Beyond the Badge

You're sitting at your desk in a government office, staring at your screen, and you're thinking about leaving.

That thought means something. And if you're serious about acting on it, this book is your roadmap.

Beyond the Badge is the definitive guide for government professionals who want to build a consulting practice - without the guesswork, the underpricing, or the burnout that derails most first attempts. Not a generic "start a business" book. Not a motivational pep talk. A practical, step-by-step guide built specifically for people who've spent careers inside agencies, bureaus, departments, and legislatures - and are ready to leverage that expertise on their own terms.

You'll follow four government professionals - Sarah, Marcus, Jennifer, and David - as they navigate the same decisions you're facing. Their wins, mistakes, and hard-won lessons are woven into every chapter.

Inside, you'll find:

• Is consulting right for you? - The honest personality, financial, and market assessment you need before making any decisions
• What you're actually worth - How to audit your expertise, position yourself in the market, and price your services correctly (including the math most consultants get badly wrong)
• Landing your first clients - Where to find them, how to approach them, and how to convert conversations into contracts
• Avoiding the traps - Scope creep, underpricing, isolation, and the other pitfalls that sink new consulting practices
• Building for the long term - Systems, pipelines, and a sustainability framework so you're not starting over every year

The expertise you built in government has more market value than you think.

Beyond the Badge shows you exactly how to use it.