Grow Your Independent Consulting Business

221. From Accidental Consultant to Strategic Advisor: Lessons from Alison Jeffrey

• Melisa Liberman

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What if your consulting business wasn’t meticulously planned, but evolved from one bold decision after another?

In this episode, Melisa talks with longtime client Alison Jeffrey, a strategic fundraising consultant, about how Alison went from leaving a full-time job with no safety net to building a seasonal, profitable business rooted in authenticity, intention, and relationships.

Alison shares candidly how she stopped chasing “good enough” clients, redefined what success looks like (even when walking away from high-paying work), and leaned into her natural strengths as a strategist, connector, and advisor not just a fundraiser.

Whether you're building from scratch or refining your consulting business model, this episode offers hard-earned insight on how to build a business that aligns with your values, your energy, and your long-term goals.

Timestamps for Key Moments:

[05:00] The mindset shift that started it all — leaving without a plan and trusting it would work.

[10:00] Why Alison walked away from a high-paying engagement — and what happened next.

[15:00] The hidden power of strategic positioning — moving from “fundraiser” to “advisor.”

[25:00] How to consistently build a pipeline using relational strategies, not hustle tactics.

[35:00] Creating a seasonal business model that supports high-revenue periods and planned slow-downs.

[40:00] How to structure fractional advisory roles without becoming a staff augmentation.

Tune in to Episode 221 to hear Alison’s practical, powerful path to building a sustainable consulting business and how you can apply her approach to your own.

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