Consulting Success Podcast

Most consulting firms struggle with the feast or famine cycle. They have great months followed by silence. So what does it take to build a consulting firm that keeps growing for 24 years? Well, my guest, Carlo Cuesta, co-founder of Creation in Common, a consulting firm that helps nonprofits and government organizations collaborate, plan strategically, and strengthen communities. Over the past two decades, Carlo has built a business where up to 80 percent of new work comes from referrals and past clients.

In this episode, you're going to discover how strategic partnerships open doors to entirely new markets, why shifting to value-based pricing drove 300 percent growth in five years, and the prospecting discipline required to keep a consulting pipeline strong.

If you're building a consulting firm and thinking about the long game, this conversation is packed with lessons.

Enjoy.

Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.

Before we dive into today's episode. Are you ready to grow and take your consulting business to the next level? Many of the clients that we work with started as podcast listeners just like you, and a consistent theme they have shared with us is that they wished they had reached out sooner about our Clarity Coaching Program rather than waiting for that perfect time. If you're interested in learning more about how we help consultants just like you, we're offering a free, no pressure growth session call. On this call, we're going to dive deep into your goals, challenges and situation and outline a plan that is tailor made just for you. We will also help you identify where you may be making costly and time consuming mistakes to ensure you're benefiting from the proven methods and strategies to grow your consulting business.

So don't wait years to find clarity. If you're committed and serious about reaching a new level of success in your consulting business, go ahead and schedule your free growth session. Get in touch today. Just visit Consulting Success - Grow to book your free call today.

With over 30 years of experience consulting for nonprofit organizations, Carlo Cuesta is a key leader at Creation In Common. His extensive client roster includes the Greater Twin Cities United Way, McKnight Foundation, and Walker Art Center. A dedicated advocate for the sector, Carlo leads workshops for the Minnesota Council for Nonprofits, contributes to the Nonprofit Quarterly, and serves on the national board of the Financial Commons

Mentioned in this episode:

Your 3-Day Blueprint for Consulting Growth in San Diego.

Imagine your future self looking back on the single event that changed everything. The Consulting Success Mastermind in San Diego (April 30 - May 2, 2026) is designed to be that moment. For three days, you'll be surrounded by high-performing peers, world-class mentors, and a community genuinely dedicated to your success. Walk away with strategic clarity and unstoppable momentum. Create your breakthrough moment. Learn more about the San Diego Mastermind: www.consultingsuccess.com/sandiego

Have you ever noticed that the harder you try to win the business, the less trusted you feel? What if the real power move in consulting isn't persuasion, but indifference? Well, Peter Block has spent more than forty years redefining what it means to be a consultant. He's the author of Flawless Consulting. He's shaped generations of advisors who want to move beyond being vendors and become true partners. What makes Peter different is this: he never built his firm around scale. He built it around contribution, around trust, around asking clients one uncomfortable question: "What's your contribution to the very thing you're trying to change?"

In this episode, you're going to learn how to structure sales conversations that build authority without boasting, how to handle resistant stakeholders without losing your grounding, and why implementation always begins with relationship. Because, in the end, consultants who win aren't the ones who persuade better, they're the ones who are willing to tell the truth, even if it costs them the deal.

Enjoy.

Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.

Before we dive into today's episode. Are you ready to grow and take your consulting business to the next level? Many of the clients that we work with started as podcast listeners just like you, and a consistent theme they have shared with us is that they wished they had reached out sooner about our Clarity Coaching Program rather than waiting for that perfect time. If you're interested in learning more about how we help consultants just like you, we're offering a free, no pressure growth session call. On this call, we're going to dive deep into your goals, challenges and situation and outline a plan that is tailor made just for you. We will also help you identify where you may be making costly and time consuming mistakes to ensure you're benefiting from the proven methods and strategies to grow your consulting business.

So don't wait years to find clarity. If you're committed and serious about reaching a new level of success in your consulting business, go ahead and schedule your free growth session. Get in touch today. Just visit Consulting Success - Grow to book your free call today.

