Vlad Mazek wrote a post today that I think that all independent consultants and small consulting shops should review.

Among other things, Vlad is proposing a network of consulting professionals and companies who can work together to leverage each others strengths:

There are literally thousands of people worldwide you can *compete with together*. The advantage is twofold:

• You can offer the same services you offer locally nationwide or even worldwide
• You can offer more services locally than you can by yourself
• You can offer higher end solutions that you may not be able to manage yourself

This is an excellent idea. 

Why it's a good idea: 

As computer systems get more complex, I think that each of us will end up picking a specialty and learning that specialty inside and out. ( I also worry that the days of the generalist may soon be a memory. )  If we're all specialists, how do we find people who can do the things we can't?

Vlad mentions that in Orlando, where he is located, they have spent a lot of time and money identifying who does what and should a need arise that is outside someone's area of specialty, they know who to call.  I sure wish we had that here in Dallas.

Anyway, I don't think you can put a true value in knowing who to call when you've reached the end of your rope. This makes your life a lot easier and makes the customer much more comfortable knowing that you have resources to assist you, should they be needed.

Can it be done? 

And if anyone can make it a reality, I think that Vlad can.  It will be a lot of work, and will require a lot of time and resources. Finally, it will require a lot of participation for the community.

Next steps:

Anyway, take a look at his article and think about what he says. 

What them Texas Aggie's refer to as Cogitate.