What Really Makes a Consultant? Lessons from Rejection to $40K Contracts

Join the FREE Public Health Consulting Workshop on 9/25/25 

In this episode of The Dr. Des Show, I get real about what it means to be a consultant — and how I turned a job rejection into a thriving consulting business. After being told I didn’t have “enough consulting experience,” I had to step back and redefine what a consultant actually is. Spoiler: it’s not about the title, it’s about solving problems, managing projects, and delivering results.

I share:

• My story of being rejected from a consulting firm job and why that moment changed everything.
• The truth about what separates an employee from a consultant (hint: it’s not as different as you think).
• Practical steps to start positioning yourself as a consultant — even if you’ve never had a client before.
• Why you don’t need permission to start, and how I landed my first $40K contract while pregnant.
• The mindset shifts and strategic moves that helped me grow my consulting business beyond a side hustle.

If you’ve ever doubted whether you’re “ready” to consult, this episode will show you that you already have the skills — you just need to claim them.

👉 Stay tuned until the end where I share details about my free workshop: Building Your Public Health Consulting Business happening on September 25th.

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