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The Beach or The Bench

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In a typical role, you have the same job for as long as you’re employed at a company. At a consulting firm, you tend to move from project to project, which means there can be days, weeks, or even months between one project ending and another beginning. This in-between time is called the beach or the bench. So what do consultants actually do during this period? Table of Contents External Facing Things Internal Projects Vacations Conclusion External Facing Things The first thing consultants do when they’re on the bench is external-facing work, primarily sales. This includes working on new proposals or supporting sales efforts to land a new project. It’s an opportunity to contribute to business development and potentially secure your next engagement. Internal Projects The second focus area is internal projects. This includes learning, education, and building materials for future sales efforts. Consultants use bench time to upskill, develop new capabilities, create thought leadership conte...
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I Tried Google’s NotebookLM

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Yesterday, as part of 100School’s 30 Days of AI, we were encouraged to explore Google DeepMind’s NotebookLM tool. I had Packy McCormick’s explainer on Andreessen Horowitz on my reading list for quite some time but hadn’t gotten around to it. So I decided to test NotebookLM. The Experiment I dropped the article into NotebookLM and in about three clicks, it produced some impressive results. If you’ve been thinking about AI and wondering what these tools can actually do, this experiment was eye-opening. The Results Here’s what NotebookLM generated: A 15-minute podcast (you can tell it’s AI, but it’s still quite impressive!!) A mind map covering the main topics in the article A presentation deck (this took around five minutes and is visually striking, making for a great explainer) Key Takeaways NotebookLM turned a long-form article I had been putting off into multiple easy-to-digest formats within minutes. In just three clicks, I had a podcast, a mind map, and a visually compell...
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RAIDD Log: The Best Consultant Tool

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  One of the most overlooked aspects of consulting is the prevention of problems before they arise . One of the most effective tools we use to accomplish this is the RAIDD Log . It’s a favorite among consultants for good reason. About the RAIDD Log So, what exactly is this tool? RAIDD stands for: Risks , Actions , Issues , Dependencies , and Decisions . These categories enable teams to monitor potential challenges throughout a project— staying ahead of problems rather than reacting to them . Risks First: Risks . These are possible events that could delay or disrupt the project. By identifying risks early, we drastically improve our chances of delivering on time and within scope. It’s like using a crystal ball— seeing trouble before it arrives and making a plan to deal with it. Actions Next: Actions . These are the specific tasks or steps required to address risks, resolve issues, or manage dependencies. Clear action tracking keeps the team accountable and progres...
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