Training company start ups

Why one freelance trainer did not start a training company

This question probably has as many answers as there are freelance trainers and was a question that an ex colleague asked me only the other week. She has set up an excellent company that has grown exponentially since she started a few years ago.

I left financial services after 24 happy years in one company, 20 of those years had involved varying elements of training and the last ten were spent in full time training, development, coaching, OD, change and consulting roles.

I decided to focus on three things when I left full time employment:

1. Start a doctorate which would enable me to research elements of learning and look into the original research behind many of the models I use. This continues to be a rewarding activity and I have discovered many things including the origins of the PEST analysis as well as the actual communication research of Mehrabian which many now know about. I have also researched baby sign language, line management at sea, experiential learning for the indoors and had time to carry out a lot of reflective study of my own practice.

2. To work with in as many different industries and companies as possible.

3. To work in all of the various areas that I had capability in.

Taking the 3rd point first, if you are a one person company and you want to build your own client base you really need to focus so that your message and marketing is clear about what you do and how you can help. Also clients may not be willing to accept that one person can do many things. So by working with client companies as an associate I was able to maintain all aspects of my work including coaching, facilitation, training, management development, change management and organisational design.

Re point (2) working with various consultancies and companies also allowed me to cover the different industries from coaching for haulage drivers to management development for fisheries protection officers.

As for point (1) as an associate I could balance my work with my research.

I like to work with clients so managing a larger company with employees, searching for new clients and maintaining relationships would all have been activities that took me away from working with clients so my route was right for me. I made many new friends along the way and learned a lot about organisations, managers, employees and myself.

Cheers.

One Response

perspec1 says:

January 11, 2010 at 2:47 pm

Why one freelance trainer did not start a training company

This question probably has as many answers as there are freelance trainers and was a question that an ex colleague asked me only the other week. She has set up an excellent company that has grown exponentially since she started a few years ago.

I left financial services after 24 happy years in one company, 20 of those years had involved varying elements of training and the last ten were spent in full time training, development, coaching, OD, change and consulting roles.

I decided to focus on three things when I left full time employment:

1. Start a doctorate which would enable me to research elements of learning and look into the original research behind many of the models I use. This continues to be a rewarding activity and I have discovered many things including the origins of the PEST analysis as well as the actual communication research of Mehrabian which many now know about. I have also researched baby sign language, line management at sea, experiential learning for the indoors and had time to carry out a lot of reflective study of my own practice.

2. To work with in as many different industries and companies as possible.

3. To work in all of the various areas that I had capability in.

Taking the 3rd point first, if you are a one person company and you want to build your own client base you really need to focus so that your message and marketing is clear about what you do and how you can help. Also clients may not be willing to accept that one person can do many things. So by working with client companies as an associate I was able to maintain all aspects of my work including coaching, facilitation, training, management development, change management and organisational design.

Re point (2) working with various consultancies and companies also allowed me to cover the different industries from coaching for haulage drivers to management development for fisheries protection officers.

As for point (1) as an associate I could balance my work with my research.

I like to work with clients so managing a larger company with employees, searching for new clients and maintaining relationships would all have been activities that took me away from working with clients so my route was right for me. I made many new friends along the way and learned a lot about organisations, managers, employees and myself.

Cheers.