Traditional, full-time jobs offer many great benefits: guaranteed income, medical insurance, camaraderie, and career development. They also provide stability and a sense of security – until they suddenly don’t.
Layoffs at major tech companies, Salesforce included, have left employees feeling unsettled and wary of what’s to come next. Large scale layoffs are always a reminder of how full-time employees are at the mercy of their employer and the company’s bottom line; everyone is “family” until the next round of budget cuts. Your work is valued until a less expensive option pops up.
The only way to truly control your own destiny is to be your own boss. And there’s never been a better time for experienced Salesforce consultants to bet on themselves and go independent.
Independent Salesforce consultants are in it for the long haul. And, with customer demand growing year over year, there is plenty of project work to go around. All that’s needed is your “why,” some grit, and a playbook for when the going gets tough.
The top challenges of being an independent Salesforce consultant
Independent consultants will be the first to tell you the entrepreneurial lifestyle isn’t easy – but it’s worth it.
When asked to cite the top challenges of being independent, respondents came back with the following: finding work/customers (48%), income uncertainty (44%), lack of benefits (42%), running a business (41%), making time to learn new skills (38%), no support system (31%), and longer hours (19%).
Entrepreneurship brings a unique set of challenges that full-time employment does not. However, with the right mindset and approach to these challenges, any Salesforce expert can successfully launch and manage an independent consultancy.
Here are proven strategies from the 10K Expert Community to help tackle some of the top challenges of being an independent consultant.
Finding work/customers and income uncertainty
Leaving the security of a full-time job is risky. Maintaining financial stability is incredibly important and should be a top consideration before starting a business.
However, there are a few resources that can help build the foundation of a business. For starters, leverage your networks like independent Salesforce technical consultant and entrepreneur Jeff Mevorah.
Leaving the security of a full-time job is risky. Maintaining financial stability is incredibly important and should be a top consideration before starting a business.
When asked to offer advice for aspiring independents, Jeff recommended, “Think like an entrepreneur and get yourself out there. Tell everyone about your new journey. At first, I was hesitant to post on LinkedIn and promote myself, but I realized I had to get out of my head. My network has shown me an outpouring of support. It’s also a major source for project leads. The Salesforce community is incredibly supportive.”
There are also Salesforce partners that connect independent consultants to the customers who need them. On-demand talent partners like 10K bring new projects directly to independent consultants so they can focus on the work that matters, including billable hours and elevating their consulting brand to win more clients.
Running business operations on top of billable hours
Being the boss comes with a lot of perks. It also comes with major responsibilities – maintaining a sales pipeline, client relationships, contract negotiations, bookkeeping, chasing down payments, etc.
The good news is independents can partner with businesses whose purpose is to help shoulder some of the administrative overhead. 10K for example, was founded to do exactly that. Our on-demand model and support system allow independents to focus on doing the work they love most and gain stability to build a successful business. For Jess Battle, Salesforce solution architect and 10K Expert, “10K has been my bridge between the peaks and the valleys [of entrepreneurship] – they help keep me on the peaks.”
Missing a support system
Many independent Salesforce consultants are a one-person show, and that can get pretty lonely.
When you need a sounding board for advice, feedback on a business strategy, or some camaraderie, a curated independent consultant community is an excellent resource to turn to. For example, the 10K Expert Community is a hand-picked community of the Salesforce ecosystem’s most elite independent Salesforce consultants from around the world. It provides an opportunity to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who have walked the walk and are eager to provide support.
Navigating longer hours
Entrepreneurship can provide more time for priorities – family time, working abroad, upskilling, etc. – but it requires the intention to make that a reality.
If you’re good you’re going to be stretched thin. You have to be very intentional about setting your time and boundaries. If you schedule a 4:00 pm run for yourself, go do it. When a client calls, think twice before stopping on the side of the road to answer. There’s an urge to maximize every opportunity but you can’t let the pendulum swing too far and lose your independence. That’s not good for anybody.
Everything rests on the owner’s shoulders. While you won’t be clocking in and out of work in the traditional sense, it’s still crucial to be intentional with time management and know when to turn it off.
When reflecting on the early days of his independent journey, 10K’s Chief Technology Officer, Matt Lamb, said, “If you’re good you’re going to be stretched thin. You have to be very intentional about setting your time and boundaries. If you schedule a 4:00 pm run for yourself, go do it. When a client calls, think twice before stopping on the side of the road to answer. There’s an urge to maximize every opportunity but you can’t let the pendulum swing too far and lose your independence. That’s not good for anybody.”
This all comes with a learning curve, and that’s okay. Building and running a successful business is a marathon, not a sprint. Technical Consultant Tasha Rucker said, “In the beginning, I struggled with managing my bandwidth and knowing my maximum workload. To be fair, this is something I still struggle with. It’s important to maintain a consistent pipeline but I also need to recognize when enough is enough. Luckily, I haven’t stretched myself too far, but it’s a conscious practice.”
Salesforce entrepreneurship isn’t a fad – it’s a movement
Our recent survey of independent Salesforce consultants around the world revealed that 40% of those surveyed started their Salesforce business between 2020 and 2022. Additionally, more than 50% of independents don’t plan on returning to full-time traditional jobs.
Whether you’re an aspiring independent, a new business owner, or a seasoned pro, 10K is here to help you overcome the challenges of being an independent Salesforce consultant.
