Consulting Career
How do I build a sustainable consulting career if I want to become a partner?
I'm a Big Four supply-chain manager and have recently become a parent. I still enjoy consulting and want to get better at the craft, but I also need the career to be sustainable. What habits should I build now if partner is the long-term goal? I'd also appreciate useful reading, rather than only thinking about the next promotion.
Ian’s Answer
To become a partner, you need to survive. Partners are the ones that can survive the decade of slog that consulting is. Sure, you need to be good at your job, build up a network/reputation, etc. But, ultimately, you need to find out how to have a sustainable career and not burnout.
I can't attest as to whether these books are the best, but some options are:
Books that may be helpful:
"The McKinsey Way" by Ethan Rasiel,
"The Boston Consulting Group on Strategy" by Carl W. Stern and Michael Deimler
"The Strategy Book" by Max Mckeown
"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman
"Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't" by Jim Collins.