"Focus on people and creating and delivering value."
Michael Zipursky is the CEO of Consulting Success® where they specialize in helping entrepreneurial consultants grow profitable, scalable and strategic consulting businesses. He has advised organizations like Financial Times, Dow Jones, RBC, and helped Panasonic launch new products into global markets, but more importantly, he’s helped over 600 consultants from around the world in over 75 industries add 6 and 7 figures to their annual revenues.
Over 38,000 consultants read his weekly consulting newsletter. Michael is also the author of the Amazon Best Sellers ACT NOW: How successful consultants thrive during chaos and uncertainty, The Elite Consulting Mind and Consulting Success® the book.
Check out more interviews with entrepreneurs here.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET FEATURED?
All interviews are 100% FREE OF CHARGE
Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Michael Zipursky: For the last 13 years Consulting Success® has specialized in working with entrepreneurial consultants around the world helping them to build more profitable, strategic and scalable consulting businesses. Over 600 consultants have gone through our coaching programs and thousands have attended and studied our workshops and online training programs.
2020 and 2021 threw a lot of curve balls into business on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past couple years, how can businesses thrive in 2022? What lessons have you learned?
Michael Zipursky: Focus on people and creating and delivering value. Build community. The businesses that not only survived by thrived during the last 2 years are those who have invested and developed an audience, community and people who trust them. When you consistently deliver value to your community it provides you with many ways to monetize that value exchange.
Here’s an example…
In 2020 many speakers found themselves out of work, their revenue drying up rapidly. But not all speakers. Those who had built a list, cultivated and delivered value to that list and community, were able to quickly shift to offering online workshops and programs. And many of these people found that they didn’t simply maintain their revenue, they had their best revenue year ever.
The pandemic seems to keep on disrupting the economy, what should businesses focus on in 2022? What advice would you share?
Michael Zipursky: The more you engage with your ideal clients and audience, find out what problems they have and what they want to learn more about, the more you can give them exactly that.
People like to buy. They don’t like to be sold to.
Find out what they want, be a valuable resource to them (don’t be afraid to “give away” plenty of information and ideas for free), and then make relevant offers to them consistently that get you paid.
How has the pandemic changed your industry and how have you adapted?
Michael Zipursky: We’ve been very fortunate that the consulting industry has continued to show strength during the pandemic and we believe it will continue to grow.
What advice do you wish you received when the pandemic started and what do you intend on improving in 2022?
Michael Zipursky: Our whole team was very busy during this time supporting our clients. And while we all are committed to continued growth and development of the business it’s also important that we all find time to relax, recharge and enjoy life. This is easy to forget when the pace of business is so busy (and lots of good things and growth are happening).
Online business surged higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for 2022?
Michael Zipursky: In-person events will return. Some people will go back to working at the company office. But many will continue to work from home or go into the office for just a day or two each week.
The pandemic has accelerated the adoption and acceptance of remote work, virtual meetings and so much more.
How many hours a day do you spend in front of a screen?
Michael Zipursky: Less than I used to, but still too many : ) Whether it’s writing, working on presentations, client Zoom meetings or email…I’m still in front of a screen a lot. Something to work on reducing for sure.
The majority of executives use stories to persuade and communicate in the workplace. Can you share with our readers examples of how you implement that in your business to communicate effectively with your team?
Michael Zipursky: This is a great question. We are big believers in the power of Story. We developed a mini consulting documentary that tells our story. It’s not just about our business, it’s about our families, parents and grandparents. The feedback from our community has been very positive. I believe it’s critical for all companies to tell their story. To be open and vulnerable. You can see the video on our webiste.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now?
Michael Zipursky: We’re focused on developing and updating our systems to support our clients and maintain the growth we’ve seen. I don’t see this as a challenge, but rather something that is important to ensure our team has the best technology, tools, processes and what they need to perform and serve our clients at the highest level.
In 2022, what are you most interested in learning about? Crypto, NFTs, online marketing, or any other skill sets? Please share your motivations.
Michael Zipursky: I’m spending a lot of time studying leadership these days. As our team continues to grow I want to sharpen my skills in this area to be the best leader I can be. It’s such a deep area of study that I’m likely to be studying for many years to come.
A record 4.4 million Americans left their jobs in September in 2021, accelerating a trend that has become known as the Great Resignation. 47% of people plan to leave their job during 2022. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. Do you think leaders see the data and think “that’s not me – I’m not that boss they don’t want to work for? What changes do you think need to happen?
Michael Zipursky: This is a great question and I agree. People are leaving their jobs when they don’t feel part of the company. It’s critical that leaders spend time developing and supporting their team. Ensuring everyone is aligned and clear on the company vision, purpose, mission and that success is being celebrated and rewarded together. Work should be fun, challenging and bring the best out of everyone.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Michael Zipursky: This has changed for me over time as my role has shifted and the team has grown. Right now I want to be the best leader I can be and support our amazing team.
What does “success” in 2022 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Michael Zipursky: Success is achieving both the personal and business goals I have written down and accomplishing them while enjoying an amazing lifestyle and great relationships with my kids, my wife, our team, friends and the community we serve.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Michael Zipursky for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Michael Zipursky or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
Did you enjoy this article? Check out similar stories:
Andy Frisella: An Inspiring Story Of Grit
Allison Stokke: How A Single Photo Made Her The Famous Internet Sensation That She Is Now
Dave Portnoy: The Story Behind The Founding Of Barstool Sports
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
