At 09:57 PM 9/6/97 -0700, you wrote: >Very nicely put. My 0.02 worth: from what I've heard the referrals are >zip, the aura is nil, the onus is significant if you tend to the honorable, >and the price break on SAS licensing (after tax deductibility if you're >really a contractor vs. an employee-wanna-be) is chump change if the >initial investment is rational in the first place. To reiterate: this guy >has some very intelligent things to say about what's important. > >------------------------------------------------------------- >Keith L. Gregory, Ph.D. >Statistical Information Technology Consultant >Information Development & Decisions >e-mail: klg@dnai.com > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Bassett Consulting Services, Inc. [SMTP:0002395748@MCIMAIL.COM] >Sent: Saturday, September 06, 1997 18:56 >To: SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU >Subject: Re: SAS Quality Partners, what is your experience? > >----------------------------------------------------------------------- > >CONTENT: re: SAS Quality Partners, what is your experience? > >SUMMARY: you may be missing the point > >REL/PLTF: n/a > >NAME: Michael L. Davis > >INTERNET: Bassett.Consulting@worldnet.att.net > >AFFILIATION: Bassett Consulting Services, Inc. > >P-ADDR: 10 Pleasant Drive, North Haven, CT 06473 > >PHONE: (203) 562-0640 > >FAX: (203) 498-1414 > >----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >On Fri Sep 05, 1997 11:40 pm, Greg Bryant > ><Gregory.A.Bryant@NCAL.KAIPERM.ORG> wrote: > > > >> I am interested in hearing from independent consultants enrolled > >> in the SAS Quality Partner program. I believe it is an excellent > >> opportunity that can only get better over time and would like to > >> know if it has led to an increase in solicitation for your services. > >> I'm particularly interested in how it has affected your ability to > >> market direct to a client pool or maybe even break that Preferred > >> Vendor barrier. I've spoken with Loretta a couple of times over > >> the years and realize there are definitely benefits beyond > >> employment, but let's start at the bottom line. > >> > >> Many thanks, > >> > >> greg > > > >Greg, IMHO, the referral aspect of the SI QPP program is less > >important than the ability to improve one's understanding of the > >SAS System and its future direction. > > > >If you want to improve your marketability as a consultant, > >become a more capable consultant. First the brokers, and then > >finally the actual clients will find you. > > > >If you feel compelled to directly improve your marketability, > >consider volunteering to help your local SAS user group. Local > >users groups are always looking for good speakers. Every decent > >consultant knows at least one interest topic well enough to share. > > > >No local user group nearby? Start one. SI can tell you how. > > > >If you are worried about breeching the Preferred Vendor barrier, > >you may be going at marketing in the reverse order of priority. > >Sell your potential clients on hiring you and let them fight the > >battle of getting you on that list. > > > >Preferred Vendor lists are used by organizations buying commodity > >services. The last thing you should strive to be is a commodity. > >Then you will find yourself competing against novice programmers > >willing and foolish enough to work for extremely low rates and > >under unattractive working conditions. > > > >Strive to differential your abilities so that when the call goes > >out for a SAS consultant, the client gravitates to you instead of > >just any SAS contractor whom may be available. > > Not directly on the QP aspect... but last year I lost a two year old consulting client, because one day they realized I was not a 'preferred' vendor. The client staff is still trying to get my return approved as non of their preferred vendors can duplicate all the service I can provide with a single capable consultant... Just goes to show that multiple clients are required for a business to thrive.

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