Leadership Lessons Learned as a Woman Consultant and Business Owner

As I look toward the next decade of consulting, nonprofit leadership, and business growth, I’ve been reflecting on lessons learned and what comes next after nearly 30 years of in business and nonprofit leadership.

In the coming years, I hope to focus this blog more towards mentoring the next generation of women leaders in business and the nonprofit sector. That includes, but goes way beyond, fundraising.

Lessons Learned as a Consultant and Business Owner

Whether you aspire to be a consultant, own your own business, or take on other forms of leadership, I hope to share lessons I’ve learned from growing two successful businesses in addition to years of volunteer and paid leadership responsibilities.

Here are some things you may not know about me and my journey.

As a Consultant (Amy Eisenstein, LLC)

For more than a decade, I worked for myself (while raising children). I earned over six figures a year, working from home, while picking up my kids from school nearly every day and rarely missing an after-school activity.

I made a good living because I understood the value I provided and was not afraid to charge what I was worth. I also worked early in the morning and after the kids went to sleep, but rarely between 3 and 9 p.m.

Key Lesson: Hire the help you need. Once I was able, I hired help whenever I could afford it. That included a bookkeeper/ accountant, a web designer, a database manager, marketing assistance, and someone to clean my home. These were all part-time people I could pay as I needed them — not employees.

As a Business Owner (Capital Campaign Pro)

While I didn’t necessarily set out to create a multi-million-dollar business, it turned out to be the right time and the right idea. With children now mostly grown, I could turn my attention to something bigger.

Capital Campaign Pro has 5 full-time employees and a growing team of contractors and consultants. And we’re hiring! We’re supporting nearly 100 capital campaigns in almost every state and throughout Canada.

Key Lesson: Be bold and take risks. At Capital Campaign Pro, we’ve changed the way nonprofit organizations can access campaign support by changing the consulting model. We’ve turned the sector upside-down by revolutionizing the fundamental approach to feasibility studies. And we’re just getting started!

5 Nuggets of Wisdom I Learned Early On

When I started consulting more than 15 years ago, I felt confident in my fundraising skills — but not in how to be a consultant or how to run a business. I headed for the bookstore to the business section and selected several books on how to run a business.

I learned so many invaluable skills in those early consulting years, and I put them to work. Here are some golden nuggets I’d like to share with you…

1. You must market yourself — no one else will.
2. A published book is a golden business card (I’ve published several).
3. Public speaking is the best kind of marketing (and it’s free)
4. Hire help as soon as possible — it frees you up to do what you do best.
5. Recurring revenue can be a major key to your success.

These lessons are applicable whether you are leading a nonprofit or a for-profit business. Now, I’m happy to share them with you for your journey into consulting, building a business, nonprofit leadership, or whatever direction you choose.

Additional Lessons, Strategies, and Tips to Come

In the coming weeks and months, I’ll be sharing additional strategies, tips, and lessons learned about being intentional and following your dreams.

The great news about leadership — whether as a nonprofit leader or a business leader — you get to pick the direction you go. YOU’RE the leader.