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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I do project-based work where I have deep knowledge and experience (and also have a bit of niche knowledge that you don't find everywhere). I work anywhere from 5 to 40 hours a week but have lot of control about how to allocate that -- for instance I do not take new projects on in July or August, and even on weeks I work 40 hours, I can allocate it as I want (I can work half days all week and pick my kids up from school every day, and then put in a couple evenings and a full day on the weekend while my DH does something with the kids, and it adds up to 40 without me having to put in a 9 to 6).

My work is interesting and challenging. It's not as fulfilling as it would be if I did it full time because I cannot take as much ownership over projects as I would otherwise -- I'm always working with a consultant who "owns" the project and then I am a contributor. But my contributions are substantive and significant, I am often the primary resource for entire subject areas for the client, I have a ton of leeway in designing my part of the project, and I am well respected by everyone I work with. I don't do any admin beyond what I would do even if I was full time (all jobs have some admin work these days).

For me the key was figuring out what I had to offer that was unique and highly valuable, and then finding a way to sell it to a consulting firm, and their clients, as being worth paying me on an hourly basis when I was available, as opposed to needing to be full time. I think it's a very symbiotic relationship. When my kids are older, I do intend to take on more projects, though I'm not sure I'll ever return to true FT work because the flexibility of my current situation is too good. I love having the power to say "no", to carve out portions of my year where I simply do not work and won't even begin projects until after I return. It's glorious.[/quote]

How did you figure out what was unique and highly valuable?  How do you sell your expertise (eg do you give thought guidance on an hourly basis? do you do projects that apply your expertise to their situation)?  I think I'm too narrow in my thinking of what my expertise is and how to apply it beyond the specific org I was in just assuming other companies already have that expertise for their own context.  I'd love a couple examples of the type of projects you take on if you don't mind[/quote]

I think I’m in a very different field but for example- there are certain projects that are known to be very hard, require big team coordination (not management). I expressed interest in those, demonstrated that I could them on my schedule and people gave me harder and harder ones. I also agreed to mentor newer people both on subject matter and strategy, which I really enjoy. None of those things happened in my first year. Basically volunteering to do difficult work and do it well. Repeat over and over, proving you can do harder and harder things. Do the occasional hour or two at night if it makes things possible- it is worth the trade off for me for more interesting/meaningful work. But I was very careful to agree to or request projects I was sure I could do well.

How many hours do you work? If you are at 10 or less a week that might limit things a bit.[/quote]

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