Episode 193: Unlocking the Power of Community: How to Thrive as an Independent Consultant with Erin Halper

Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley

In this week’s episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Erin Halper, founder and CEO of The Upside, a global community where top independent consultants come together to gain support and advance their businesses.

We talked about the crucial role that communities and support networks play for independent consultants, and Erin shared her inspiring journey from feeling isolated to establishing The Upside, a vibrant community of 250 consultants.

We explored the importance of finding the right community, the challenges that come with transitioning from corporate life, and practical steps to build a strong network.

In This Episode:

[00:00:00] Erin shares her journey as a consultant and the creation of The Upside community.

[00:02:06] The significance of finding and building a support network for consultants.

[00:04:14] Erin discusses the difficulty of finding suitable communities and how she recognized the need for a community for independent consultants.

[00:08:22] Erin offers advice on how consultants can start building their support networks.

[00:11:31] Discussion on the impact of burnout on the desire for community and support.

[00:13:30] Erin emphasizes the fundamental human need for belonging in professional settings and how the right community can alleviate the burdens of solo consulting.

[00:16:49] Discussion on the initial isolation of consultants and the eventual need for community support.

[00:18:03] Advice on recognizing the right community, focusing on shared values and connection with leaders.

[00:20:09] Warning signs to watch for in communities, including lack of values and authenticity issues.

[00:21:41] The importance of genuine community experiences over flashy marketing and celebrity endorsements.

[00:25:42] Encouragement for active participation in communities to gain the most value from the experience.

[00:28:02] The value of forming meaningful connections within communities for personal and professional growth.

[00:29:36] Advice on authenticity and being true to oneself in the journey of independent consulting.

Key Takeaways:

• It can be isolating moving from corporate to independent consultant - and often that urge to isolate yourself after leaving corporate is intentional! But having access to a network can help to fill the gap left by leaving a structured corporate environment and fulfil the need for connection and support as you grow your business.
• High-quality communities lead to transformative relationships and opportunities. The key is finding those high-quality communities and showing up authentically and consistently within them.
• Erin believes that a community should inspire and connect with its members on a deeper level so that they feel seen and understood. Her advice for finding the right community includes aligning your values. If a community doesn’t clearly communicate its values or fails to resonate with its members, it raises a red flag.
• When you’re transitioning from a corporate role, you may feel the pressure to present a polished version of yourself. But Erin encourages listeners to embrace their true selves, shedding the armor that corporate life may have built up.

Quotes:

“That is just basic, foundational human nature to always find that sense of belonging, always search for that sense of belonging. And that's why it's so important to make sure you're choosing a network, a path, a program that gives you that sense of belonging. Because they're not all one size fits all.” - Erin Halper

“I have found that when consultants go out on their own, the thing they miss the most is being part of a team. Second, the thing they miss is having access to the marketing department, the accounting department for anything they need … Then all of a sudden you're out on your own and you are the marketing department and the accounting department, and you're the bookkeeper and you're, you know, the COO, you're just wearing all the hats.” - Erin Halper

“If you're a high achiever, we don't like admitting weakness. We don't like coming across like we don't know stuff or we can't do things … But I think you need some time where you take the mask off and you're like, ‘oh my gosh, this is so hard. I don't know what I'm doing’. And, you know, just letting some of that tension out because yes, we can perform at very high levels often, but I think everyone needs a space where they can just show up as themselves and they can admit ‘this is very hard’.” - Jessica Fearnley

“If a community isn't sharing one way, shape or form, what they stand for, what their values are, and you ask them and they don't have an answer. That to me is a red flag. You should be lit up by their values.” - Erin Halper

“Just be authentic. Show up as yourself. Take off the armor that corporate or your past career has built up on you. Take it off. Be human. Build relationships. And enjoy the ride as yourself. Because being out on your own is, for many people, the first time they're ever able to show up truly as themselves. Authenticity is the winning game in the world of independent consulting.” - Erin Halper

Useful Links

Erin:

The Upside Website - betheupside.com

Erin’s LinkedIn

Jessica:

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast

Jessica’s LinkedIn

Guest Bio

Erin Halper is the founder and CEO of The Upside, a global community where top independent consultants come together to gain support and advance their businesses. Since launching The Upside in 2017, Erin has helped thousands of professionals build respected consulting, advisory and coaching businesses that help them achieve flexibility, autonomy, and a renewed sense of purpose in their careers.

Prior to launching The Upside, Erin built a thriving consultancy where she worked directly with private equity clients across New York City, doubling her former full-time earnings while working a fraction of the hours.

Erin has been a featured expert on dozens of podcasts, stages, and publications such as Nasdaq, Business Insider, Fast Company and many more.

When she's not leading The Upside, Erin loves to cook, paint, travel with her husband and two sons, and see the latest Broadway musical. She also has a pretty cool (albeit useless) party trick where she can play any song on the piano after hearing it only once.