Stuck between mediocrity and excellence

The world of management consulting is filled with great recommendations.  A conversation between a client and a consultant could typically go like this: Consultant: "We've done a thorough analysis and have developed a few recommendations to help you increase profitability. We have a few options for you to consider in order to help make the decision." [Consultant then goes on to list the options.] Client: [After listening to the options] "Those all sound great." [Client proceeds to poke holes in the analysis, presentation, and recommendations] "You know... what would the result be if we combined Option A and B and developed another option..."  In the world of consulting, a client will always turn Options A and B into an Option C. Why this happens, I have no idea. I guess it's the same as me telling you to bet black 10 and green 00 on the roulette table and you end up spreading over black 10 and black 11 in addition to green 0 and 00.  ...

Consultants spend a lot of time giving advice to clients that don't listen.  Just because said client pays the bills doesn't mean that they will heed your advice.  Many times a client will already be set on a fixed set of assumptions and characteristics and your job as a consultant is to either 1.) Justify and rationalize your client's irrational assumptions; or 2.) Be the one to take orders and do the things that your client won't do or doesn't have the time to do.  Those two things alone are pretty lucrative. Stay in this kind of environment long enough and you will begin to feel all kinds of insecurities if you have a conscience.  Questions like -  "Is it my communication style that's not effective enough?; or  " Am I not smart enough and is he or she not respecting me?    9 out of 10 times you will think that it's your fault that the client is not listening to you.  It's why finding the right client is such a blessing....

The Consultant says, "I really love consulting, but I hate dealing with clients."  The Doctor says, "I really love medicine, but I'm not a big fan of patients."  The Realtor says, "I love selling houses, but it sucks dealing with buyers."  It may not be that you are in the wrong profession. It may be that you are dealing with the wrong types of clients, patients, and buyers. If you are just starting in a profession, then the statements above make sense. And if that's the case, take your lumps, get the experience, and move on.  If you love what you do and you are good at it, there are customers out there that will appreciate it.  You won't find them if you continue pandering or catering to the crazies.