Consulting Fees

Almost exactly two years ago to this date I entered into the school of 'economy in consultation'.
In this brief foray into understanding the value of information I caught a brief glimpse of what access to information is worth in a vacuum; very little.

Conversely I discovered, to my shock I can assure you, my own consultation fee was valued at over $250 an hour! This says much for the value of others' consultations too. Assuming some level of expertise in a given area the value of your expert consultation therein should easily double.

But who in their right mind would pay such fees?

The fees aren't really the point here. More on that aspect later.
The point rests squarely upon the value we place in connecting our own basic needs with proper solutions.

There are many a pitfall to avoid along the way to any solution.
Only the brave (or stupid) hope to navigate through successfully alone.

Most of the challenges we'll face are more mental than physical.
The mind doesn't excel at deciphering multiples of detail, or fair well in rapidly processing unconnected ideas.

The brain works best when simply asking questions.
What ideas should be championed?
What are most important elements within those ideas to consider?
What are the underlying needs?

Can we instruct a computer to do these things? (The simple answer in this case is 'No')

The human mind doesn't easily grasp intracacies in perceptual needs based solutions.
But neither do computers.
To ever arrive at an effective solution you as individual need, no... require, feedback.
Feedback best derived through consultation.
Other ideas, innovations... even computers, benefit from the feedback we supply to them.

Feedback helps focus effort.
It helps direct attention toward the underlying need.
Once basic needs are fulfilled other innovations can then be addressed.

It is only through continual feedback (consultation) that we can address needs at more complex or changing levels.

But lets step back and look again at the point. Or more properly what that point isn't.
Misunderstanding the basic role for money in consultation may prove critical... devastating to the effort. Money simply cannot be allowed to become more obstactle than driving force toward a solution. Money is not consultation... its investment.

Mutually supported consultation effort shifts consultation fees to where they can best support the common effort. The more consultation put toward the goal the more return the consultants get back from their investment. When need drives investment all consultants benefit in direct porportion to their investment.


With solution firmly in hand, anything over $1 per transaction becomes a really handsome profit. Investment coupled with volume then becomes relative to economies of scale.

In the end, the solution is what really matters. At least for the time its provides the best solution. If the solution works who cares about the consultation fee?

The solution lets us... compels us as collaborators to waive those consultation fees.
And the process of consultation begins anew.