Readiness Self-Assessment

This 15-question self-assessment evaluates your readiness to launch an independent higher education consulting practice across five dimensions: Motivation and Vision, Financial Readiness, Network and Reputation, Operational Readiness, and Personal and Identity Readiness. You will first name which of three practice designs you are considering, because the same score reads differently across them. Your total score (out of 75) places you in one of four readiness bands, with next steps tailored to your design. Allow 8 to 12 minutes, and answer for the situation you are in, not the one you wish you were in.

About your privacy: Your responses are submitted directly to Dr. Scot Lingrell. They are used only to inform your follow-up conversation and not shared with third parties.

Name

Email Address

Which kind of practice are you designing?Retirement Supplement: $20,000 to $50,000 a year at 5 to 15 hours per week, with retirement income and/or Social Security foundation.Niche Practitioner: $100,000 to $175,000 a year at 20 to 30 hours per week, deliberately one person, built on a specialty.Growing Practice: $200,000 to $400,000 or more a year at full effort, building toward something substantial.Not yet decided. (The assessment is still useful; your results will tell you where to start.)

Dimension 1: Motivation and Vision

Are you moving toward something specific rather than simply away?

Q3. I have a clear picture of who my ideal clients would be and the problems I would solve for them.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Dimension 2: Financial Readiness

Do you have the reserves to sustain a 12 to 18 month ramp?

Q5. My household can sustain a 12-month period of low or no consulting revenue without significant disruption.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Q6. I have discussed and aligned on the financial picture of this transition with my spouse or financial partner.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Dimension 3: Network and Reputation

Will your first clients come from people who already know your work?

Q7. I can name at least three people in my professional network who would likely become my first clients or refer me to them.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Q8. I have maintained active, recent contact with senior decision-makers in higher education over the past 12 months.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Q9. My professional reputation is strong enough that prospects would seek me out based on my work history.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Dimension 4: Operational Readiness

Are you ready for the unglamorous work of running a practice?

Q10. I understand the basic business structures (LLC, S-Corp election, sole proprietorship) at a level that would let me make informed decisions with a CPA.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Q11. I am prepared to spend significant time on non-billable business operations (banking, taxes, compliance, marketing) particularly in the first six months.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Q12. I have identified or have access to the professionals I will need (CPA, attorney, insurance broker).Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Dimension 5: Personal and Identity Readiness

Can you make the psychological transition?

Q13. I can take honest accountability for the conditions that led me to consider this transition, including my own role in creating them.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Q14. I am comfortable operating without the structure, status, and routine of an institutional role.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Q15. If I am still institutionally employed, I have reviewed any conflict-of-interest or outside-employment policies and understand what I can and cannot do today.Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree

Total Score

After submitting, your result band displays on this page and a copy is sent to the email address you provided. Questions about the assessment or your result? Email [email protected].