I'm 40, with a 10y+ background in business transformation and operational performance. I've spent years helping organisations improve how they work.

Now I'm building my own advisory business since 2023, and I'm finding the commercial side far harder than I expected.

I've developed an offering, built the website, published a book, created content, approached potential partners and worked relentlessly on distribution.

But I'm struggling to turn all that effort into meaningful client conversations, let alone revenue. Ive got genuine conversations but im fed up of running and following up consistently even if i leverage some kind of ai agents for this. Time is becoming harder and more painful.

What makes it difficult is that I'm genuinely passionate about what I do. I don't want to quit. I believe there's real problems worth solving.

But lately I've been questioning whether I'm approaching everything the wrong way. I'm also realising how lonely building this business can be when you don't have a team or other founders to talk to.

I'd appreciate hearing from experienced independent consultants who have gone through this.

And how did you manage the psychological pressure of building something when the market seemed completely indifferent?

I'm not selling anything here. Please don't be mean as I could genuinely use some perspective from people who've been through it.

Hi
Wondering how to navigate work politics I'm an industry hire (I have an expertise) moved into consulting was hired into a specific account and it's an odd culture I was recently told by a few people they don't know why the team was hiring as they don't like new joiners.

It has impacted my confidence but my only other thing is to pivot industries which is tough given I've spent a long time building my expertise and was 'supposedly' hired for an account but I'm also cautious of sitting on the bench hoping the account will crack also isn't the wisest?

Maybe a rant it's been a rough 6 weeks

I'm based in the UK

Moreover, does it leak out and get traction in the real world?