--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Too many consultants fall in love with…" description: "\"“Too many consultants fall in love with their own methodology. Success in this business comes from marketing, not from the depth of consulting expertis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/alan-weiss-28880_consultants_too-many-consultants-fall-in-love-with-t_323364.jpg" --- # Too many consultants fall in love with their own… ![“Too many consultants fall in love with their own methodology. Success in this business comes from marketing, not from the depth of consulting expertise. I know that this is heresy to many of you, but all the nonrainmaking consulting gurus are working for somebody else and merely earning a paycheck.” quote by Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/alan-weiss-28880_consultants_too-many-consultants-fall-in-love-with-t_323364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/alan-weiss-28880_consultants_too-many-consultants-fall-in-love-with-t_323364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/alan-weiss-28880_consultants_too-many-consultants-fall-in-love-with-t_323364.jpg) > ““Too many consultants fall in love with their own methodology. Success in this business comes from marketing, not from the depth of consulting expertise. I know that this is heresy to many of you, but all the nonrainmaking consulting gurus are working for somebody else and merely earning a paycheck.”” [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consultants often prioritize selling their own methods over genuine expertise, turning consulting into a marketing business. **In simple terms:** Consultants may sell style more than substance. Key Takeaway Focus on delivering real value, not just branding. Themes consulting marketing expertise ethics Mood critical analytical Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - client meetings - proposal writing - business development - training sessions Key Concepts value creation client trust industry standards Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance expertise and promotion? - What defines true consulting success? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on marketing can erode client trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fall in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-in-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“Consultants use four tools to solve clients’ biggest problems. You can use the exact same tools to tackle any type of case interview: Hypothesis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cheng/consultants-use-four-tools-to-solve-clients-biggest-problems-you-can/) [Victor Cheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cheng/) > [Pro Publica distorts the relationship between organizations and their consultants,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-raab/pro-publica-distorts-the-relationship-between-organizations-and-their/) [Scott Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-raab/) > [“You know what they say about consultants, don't you? They know all the moves in the Kama Sutra but don't know any women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-allen/you-know-what-they-say-about-consultants-don-t-you-they-know-all-the/) [Charles Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-allen/) > [Businesses should absolutely set aside funding in their budgets for security consultants. Unless there is an expert on staff, and there usually is not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mitnick/businesses-should-absolutely-set-aside-funding-in-their-budgets-for/) [Kevin Mitnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mitnick/) > [I'm certainly not a f\*\*king fashion consultant. Don't call me if you want to know how to dress. I just rap. That's all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-m-certainly-not-a-f-king-fashion-consultant-don-t-call-me-if-you/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [A Consultant is a guy who knows 125 different ways to make love, but who doesn't know any women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/a-consultant-is-a-guy-who-knows-125-different-ways-to-make-love-but/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [The consultant's first obligation is to the patient, not to his brother physician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burton-j-hendrick/the-consultant-s-first-obligation-is-to-the-patient-not-to-his/) Burton J. Hendrick > [Politically, the world economy really depends on consultants. Because it's also, in a way, an outsourcing of responsibility. 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At Berkshire our only style box is "smart."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/fund-consultants-like-to-require-style-boxes-such-as-long-short-macro/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Our success as consultants will depend upon the essential rightness of the advice we give and our capacity for convincing those in authority that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-thomas/our-success-as-consultants-will-depend-upon-the-essential-rightness/) [Andrew Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-thomas/) > [We tend to think of the mind of an organization residing in the CEO and the organization's top managers, perhaps with the help of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-tend-to-think-of-the-mind-of-an-organization-residing-in-the-ceo/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [Forget the consultants, the pundits and the pollsters; good policy is good politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/forget-the-consultants-the-pundits-and-the-pollsters-good-policy-is/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) > [There is no waste in the world that equals the waste from needless, ill-directed, and ineffective motions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bunker-gilbreth-sr/there-is-no-waste-in-the-world-that-equals-the-waste-from-needless/) Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Sr > [You know, you don't see hospital consultants going on strike, and I don't believe that teachers and headteachers should. It's within their rights, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/you-know-you-don-t-see-hospital-consultants-going-on-strike-and-i-don/) [Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/) > [The first famous winemaking consultant was the late professor Emile Peynaud, who reigned over Bordeaux throughout the 1940s, '50s, '60s and '70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-parker-jr/the-first-famous-winemaking-consultant-was-the-late-professor-emile/) [Robert M. Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-parker-jr/) ## More by Alan Weiss > [“The only measure that matters is improved results—an improved client condition, in this case represented by objectives met and validated by key metrics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/the-only-measure-that-matters-is-improved-results-an-improved-client/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“While generosity is about more than just money, bear in mind that the idea of it is really based not so much on what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/while-generosity-is-about-more-than-just-money-bear-in-mind-that-the/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“Abraham Maslow observed, “When the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/abraham-maslow-observed-when-the-only-tool-you-have-is-a-hammer-you/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“should be seen as a credible peer by clients and prospects, not as a vendor, salesperson, or subordinate.  