New Career Path: Giving Advice

[Cat Dancer]

I had previously posted in this forum about one idea I had to do as my next career step, but then I decided I wasn't really in to it. I've been a professional programmer for 18 years, and I'm starting to get a bit bored.

I find I'm passionate about giving advice. I get excited. I took the test from the link that came with the book Now, Discover Your Strengths, and one of my top talents (the test said) is strategy:

The Strategic talent enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best route. This perspective allows you to see patterns where others simply see complexity.

Although the idea that I might be good at strategy had never occurred to me before, I realized this was true. In many different kinds of situations, whether deploying enterprise software at a client, helping a non-profit, or assisting a friend with a personal situation, I often see the path when they don't. Other people don't know what to do, all they see is obstacles. For me, there is always a next step. If we don't know what to do, there is a next step to find out what to do. If we don't have enough money, there is a next step to get money. If we have no time, there is a next step to get some time. If "they" aren't being cooperative, there is a next step to win their cooperation, or to move forward without them. There is always a next step.

I am not good at wooing, or selling an idea, so sometimes people may not decide to take the next step I suggest. I am not a coach, I don't enjoy working with someone daily or weekly or monthly to help them overcome resistance to actually do the next step. I may not understand the situation well enough to give good advice. I naturally have to actually be knowledgeable about the subject area to be able to make a contribution. (You can ask me about enterprise software or how to save your marriage, but you don't want my advice on how to perform brain surgery). I may make false assumptions and give bad advice. I've sometimes given advice when it wasn't wanted.

Yet, despite all these caveats, there are times when people have said I've given really good advice.

Goal ==> Next Step.

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Cat Dancer

Other people don't know what to do, all they see is obstacles. For me, there is always a next step. If we don't know what to do, there is a next step to find out what to do. If we don't have enough money, there is a next step to get money. If we have no time, there is a next step to get some time. If "they" aren't being cooperative, there is a next step to win their cooperation, or to move forward without them. There is always a next step.

I may make false assumptions and give bad advice. I've sometimes given advice when it wasn't wanted.

Yet, despite all these caveats, there are times when people have said I've given really good advice.

I've got a natural zest for those things as well. I've definitely fallen prey to giving advice when it's not asked for. You can probably find a handful of those posts around this site already. I also am constantly accused of giving good advice as well. I should probably learn to keep my mouth shut a bit more often though.

Brainstorm ways on how you could monetize this?

Is there a systematic way you go about thinking these things through that you could write a book about?

Could you do a column for a mag or paper specific to your knowledge of programming or job hunting or relationships or something you could specialize helping people with?

Could you consult!?

[Cat Dancer]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

I've definitely fallen prey to giving advice when it's not asked for. ... should probably learn to keep my mouth shut a bit more often though.

Yeah, I keep reminding myself to ask "do you want advice about that"?

Brainstorm ways on how you could monetize this?

Oh, that's easy Create a web site. Put up articles giving advice. Invite people to ask for advice, answer the questions, and grow the site. Generate multiple streams of income through useful ads, affiliate marketing, and donations.

Is there a systematic way you go about thinking these things through that you could write a book about?

Sure. Run the web site for a year. Collect the "best of" articles. Publish a book.

Could you do a column for a mag or paper specific to your knowledge of programming or job hunting or relationships or something you could specialize helping people with?

Could, but probably not necessary in this new age of blogging, tracebacks, and voting on media sites like Reddit and Digg. People can find your content on your site as easily as in someone else's publication. Though certainly it would be useful to do some interviews etc. to let people know about the site initially.

Could you consult!?

Sure. Once there's some traffic to the site, that's easy marketing for a consulting service.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Cat Dancer

I am not good at wooing, or selling an idea, so sometimes people may not decide to take the next step I suggest.

You're not limited to the skills you currently have. If you think something would be a valuable complementary skill to your goal, you can develop it...

[mustard76]

Just choose something you are really passionate about, read a ton of books on the subject and start writing articles for your website. You will be considered an "expert" in the subject sooner than you think.

[Cat Dancer]

Originally Posted by Keith

You're not limited to the skills you currently have. If you think something would be a valuable complementary skill to your goal, you can develop it...

Very true. I misspoke a bit I think. I didn't mean to say that I'm unable to convince people of things, only that it's not what I really enjoy doing.

Originally Posted by mustard76

Just choose something you are really passionate about, read a ton of books on the subject and start writing articles for your website. You will be considered an "expert" in the subject sooner than you think.

Very true too. Though I find many people seem to already think I'm expert... I've become more careful in the advice I give

"Dude, dude, when I said take a risk and 'jump off the cliff', I meant it metaphorically!!"