Peter Block is an author and consultant whose work focuses on community building and civic engagement. A partner in Designed Learning, he offers workshops based on his books, which include the bestselling Flawless Consulting and Stewardship. Block's core message is abou

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today! www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Mentioned in this episode:

Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.

Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Your 3-Day Blueprint for Consulting Growth in San Diego.

Imagine your future self looking back on the single event that changed everything. The Consulting Success Mastermind in San Diego (April 30 - May 2, 2026) is designed to be that moment. For three days, you'll be surrounded by high-performing peers, world-class mentors, and a community genuinely dedicated to your success. Walk away with strategic clarity and unstoppable momentum. Create your breakthrough moment. Learn more about the San Diego Mastermind: www.consultingsuccess.com/sandiego

What if the real risk in your consulting business isn't failing? It's building something that quietly owns you? Jonathan Bennett knows what it's like to carry that weight. Long days, payroll responsibility, government funded clients that can freeze overnight, a growing team depending on your decisions. Well, he scaled his firm past seven figures, he built a team of 13, and he created productized services that ran without him in the room. But along the way, he faced hiring mistakes that cost him painful layoffs during a funding shutdown, and the sobering realization that security is often an illusion, whether you're in corporate or on your own.

In this episode, you're going to discover how to stress test your consulting firm before it breaks; how to scale without overexposing yourself to risk; and how to structure an exit that protects both your finances and your identity.

If you're carrying the pressure of growth and wondering how exposed you really are, this conversation will force you to think differently about stability, control, and what you're actually building.

Enjoy.

Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.

Before we dive into today's episode. Are you ready to grow and take your consulting business to the next level? Many of the clients that we work with started as podcast listeners just like you, and a consistent theme they have shared with us is that they wished they had reached out sooner about our Clarity Coaching Program rather than waiting for that perfect time. If you're interested in learning more about how we help consultants just like you, we're offering a free, no pressure growth session call. On this call, we're going to dive deep into your goals, challenges and situation and outline a plan that is tailor made just for you. We will also help you identify where you may be making costly and time consuming mistakes to ensure you're benefiting from the proven methods and strategies to grow your consulting business.

So don't wait years to find clarity. If you're committed and serious about reaching a new level of success in your consulting business, go ahead and schedule your free growth session. Get in touch today. Just visit Consulting Success - Grow to book your free call today.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!

Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned exper

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today! www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Mentioned in this episode:

Your 3-Day Blueprint for Consulting Growth in San Diego.

Imagine your future self looking back on the single event that changed everything. The Consulting Success Mastermind in San Diego (April 30 - May 2, 2026) is designed to be that moment. For three days, you'll be surrounded by high-performing peers, world-class mentors, and a community genuinely dedicated to your success. Walk away with strategic clarity and unstoppable momentum. Create your breakthrough moment. Learn more about the San Diego Mastermind: www.consultingsuccess.com/sandiego

Double Your Revenue & Gain Control with Clarity 2.0's Proven Growth System.

Stop grinding and start leading. Clarity 2.0 is more than coaching; it's an ROI-verified Growth System built for consultants. Gain personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and intelligent AI-powered tools to accelerate your learning. Discover how to attract ideal clients, command premium fees, and build confidence. Over 1,000 consultants have already transformed their businesses. Learn how to intentionally lead your growth. Book your Growth Session Call: www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

What if the fastest way to grow your consulting business isn't better marketing, but deeper trust inside the relationships you already built? Mooly Beeri spent years inside global tech giants like Microsoft and Philips, leading large-scale software engineering organizations. But when he launched his own consulting firm, he hit a wall most founders don't expect. No pipeline, no built-in demand, and no projects falling into his lap.

In this episode, you will discover why six different lead generation agencies failed him, how losing two major clients in six months reshaped his entire approach to business development, and why 90 percent of his revenue today comes from something far simpler than funnels or outbound campaigns.

If you are building a high-level consulting practice and want more stability, stronger positioning, and clients who already trust you before the first call, well, this conversation will shift how you think about growth. So dig in and enjoy.

Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.

