The comments keep rolling in. Is there a socially redeeming value to this? Tune in tomorrow.

He said:

• “Our fundraising consultant is wise, highly responsive, a problem solver and knows her stuff really well (and reads your blog!)” Yea … we knew there was one out there!
• “They get to talk about the work, without ever having to actually DO the work.”
• “They have great sales skills! They have the ability to spin the data through selective analysis and reporting.”
• “I try to hire consultants to do the ugly work that I know I could very well do myself, if I were willing to get the work done and then leave the organization!”
• “Have the ability to completely agree with you — ‘You’ve got a great point … We were just discussing that in a meeting a few hours ago’ — and go right back to the point or pitch they were just making about what you can, should, must do.”
• “Being for-profit, deadlines actually mean something to them.”
• “Senior management listens to consultants more than internal staff.”
• “I go to my consultants with new and exciting ideas far more than they come to me.”
• “Consultants blow me away with their work at first, then tend to disappoint after they’ve worked with the organization for a while. I think they become accustomed to the culture and stop seeing the problems…”
• Consultant says: “You’re better at this, you should write the copy.”

She said:

• “They have a passion for what they do.”
• “They can live in an imaginary fantasy world and suffer no consequences for the damaging decisions they make based on their hallucinations.”
• “They never fail to fool me with their nods of agreement in meetings before calling later to inform ‘we think we’re going in a different direction on this one’.”
• “Want to make a difference, but have their hands tied with organizational red tape.”
• “Our donors are different.”
• “The credit for any of the results achieved is due to their strategic insight, and I was just fortunate enough to have the opportunity to implement their ideas.”
• “My clients are on a continuum that ranges from very smart and professional to shockingly irresponsible and out of touch.”
• “Friends, fun, admirable, ethical and genuinely good people.”

At least one of these comments must reflect the way you’ve thought about your consultant or client.

You can still offer your views by taking our Punch Bowl Survey. Open through Thursday night.

Tom