It’s official now, and it’s time I announce it here: after two years at Microsoft I’ve decided to take the helm of my career and venture into the realm of independent consulting. Two days into it, and all I can say about it is: what have I been waiting for this long?
While at Microsoft, I had a chance to work on some very exciting projects, I was sitting at the source of information, and the thrill of being able to know about all the news and developments before anyone else is priceless.
But the thrill of being able to work on my own, to pick my own projects, to take on completely new challenges, was even more priceless.
Microsoft is a great place to work, and I really enjoyed it there, but there was something odd about it. Microsoft’s logo on my business card surely opened many doors and brought some weight to all I did, but I was never sure: what part of my e-mail address did my customers really trust: the vjekoslav.babic part or the @microsoft.com part? In other words, did my customers trust me because I was Microsoft, or did they trust me for what I said and did.
I’ve decided it was just about time to find out.
So, in scope of my independent consulting career, what am I going to do?
Primarily, I am going to work with NAV customers, companies that are implementing the solution, but have no internal expertise in NAV or in ERP in general, nor they fully understand the implementation process. My value proposition to those companies is simple: I help you define clear project scope that brings you value and returns your investment, I help you stay focused on value, and I keep your project on track, on budget, and on time by ensuring project, methodology, implementation and NAV best practices.
With 33% of the ERP customers stating that their biggest challenge was lack of ERP experience, 68% of implementations taking much longer than planned, 65% of ERP implementations going over budget, and 42% of customers not being satisfied with the implementation results, I see a lot of market for my services.
Secondarily, I am going to target NAV partners, and I will offer project methodology, ERP best practices and NAV product coaching services, as well as project management, quality assurance and NAV solution design and architecture services on their projects. For partners, I am also going to deliver pre-sales services and help them sell value of NAV.
So, there is a lot of challenge awaiting me on my independent consulting path. Who knows, maybe we meet somewhere along it and I’m looking forward to that opportunity.
2 years at Microsoft? No way! I remember reading your blog posts when you were going over to Microsoft and how excited you were about it–it seems like only yesterday. I’m sure you’ll do well in your new career. Cheers, Dave.
Thank you all for the best wishes!
Dave, yes, 2 years – almost couldn’t believe it myself! It only reminds me how quickly time is passing.. and how important it is to make right decisions in time. Thanks, pal, I really appreciate your support!
Vaidy, all the best to you too in your career choice, it’s the way to go!
Congrats on the new direction!
Mark
Hey Babic,
That’s precisely what I was thought of posting on my blog. You know what? I am also now an Independent Consultant. But I am yet to announce it officially as I am waiting for some more formalities to be completed.
Wishing you all the best in your new role and I am sure you will be my another inspiration to be a professional Independent Consultant.
Thanks
Vaidy Mohan
Best of luck to you Vjekoslav!
Good luck in new career!
Hi Vjekoslav,
All the very best
Rakesh.
Hi Vjekoslav,
Great post, and I can totally relate to it.
Though I am in the Staffing and Recruitment industry, the same applies. I was at Microsoft for 18 months, loved it, had the prestige, and wondered what my external perception was. Do people want to speak with Christian Payne because he is a Recruiter who knows his indsutry, or do people want to speak with me as a Microsoft recruiter?
I started my own company this year. No microsoft email alias, all starting a company name and reputation (Code Resourcing) from nothing. Its an exciting challenge, and the rewards of going independent are in my opinion, unrivalled.
I personally wish you the very best in the Independent Consultancy world, and who knows, we may get to work together one day…
Christian
Good luck, Vjekoslav!
Thanks, Waldo!
Hi Vjekoslav,
Success with your new activities as an independent consultant. What does independent has for a meaning here?
I have been in the Dynamics formerly Damgaard/Navision since 1993 now and I am still wondering why especially NAV people are so picky (sometimes even violent) on other Microsoft products like AX. My companies resell both products in dedicated industries and we do not have to make all kind of untrue statements about the different products.
To me, the most important task for the Dynamics Partner Community is to beat the competition outside Microsoft.
NAV and AX do really well co-exist in one company with the right focus with the right product on the right industry segment.
Aad: thanks for the best wishes in my new career. Independent means that I work on my own, and I don’t work as an employee of Microsoft or a partner company. People often use the term “freelance”.
About other stuff you write here, I don’t understand you at all. Where exactly did I say anything bad about AX or any other products, what untrue statements did I make? Can you point to any of my posts with which you disagree, and I’ll immediately check them and make sure that anything untrue or unfair is removed from there. Thanks!
Hi Vjeko!!! Congratulations!! What a career!! That impress me so much, Congratulations again.
The first time I met with you in Germany (UnterschleiBheim, BA for Dynamics) I thought, this person will arrive far!! 🙂
Well done!
Hi Jesus!
It’s great to hear from you again! Thanks for the congrats! I hope our paths cross again, the world is a small place…
Best regards,
Vjeko
You should write a retrospective about how those 4 years have been for you working as a free-rider 😉