The document summarizes the key lessons from a presentation titled "The Zen of Consulting" given by Eva Kaniasty of Red Pill UX at UPA International 2012 in Las Vegas. The presentation provided 9 lessons in 50 minutes on various topics for consultants such as understanding what money really means, managing time and workload, setting accurate expectations, gaining experience, dealing with difficult bosses or opinions, maintaining good relationships, and separating personal identity from work.

1. The Zen of Consulting
Eva Kaniasty
Red Pill UX
@kaniasty
UPA International 2012, Las Vegas
June 2012
The Zen of Consulting, Eva Kaniasty/Red Pill UX, June 2012 1

2. 9 Lessons in 50 minutes
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3. 1
Money does not mean what
you think it means.
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4. 1
Audience:
Have you ever felt that you were asking
for too much money during salary or
contract negotiations?
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The Zen of Consulting, Eva Kaniasty/Red Pill UX, June 2012

5. 1
Money = Cost
Money = Value
Money = Skin in the Game
Money
* Also... Time = Money
= Success
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The Zen of Consulting, Eva Kaniasty/Red Pill UX, June 2012

6. 2
Time can fly. You can’t.
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7. 2
Audience:
Do you regularly work more than an 8
hour day, or work during off-hours or on
the weekend?
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8. 2
Work less/Focus more
Kill the meeting
Make them wait*
* & avoid disappointment
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9. 3
Promises are like babies:
easy to make, hard to deliver.
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10. 3
Audience:
Have you ever underestimated the time a
project would take, and ended up either
working late to finish, or blew a deadline?
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11. 3
Underpromise*
Prepare for the Worst
Reduce the Scope
* But don’t under-sell yourself
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12. 4
Are you experienced?
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13. 4
Audience:
Have you ever felt you didn’t have enough
experience or ability to get a job or a
project?
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14. 4
Industry Experience
Technical Experience
Domain Experience
Expertise
* Greasing the wheels also helps
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15. 5
You might not like flies, but
honey is still tasty
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16. 5
Audience:
Have you ever thought that a co-worker or
boss was completely wrong-headed in
their opinion?
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17. 5
The Royal We
Give Credit
Adapt
* & follow the leader
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18. 6
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19. 7
You’re not the boss of me.
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20. 7
Audience:
How many of you have a boss? How many
of you love your boss? Does your boss
have a boss?
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21. 7
Your boss has a boss who
has a boss who has a boss...
Leaders follow too
* And...wishes are not horses
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22. 8
Don’t throw the horse in the
pool.
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23. 8
Audience:
Do you think most companies should
follow a user-centered design process?
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24. 8
Relationship is #1
Be Patient, Grasshopper
* & always love puppies
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25. 9
Puppy killers are awful
people.
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26. 9
Audience:
Did you kill any puppies today?
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27. 9
In a year you won’t give a sh*t
Move On
* Be Zen
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28. 10
You are your work. You are
not your work.
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29. 10
Audience:
How many of you love your job? Hate it?
Has work ever made you depressed or
angry?
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30. 10
Be Passionate
Be Zen
* Be surprised
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31. 6
Bonus: Always put lipstick on
your favorite pig.
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32. What is the sound of one
hand clapping?
Eva Kaniasty
Red Pill UX
@kaniasty
UPA International 2012, Las Vegas
June 2012
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