Wes Wheless - The Expert's Privilege

”Expertise whisperer” Wes Wheless joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about turning corporate expertise into a solo consulting business. We talked about his new book, *The Expert's Privilege*, how corporate professionals can recognize transferable expertise, why visual IP helps consultants explain their work, and what to do before making the leap from employee to independent consultant. **Chapters** - 01:35 - From Corporate to Consulting - 03:48 - Pivoting Toward Solo Consultants - 06:16 - Daily Email, Authority, and Visual IP - 11:46 - The Expert's Privilege - 18:36 - Why Corporate Experts Undervalue Their Skills - 23:23 - Excavating Your Expertise - 27:18 - Finding Your Zone of Genius - 32:44 - From Self-Examination to Market Validation - 35:30 - What to Do Before You Leave Corporate - 40:22 - A Book Is FOR Someone - 44:23 - Writing the Book With Support - 52:06 - Launch Strategy and Early Results **About Wes** Wes Wheless is an "expertise whisperer," founder of Develop My IP, and creator of The Lightbulb, a daily email for corporates-turned-consultants. After two consecutive tech layoffs, Wes traded a 20-year corporate career spanning consulting, enterprise, and startups for a solo practice helping experts turn their knowledge into IP, frameworks, and "intellectual headshots." Wes holds business degrees from The Wharton School and Kellogg School of Management and lives in Seattle, Washington. *The Expert's Privilege* is his first book. **Links** - Resources & Services: weswheless.com - *The Expert's Privilege*: wesbook.com - Buy on Amazon: buywesbook.com - The Lightbulb email: lightbulbemail.com - Fen Druadin, Book Midwife: fendruadin.com <!--THE END--> - (00:00) - Introduction - (01:35) - From Corporate to Consulting - (03:48) - Pivoting Toward Solo Consultants - (06:16) - Daily Email, Authority, and Visual IP - (11:46) - The Expert's Privilege - (18:36) - Why Corporate Experts Undervalue Their Skills - (23:23) - Excavating Your Expertise - (27:18) - Finding Your Zone of Genius - (32:44) - From Self-Examination to Market Validation - (35:30) - What to Do Before You Leave Corporate - (40:22) - A Book Is for Someone - (44:23) - Writing the Book With Support - (52:06) - Launch Strategy and Early Results - (55:31) - Where to Find Wes \---- **Do you have questions about how to improve your business?** Things like: - Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time? - Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space? - Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal? Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning. Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full. To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to: https://jonathanstark.com/call I hope to see you there!