client”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/should-be-seen-as-a-credible-peer-by-clients-and-prospects-not-as-a/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“Objectives are business outcomes and results that have substantial impact on the products, services, and relationships of the enterprise, and which can be measured.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/objectives-are-business-outcomes-and-results-that-have-substantial/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“Always ask yourself, “Would I be proud of this if it appeared all over the Internet tomorrow?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/always-ask-yourself-would-i-be-proud-of-this-if-it-appeared-all-over/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“Million Dollar Consulting Orchestration: if you don’t blow your own horn, there is no music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/million-dollar-consulting-orchestration-if-you-don-t-blow-your-own/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“The key to finding a terrific mentor is not to pursue someone who is at the very top of the profession, but to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/the-key-to-finding-a-terrific-mentor-is-not-to-pursue-someone-who-is/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“On a more localized basis, you can and should relentlessly pursue need within your clients and with your prospects.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/on-a-more-localized-basis-you-can-and-should-relentlessly-pursue-need/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“No money. 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What harm (e.g., stress, dysfunction, turf wars)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/6-why-are-you-considering-this-project-to-improve-what-7-how-would/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“only measure that matters is”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/only-measure-that-matters-is/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“Let’s say that a client has asked you to speak to a management team of 50 people. It is a successful high-tech (or health-care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/let-s-say-that-a-client-has-asked-you-to-speak-to-a-management-team/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) > [“These 11 questions best elicit true business objectives: 1. What is the ideal outcome you’d like to experience? 2. What results are you trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weiss/these-11-questions-best-elicit-true-business-objectives-1-what-is-the/) [Alan Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) [Explore all 19 Alan Weiss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weiss/) ## More Consultants quotes > [“Consultants use four tools to solve clients’ biggest problems. You can use the exact same tools to tackle any type of case interview: Hypothesis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cheng/consultants-use-four-tools-to-solve-clients-biggest-problems-you-can/) [Victor Cheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cheng/) > [You know, you don't see hospital consultants going on strike, and I don't believe that teachers and headteachers should. It's within their rights, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/you-know-you-don-t-see-hospital-consultants-going-on-strike-and-i-don/) [Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/) > [There is no waste in the world that equals the waste from needless, ill-directed, and ineffective motions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bunker-gilbreth-sr/there-is-no-waste-in-the-world-that-equals-the-waste-from-needless/) Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Sr > [Forget the consultants, the pundits and the pollsters; good policy is good politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/forget-the-consultants-the-pundits-and-the-pollsters-good-policy-is/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) > [We tend to think of the mind of an organization residing in the CEO and the organization's top managers, perhaps with the help of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-tend-to-think-of-the-mind-of-an-organization-residing-in-the-ceo/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [Our success as consultants will depend upon the essential rightness of the advice we give and our capacity for convincing those in authority that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-thomas/our-success-as-consultants-will-depend-upon-the-essential-rightness/) [Andrew Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-thomas/) > [Fund consultants like to require style boxes such as "long-short," "macro," "international equities." At Berkshire our only style box is "smart."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/fund-consultants-like-to-require-style-boxes-such-as-long-short-macro/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Politically, the world economy really depends on consultants. Because it's also, in a way, an outsourcing of responsibility. They can say, "Yeah, they told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-ade/politically-the-world-economy-really-depends-on-consultants-because/) [Maren Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-ade/) > [The consultant's first obligation is to the patient, not to his brother physician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burton-j-hendrick/the-consultant-s-first-obligation-is-to-the-patient-not-to-his/) Burton J. Hendrick > [A Consultant is a guy who knows 125 different ways to make love, but who doesn't know any women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/a-consultant-is-a-guy-who-knows-125-different-ways-to-make-love-but/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [I'm certainly not a f\*\*king fashion consultant. Don't call me if you want to know how to dress. I just rap. That's all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-m-certainly-not-a-f-king-fashion-consultant-don-t-call-me-if-you/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [Businesses should absolutely set aside funding in their budgets for security consultants. Unless there is an expert on staff, and there usually is not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mitnick/businesses-should-absolutely-set-aside-funding-in-their-budgets-for/) [Kevin Mitnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mitnick/) > [“You know what they say about consultants, don't you? They know all the moves in the Kama Sutra but don't know any women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-allen/you-know-what-they-say-about-consultants-don-t-you-they-know-all-the/) [Charles Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-allen/) > [Pro Publica distorts the relationship between organizations and their consultants,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-raab/pro-publica-distorts-the-relationship-between-organizations-and-their/) [Scott Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-raab/) > [The first famous winemaking consultant was the late professor Emile Peynaud, who reigned over Bordeaux throughout the 1940s, '50s, '60s and '70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-parker-jr/the-first-famous-winemaking-consultant-was-the-late-professor-emile/) [Robert M. Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-parker-jr/) Browse all 140 Consultants quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Too many consultants fall in love with their own methodology. Success in this business comes from marketing, not from the depth of consulting expertise. 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