Before we dive into today's episode. Are you ready to grow and take your consulting business to the next level? Many of the clients that we work with started as podcast listeners just like you, and a consistent theme they have shared with us is that they wished they had reached out sooner about our Clarity Coaching Program rather than waiting for that perfect time. If you're interested in learning more about how we help consultants just like you, we're offering a free, no pressure growth session call. On this call, we're going to dive deep into your goals, challenges and situation and outline a plan that is tailor made just for you. We will also help you identify where you may be making costly and time consuming mistakes to ensure you're benefiting from the proven methods and strategies to grow your consulting business.

So don't wait years to find clarity. If you're committed and serious about reaching a new level of success in your consulting business, go ahead and schedule your free growth session. Get in touch today. Just visit Consulting Success - Grow to book your free call today.

Mooly Beeri is the CEO and Co-Founder of BetterSoftware.dev. With nearly 30 years of experience under his belt, Mooly specializes in transforming how large enterprises approach software development, and has driven software excellence for global giants like Microsoft, Mercedes, Philips, and Apt

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today! www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Mentioned in this episode:

Your 3-Day Blueprint for Consulting Growth in San Diego.

Imagine your future self looking back on the single event that changed everything. The Consulting Success Mastermind in San Diego (April 30 - May 2, 2026) is designed to be that moment. For three days, you'll be surrounded by high-performing peers, world-class mentors, and a community genuinely dedicated to your success. Walk away with strategic clarity and unstoppable momentum. Create your breakthrough moment. Learn more about the San Diego Mastermind: www.consultingsuccess.com/sandiego

Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!

Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/coaching-for-consultants

Have you ever hit a level of success that's supposed to feel like freedom, and instead, it starts to feel like you've built yourself a job that you can't escape?

Well, that's the tension that Elliot Begoun found himself in after building a seven-figure consulting business. He had the systems, the team, repeatable delivery, the whole thing. So from the outside, it looked like everything was dialed in. Internally, he was starting to feel depleted and, honestly, a bit bored.

Well, Elliot's story is powerful because he didn't start out as a natural consultant. He climbed the corporate ladder, walked away, and had to learn how to build from zero. Then he went through multiple stages: solo to team, broad to niche, one-to-many to premium advisory. And eventually, he made a full-circle shift that changed everything.

So in this episode, you're going to hear the hidden cost of building a model that requires constant funnel feeding, how Elliot reduced client count without taking a revenue hit, and what to change when you want fewer clients, more depth, and more breathing room in your business.

If you've ever been thinking to yourself, "Something doesn't feel right about my business," then press play right now and enjoy this episode.

Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Expert Insights into Your Consulting Business: Claim Your FREE Growth Session Now!

Want to get personalized feedback and actionable insights on your consulting business from seasoned experts who've been in your shoes? The Consulting Success Clarity Coaching Program offers just that, and you can experience a taste of it with a FREE, no-obligation Growth Session. On this call, you'll explore how to optimize your business model, refine your messaging, and build a predictable stream of high-value clients. https://www.consultingsuccess.com/coaching-for-consultants

Your 3-Day Blueprint for Consulting Growth in San Diego.

Imagine your future self looking back on the single event that changed everything. The Consulting Success Mastermind in San Diego (April 30 - May 2, 2026) is designed to be that moment. For three days, you'll be surrounded by high-performing peers, world-class mentors, and a community genuinely dedicated to your success. Walk away with strategic clarity and unstoppable momentum. Create your breakthrough moment. Learn more about the San Diego Mastermind: www.consultingsuccess.com/sandiego

Want to learn how we can help you grow your consulting business? Schedule your free Growth Session Call today! www.consultingsuccess.com/grow

Mentioned in this episode:

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Your 3-Day Blueprint for Consulting Growth in San Diego.

Imagine your future self looking back on the single event that changed everything. The Consulting Success Mastermind in San Diego (April 30 - May 2, 2026) is designed to be that moment. For three days, you'll be surrounded by high-performing peers, world-class mentors, and a community genuinely dedicated to your success. Walk away with strategic clarity and unstoppable momentum. Create your breakthrough moment. Learn more about the San Diego Mastermind: www.consultingsuccess.com/sandiego