Why I Finally Stopped Fighting AI (And You Should Too)
For years, I wore my firm’s manual processes like a badge of honor. “We do things the old-fashioned way,” I’d tell clients. “Personal touch. Human expertise. No shortcuts.”
Pro Serv Blogs
Stop Hiring Sellers, Start Building Sales Systems
Most boutique firm owners believe revenue growth comes from hiring a “rainmaker.” The truth? One star seller won’t save you. What scales is a repeatable system, not a heroic individual — and today, AI can help build it faster and smarter.
Crossing the Tightrope: Leading Through Change
As CEOs of professional services firms, we often tell our clients, “What got you here won’t get you to the next level.” We say it with conviction because we’ve seen it play out at companies of all kinds.
Value-Based Contracting Isn’t Just a Buzzword—It’s Your Competitive Edge
In a world where clients expect more for less and demand proof before promises, value-based contracting is no longer optional. It’s a strategic imperative. And yet, many professional services firms still treat it like a trend. They slap on vague outcomes or performance bonuses as an afterthought, rather than embedding value at the core of their engagement model.
The Engagement Trap: 10 Mistakes Professional Services Firms Make And How to Avoid Them)
In the world of professional services, consulting, legal, creative, and advisory, delivering real value has never been more critical. Clients today are under pressure to deliver results, not just rack up invoices or slide decks. They’re demanding faster outcomes, deeper insights, and partnerships that help them move forward, not just stand still with a binder full of strategy.
50 Exits and 5 Big Lessons
In January 2020, we started Collective 54 to deliver better outcomes for founders of boutique professional services firms. We had experienced the operational grind, strategic ambiguity, and struggles that often define this knowledge sector. Our goal was to help Collective 54 members make more money, make scaling easier, and make an exit achievable.
Ten Useful “Habits” For Your Firm
I’ve long believed in the transformative power of habits. Small, recurring actions have an extraordinary ability to compound, producing significant value over time.
Chasing New Logos: Essential but Exhausting
We’ve been around for nineteen years. Three and a half years ago, we chose to reinvent ourselves. Part of that process is to increase new clients who need something a bit different from the past. It’s important to grow with our current clients. We also need to bring in new logos from our new offerings. We started a team that focuses on “hunting” new logos about nine months ago. Currently, there are two account executives on this team. We have learned a lot in nine months.
Launching a Growth Academy for your Boutique Firm
Last year, Eclipse Consulting Group launched our internal “Eclipse Academy” where we have been investing formally in the strategic development of our employees to be better professionals and consultants through a blend of structured offerings around everyday learning, core training, and targeted skill-building.
Unlocking Potential: Why Banks Should Regularly Assess and Improve Their Systems
In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven financial landscape, banks face an unrelenting demand to operate more efficiently while delivering exceptional customer experiences. Digital expectations have soared, competition has intensified, and regulatory requirements continue to evolve. Amid these pressures lies a significant opportunity: using system evaluations and assessments as a strategic lever for process improvement, operational efficiency, and enhanced customer satisfaction.