they landed a great day rate, and for a moment, it felt like a massive win. But just a few months later, we sat down, and they admitted that contracting simply was not it. They had swapped one manager for…
The Uncomfortable Silence: Why a Digital Detox for Professionals is the Ultimate Strategic Advantage
My wife and I recently packed our bags and headed to a cabin in the woods. There were no notifications. Artificial intelligence was completely absent. As professionals heavily reliant on digital tools to build, scale, and communicate, we realised that to reset truly, we needed to disassociate from the digital noise completely. What I wrote in my journal during that profound silence surprised me,…
Why Your Small Business AI Strategy Is Failing (And How to Reclaim Control)
Introduction Last week, I attended the Trustee Exchange and Memcomm events in London, surrounded by leaders of small to medium enterprises and charities. Underneath the polite networking and warm handshakes, a heavy anxiety hung in the room. These organisations, typically generating between £15 million and £55 million a year, are feeling an immense squeeze. They are pouring funding into digital…
Secure AI Implementation: Why Projects Collapse & How to Lead Safely
I was sitting in a room with non-executive directors, trustees, and CEOs last week, and the tension was palpable. Everybody is still talking about AI, but nobody in that room was asking which tool they should use. They already know the tools. The question keeping them awake at night was entirely different: What happens to our clients’ data when it gets fed into a commercial model? In this…
The Consultant’s AI Blueprint: Scaling Your Professional Ecosystem for 2026
In the consultancy world, we often talk about “leverage”, the ability to amplify our output without linearly increasing our hours. We seek systems that multiply our impact, drive performance, and align delivery with strategic outcomes. Yet, when it comes to the AI tools we use to build that leverage, we act in ways that are fundamentally counter-productive. We hoard subscriptions. We chase the…
The AI Architecture That Scales a High-Value Consulting Practice
In the consulting sector, there is a rapid shift occurring, a technological arms race that is fundamentally altering how value is delivered. Over the last 90 days alone, we have seen major systemic updates across the leading AI models. Yet, the majority of independent consultants are still processing their meetings manually, or worse, using AI in a fragmented, high-risk manner. Without a…
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AI in Consulting: Why It Won't Replace You (But This Flaw Will)
Remember when ChatGPT first launched? I certainly do. I sat there, stared at the screen as it generated a strategic breakdown in mere seconds, and felt a very real, heavy knot in my stomach. The thought was immediate: my job is gone, and the bots are taking over the whole operation. But as the months have passed, the initial panic has subsided, and the practical reality has become abundantly…
Is Traditional Contracting is Fading: How to Pivot to Independent Consulting Today
I will never forget a conversation I had about twelve years ago. I was working in a central booking service, spending my days stuffing envelopes and passing letters between departments. A new starter joined the team. When I asked him about his background, he casually mentioned he had just finished a PhD in genetics or engineering. Stunned, I asked him why he was working there. His reply was…
Brutal Career Advice for Your 30s: How to Pivot
If you’re in your thirties and feeling confused about your career trajectory, you are not alone. Many of us are still following outdated career advice that no longer serves the modern landscape. We are caught in a strange middle ground; we aren’t as young as we used to be, and our physical realities are changing, complete with the occasional broken bone, whilst our responsibilities continue to…
The #1 Mistake Professionals Make Before Starting Independent Consulting
Let’s be honest, things feel heavy right now. The pressure to step out on your own and escape the corporate grind is palpable. Over the past few years, I’ve had countless conversations with professionals who want to transition into independent consulting and build a portfolio career. The questions are always the same: How do I actually secure my first independent consulting contract? How do I…
Why Quitting Without a Plan Isn’t Brave, It’s Just Expensive
The world feels incredibly heavy right now. From rising taxes to geopolitical tensions and an increasingly difficult mortgage market, the pressure is constant. Add in the lingering fear that AI is coming for our jobs, and it is entirely understandable why so many professionals are tempted to simply throw in the towel. I have spoken to many people who just want to walk away. In this article, I’ll…
Do You Want the Bag or Do You Want to Be "That Guy"?
Let me repeat that again: Do you want the bag, or do you want to be that guy? In other words, do you want to make more money or do you simply want to be known? We love the idea of being known. It ignites the ego. We see people on social media who seem to navigate influence effortlessly, and we think, “They’re human, I’m human, why can’t I do it?” But there is a dangerous trap in equating…
Why You Are More Credible Than You Feel, Building Authority Without Pretending
We spend an enormous amount of energy telling ourselves “beautiful lies.” These are the narratives we craft to justify why we aren’t yet doing the thing we truly want to do. We tell ourselves we aren’t ready, that we lack the “proper” credentials, or that we need one more certification before we can step into the ring. I have always believed that everything you want stands directly in the way of…
Why Senior Professionals Underprice Themselves, and How to Fix Your Positioning
Let’s be honest: for many senior professionals moving into the consultancy space, the question of “what do I charge?” feels less like a strategic decision and more like a shot in the dark. You find yourself hovering over a proposal, wondering if a day rate is too high or if an hourly rate makes you look like a glorified freelancer rather than a strategic partner. The truth is, most people…
Your Experience Isn’t Baggage, It’s the Capital for Your Freedom
There is a pervasive myth that keeps many talented professionals tethered to roles they have outgrown. It is the belief that to build a portfolio career or step into independent consulting, you must burn the boats and reinvent yourself entirely. We look at the independent space and feel we cannot get there because we don’t have the ‘perfect’ experience, we haven’t packaged ourselves like the…
Confidence Isn’t Found. It’s Built
Introduction Most professionals I speak to start the year with a high level of motivation. Which really means they want a high level of results. Results in their career. Results in their bank account. Results that allow them to finally feel like they are “ready”. Yet the reality is that intentions are strong, but actions get postponed. They imagine confidence is a starting point; that once they…
Freedom Isn’t Found. It’s Designed.
Introduction Most professionals I speak to want more money.Which really means they want more freedom. Freedom to choose how they work.Freedom to decide who they work with.Freedom to stop feeling like their life is being dictated by calendars, inboxes, or someone else’s priorities. Yet the reality is that many people want freedom, but very few have actually designed it. They imagine it as a…