As I started this blog, I mentioned that one of the challenges for any consultant was to understand not only the business of the client, but also the business of the consulting company.

A consulting company makes its money by placing experts in assignments where the client company may not have either the expertise or enough talent to pull off a project.  A project manager knows that getting enough of the right talent can mean the difference between success and failure.

Consequently, assignments may not always be highly attractive.  Work may consist of common tasks, production support or other work that is required for success but may not be sexy or even highly visible.  The hours may be long and the stress may be high.  If the consultant arrives not at the beginning of the project, but at a time when the project is in trouble, the tasks may even be more stressful and less appealing.

However, as Yung often pointed out, consulting companies stay in business and thrive because they are willing to take the risk, to do whatever it takes to succeed.  Hence the most valuable assignments to the company are those where the client is indeed in trouble.  However, these assignments are also the most valuable to the consultant since the stretch they provide pushes skills to the edge.

The Tao says that if you fully embrace your life, you will share in the glory of creation.  So if you fully embrace your assignment and give it your fullest regardless of the task's visibility, you will create success both for yourself and for your businesses.