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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 M AY 1 7 , 2 0 2 1 A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y F i n a n c i a l C o a c h A l l i s o n B i s h o p o f t h e A C E B o a r d The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a non-profit association of independent consultants who value "Success through Collaboration." The public is welcome to attend its regular meetings to share best practices and engage with industry experts. For more information go to www.consultexpertise.com. Q: I've been working remotely. I feel that I have more control of how I manage my day, and that I'm working more efficiently. I've had time to think about whether "going solo" might be an option that would let me take on projects for a larger number of businesses … including businesses outside Maine. How do I start? ACE Advises: You are not alone in considering an indepen- dent practice. One of the lessons we have learned from the pandemic is that work outside of a traditional office setting will be a significant feature of the post-pandemic world. You want to take matters one step further: You want to be an entrepreneur. I asked some our experts to identify the first piece of advice they would give to someone starting out. John Shorb, organizational development specialist, empha- sizes commitment. "Be willing to commit to the consulting service you have in mind, rather than approaching it as something you will 'try' and see if it works out. Be clear on your area of expertise. Develop connections in your field that you can call on for support." Tom Morgan, sales strategist, agrees that clarity is essen- tial: "It is critical to know your 'Why.' A lot of people can provide what you may do, but only you can have your 'Why'" Business coach Priscilla Hansen Mahoney stresses the need for client focus: "I wish had understood when I started that people don't buy coaching. They buy solutions. The clearer I am about the problem I solve for my clients, the easier it is to fill my practice." For me it was networking. You simply cannot build a prac- tice without getting out into your community. Your visibility is important, but you need to think of it as an opportunity to understand how your community ticks, and what its real needs are. Financial coach Allison Bishop, a CPA, is a member of the ACE Board. On May 27, she will lead a panel discussion, "So You Want to be a Consultant or Solo Professional." She can be reached at allison@allisonbishop.com Learn more about the event at consultexpertise.com/event-4270811 @ Bangor company will rehab aircraft engines C&L Aerospace purchased nine com- plete ERJ 145 aircraft and 14 AE3007 Rolls Royce Engines from an opera- tor in Clermont-Ferrand, France, for teardown. e process is scheduled to be complete by October with the majority of the parts, which will be inspected and made ready for sale, stored at the company's main head- quarters in Bangor. N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N Bangor Savings Bank ranked No. 1 among New England banks in J.D. Power Inc.'s "U.S. Retail Banking Sat- isfaction" study. This the sixth time in seven years Bangor Savings has achieved the top ranking in the annu- al study. Bangor Savings is the largest Maine-based bank by assets, which total over $6 billion. It has nearly 1,000 employees. N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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