Lifetime Lessons in Consulting

Lifetime Lessons in Consulting answers two questions: 1. What does a consultant do? 2. What makes a good life? Through stories, anecdotes, and lessons to share, this book puts the human face on consulting as a calling. It can be used as a companion book to complement a traditional text, or it can be a stand-alone book for someone who wonders what it's like to be a consultant. It's one person's story spanning over fifty years of experience as a professor and consultant.

Lifetime Lessons in Consulting is about wholeness. The ivory tower joins the real world in these pages. Kurt Lewin, the father of applied psychology, said, "Nothing is more useful than a good theory;" and William James, the father of American psychology, said, "A theory without application is useless." This book combines theory and experience to make a veritable smorgasbord of lessons learned from the life of the author. It's a fascinating feast that is both whole and wholesome for both new and experienced consultants.

The new edition of Lifetime Lessons in Consulting by George Manning is a refreshing and practical guide that cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of what it takes to succeed as a consultant. Manning blends decades of real-world experience with clear advice, making complex client dynamics and business challenges feel manageable and even intuitive. What stands out most is how relevant the lessons feel-whether you're just starting out or have years of consulting under your belt, there's something here that sharpens your thinking and improves how you deliver value.

This updated edition feels especially timely, with insights that reflect the evolving nature of consulting in today's fast-paced, relationship-driven environment. Manning doesn't just focus on frameworks or theory-he emphasizes judgment, communication, and trust, which are ultimately what define great consultants. It's the kind of book you'll find yourself revisiting, not just reading once. For anyone serious about building a sustainable and impactful consulting career, this is a must-have addition to your professional library.

George Manning is professor emeritus of psychology at North-ern Kentucky Univer- sity. He is a consultant to business, industry, and government, serving such clients as the AMA, AT&T, Gener-al Electric, IBM, Duke Energy, the United Auto Workers, YoungPresidents' Organization, the U.S. Navy, and the National Insti-tutes of Health. He lectures on economic and social issues, includ-ing quality of work-life, workforce values, and business ethics. Hemaintains an active program of research and writing in organi-zational psychology. His current studies and interests include thechanging meaning of work, leadership ethics, and coping skills forpersonal and social change. He lives on the stern and craggy shoreof Maine where he walks and writes as nature allows.