PICA Member Spotlights

Q&A with independent consultants who successfully “made the leap” and created the consulting career of their dreams

 

Q: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your area of expertise.

A: My name is Ed Kamrin, and my business is Kamrin Communications. I specialize in communications that create positive impact and great workplaces. I use communications as a tool to help catalyze change, whether that's organizational change, social change, or a bit of both.

Q: How long have you been independent?

A: August will make 4 years!

Q: Why did you decide to go independent? If I recall, you left a very good job with a great company. 

A: I did, and it was both planning and happenstance. About six years ago, I started working with a coach. I was at a point in my corporate career where I felt I had plateaued and wasn't sure what was next for me. My coach worked with me on my strengths and what I wanted to get out of work and life. I started thinking about the entrepreneurial path and being a solopreneur. Then, as fate would have it, my company decided to leave San Francisco, where I live, and move to Dallas. I knew I would decline relocation, but they asked if I would stay on for a year and a half for a retention bonus. That bonus became the seed money for my business, and the long runway gave me plenty of time to plan.

I had grand plans to take a mini-sabbatical between that job and starting the business, but then the pandemic came, so instead, I just took a month off and rolled up my sleeves. I also did PICA's Solo Consulting Bootcamp early in my business journey, which helped me get more professional and set up my business. About six months after I started my business, things started to take off. 

Q: So looking back at starting a business during a pandemic, what are your takeaways? Was it a good time, was it a bad time, or did it not make any difference?

A: I've never started a business when there wasn't a pandemic, so I don't have a great comparison point, but I have thought about it. I think the plus was that people were so accessible to me, partly because we were doing everything virtually and partly because people wanted to cheer for something positive during a difficult time. I likely got more support than I might have gotten otherwise. People were incredibly generous with their time and advice for someone who wanted to do something new. The negative part was that we were navigating so much uncertainty. While I was figuring out how to launch a business, I was also figuring out how to organize my life very differently.

Q: How did you actually make the leap? What was one of the first things you did?

A: The first thing I did was talk to as many people as possible. I'd been at my last company for eight years, so I reactivated old contacts and renewed relationships, and I also got out there and met as many new people as I could. I went to online networking events, did Lunchclub, dug into my associations, got introductions. I would talk to anybody who was even slightly connected with my professional interests. I realized that was the most effective way to learn about the market and find my niche. Since I'm extroverted and love talking to people, it was also a pleasurable way to get the business up and running.

Q: What's one thing you know now that you wish you'd known then?

A: In my previous position, I was used to having a team. I knew that would change, but I underestimated just how different it is not having that person to turn to and say, "Hey, what do you think?'" As a consultant, I had to intentionally create a community for myself. You have to find your forums and your people, and it may not always be the first people you meet. 

That's the great thing about PICA. In the beginning, I met many solopreneurs who marketed to individuals. That didn't always resonate with me since I have always worked with organizations. PICA helped me find people like me working as consultants to larger or mid-sized organizations.

Q: When you're just starting out, there's a lot to do. There's a lot of challenges, a lot of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. What do you think was your biggest challenge and what did you do to overcome it?

A: The big one was perfectionism. I thought I needed everything perfect right out the gate. I spent forever thinking about my business name, which is kind of funny because I came up with a fairly obvious one, and I obsessed about things like my website and my niche. I finally realized that you need to put your best foot forward, but all of that will evolve no matter what. It's all an experiment, and that's the fun of consulting. I also realized that my clients weren't looking to hire the consultant with the snazziest business name -- they wanted someone who would get the work done, who would be fun to work with, who they trusted, and who could become an extension of their team.

Pricing was also a challenge. I track all my time, and I do profitability analyses, which helps a lot. But before you get that experience, you do feel a little scared. There's always the temptation to underprice to get your foot in the door.

Q: What's been one thing that has surprised you since you went independent?

A: Even though I don't work a full-time corporate job any longer, it's always surprised me that, either directly or indirectly, my past corporate colleagues are the source of almost all my business. I always worked hard for my employers and developed strong skills, but that reiterated to me that your reputation is the most important asset you bring when you start consulting. It's fantastic when people from your past come back and want to be your clients; it's the best possible situation. I've also been surprised to see that though most of my client work is entirely virtual, you really can build new solid relationships online. 

Q: What's next for you and Kamrin Communications?

A: I’m continuing to work in my niche area of communications for people, purpose and planet. Within that focus area, I've had some exciting opportunities to expand into communications coaching and training, and I look forward to exploring those areas further while staying true to my love of strategy and writing. When I started my business, I was committed to giving back. For me, board service has been a path to make an impact on our communities, build relationships with colleagues worldwide, and put my values into action. Over the next year, I'll be focusing on my board roles with the International Association of Business Communicators and the Scandinavian School and Cultural Center. While it can be a lot to juggle, the flexibility of independent consulting makes it possible.

Q: How can people learn more about you?

A: KamrinCommunications.com is my website. I'm active on LinkedIn, and I welcome the opportunity to talk to people in both communications and aligned fields. For example, I often work with HR since I do change work. I love connecting with people who are not only fellow communicators but also people who are consumers of communication services to understand what your experiences are, how your work is changing, and how I can support you.


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