This is fantastic! Having been on all sides of this fence, yes front, back, dancing on the edge, and buried under it, I could not agree with your thoughts more.
Rainmakers are the bane of wall street and the joy of young companies. Rainmaking is an art that is not appreciated in the corporate world and your suggestions would make for a happier environment for these superstars of the industry.
I found this series from a google search and have to say it is a fantastic resource of information. Half of these people are people I follow on twitter and for good reason. I am now looking for you.
Some great insight. We should as communities bond together and share the good, and the not so good. It is usually from understanding of the not so good that the best emerges.
Edison and the light bulb, many know this story is the best way of looking at it.
I could not agree more with your hypothesis. For the first half of the article I kept thinking, but not too fast, but not too fast, then you covered it.
I would only add this advice; when entering the relationship know your niche and deliver only on that niche. When people ask what you do is this your response?
"I am a consultant."
"Really, what kind of consultant?"
"I am a sales consultant, and I have worked with every type of company in every way. Actually, I can do marketing and operations too. Really, I am a one stop shop for business advice.
If it is, you are digging a ditch and you may not know it.