Complaint Review: Institute For Independent Business - Sydney New South Wales

I first heard of the IIB in March 2007, attending a seminar in Brisbane, I was extremely suspicious and in fact spent over 12 months, doing due dilgence and speaking to other newly qualified and older associates (aprox 5,000,000) worldwide. Like all organisations, it is the sum of its parts, I had been an experienced Director of a large global company for nearly ten years, before moving to Australia. I also ran my own consultancy company in the UK. The IIB has designed a system that allows an ex CEO, Director or someone (such as a Health and Safety or Tax expert) to join, recieve training in how to sell them selves and their expertise to companies in the SME sector that need help. It tries to make sure that Associates act ethically (The Organisation has a strict code of ethics, which if not abided by leads to expulsion) It helps give them a route map to create their own consulting business and share their skills with companies that need them. Whether or not they do is up to their individual skills and efforts. I took the plunge and joined in July 2008, carried out the pre course work, and attended the week long course in Watford in the UK. The Au$26,000 included all food, training and accommodation and was very intensive. I met some great people from around the world. On return I had ,one to one telephone mentoring, group mentoring, and attended a monthly associate meeting in my State. I also (eventually) recieved 10 Appointments with companies that needed help. All this was included in my fee. You cannot and must not rely on those appointments to take your business forward, however if you follow the methods taught at the Residential Business School, are energetic, treat it as a full time job you can build an extremely effective practice. I have. I meet and network with fellow Associates, some who have delivered additional expertise and succesful outcomes for my clients that I have procured. To be fair you do need to choose who you want to work with as there are many talents/charecters in the IIB, but you do not stay with the organisation for long if you are no good, nor would you business prosper. Most of all I have got immense pleasure from seeing my clients, grow their business's from the "Practical Advice that works". and have written testimonials to prove it. Yes, the initial presentation is Salesy, but I did take the income guarantee, and within three months I did tear it up as I didn't need it. On reflection I don't think the fee charged is unreasonable given the return, that if you want and have the skills you can make and more importantly give to your clients. They wont keep you on if you dont!

I first heard of the IIB in March 2007, attending a seminar in Brisbane, I was extremely suspicious and in fact spent over 12 months, doing due dilgence and speaking to other newly qualified and older associates (aprox 5,000,000) worldwide. Like all organisations, it is the sum of its parts, I had been an experienced Director of a large global company for nearly ten years, before moving to Australia. I also ran my own consultancy company in the UK. The IIB has designed a system that allows an ex CEO, Director or someone (such as a Health and Safety or Tax expert) to join, recieve training in how to sell them selves and their expertise to companies in the SME sector that need help. It tries to make sure that Associates act ethically (The Organisation has a strict code of ethics, which if not abided by leads to expulsion) It helps give them a route map to create their own consulting business and share their skills with companies that need them. Whether or not they do is up to their individual skills and efforts. I took the plunge and joined in July 2008, carried out the pre course work, and attended the week long course in Watford in the UK. The Au$26,000 included all food, training and accommodation and was very intensive. I met some great people from around the world. On return I had ,one to one telephone mentoring, group mentoring, and attended a monthly associate meeting in my State. I also (eventually) recieved 10 Appointments with companies that needed help. All this was included in my fee. You cannot and must not rely on those appointments to take your business forward, however if you follow the methods taught at the Residential Business School, are energetic, treat it as a full time job you can build an extremely effective practice. I have. I meet and network with fellow Associates, some who have delivered additional expertise and succesful outcomes for my clients that I have procured. To be fair you do need to choose who you want to work with as there are many talents/charecters in the IIB, but you do not stay with the organisation for long if you are no good, nor would you business prosper. Most of all I have got immense pleasure from seeing my clients, grow their business's from the "Practical Advice that works". and have written testimonials to prove it. Yes, the initial presentation is Salesy, but I did take the income guarantee, and within three months I did tear it up as I didn't need it. On reflection I don't think the fee charged is unreasonable given the return, that if you want and have the skills you can make and more importantly give to your clients. They wont keep you on if you dont!

Check the IIB option out PROPERLY with an open mind (seminar + one on one interview, reference calls etc) before making an informed decision about setting up/building your consultancy practice either taking the IIB accreditation option or doing it on your own/differently. Some people are very successful, some are not, the IIB is not for everybody. If it is not for you, that is fine, don't join. Let others assess the IIB option fairly and thoroughly for themselves. From my perspective, given my personal circumstances, I can say that: - The network is fantastic, it gives me resources I trust, varied work (both as generalist and as specialist) and new opportunities changing the scope of my business. - The methodology helps me without taking away my freedom. - I have learnt a lot since becoming an IIB associate, through both IIB activities and my IIB associates. I am very grateful for their support, their willingness to share their wisdom, the opportunities they are happy to explore and tackle with me... - Of course becoming an IIB associate did not make me an instant success with zero effort. I still have to invest time and money and work hard at building my business and generating the income level I want, but doing it alone wouldn't be as much fun, nor as rewarding and motivating.

I promised to update and file if I took this up. I went ahead and paid the money for the course .! Yes it was expensive. BUT it gave me a process , gave me a network and will - in time- provide me with appointments to call on. The people from Australia with me were a a mix of professions, but ALL were high calibre individuals. There were 10 from Sydney alone, which has provided me/us with an instant support group. It is a good product , but you are dependent on your ability to sell yourself - both to your clients and to the Regional IIB group. It is not for everybody, but then I hope it stays that way. I will only succeed if the people surrounding me are of a high calibre. The selection Process to get to the training worked - in my session anyway. After getting back, the process continues with your fellow IIB'ers. It is not for everybody. Thank goodness.

I was also at the seminar, and do not consider myself 'desparate (sic) or vulnerable' . I have also not signed up for anything, but have decided to look into it further. This means doing the due diligence and talking to references, as well as my own contacts. The report filed was incorrect and mildly derogatory , or perhaps the 'middle eastern accent ' , and 'well girthed' comment was to help us all factually.? Dog whistle type denegration went out after the last election I thought... Anyway The presentation was , I thought, a fair attempt to present a proposition that may or not appeal to all concerned. Yes, it was a sales pitch , but what else were you expecting?. The proposition of having a network of consultants - all of whom had gone through the same level of accreditaion - , was attractive to me. Consultants seem to be either on of the Big 4 , or 3 or 6 or a one man show that depends on former colleagues for business. The IIB proposition is that you work with SME's knowing that you have a ready made network that can help in providing the 'practical advice that works'. (The IIB slogan). You present as a generalist, as that seems to be the model that gets the most success in closing clients (from the IIB perspective). God help a consultant that thinks he has all the answers up front.!! I agree that the $26K for a one week training session is high, even extortionate. It should not be the determining factor however in my decision. The fact that there are 89 others contactable in the region means that something must be working. A quick google shows hundreds of individual consultants worlwide with their own sites using the IIB accreditation as a selling point. Specifically re the guarantee- You are given the option of taking a guaranteee that involves a 40 our week , spending 8 hrs ONLY telemarketing, making 10 obligatory calls a week ON YOUR OWN PROSPECTS and handing over 20% of your billings. For this you will receive a guarantee of $108K pa net for your labour. It seems to be a way of forcing a discipline onto people and if it works , then I would expect after a few months that it is cheaper to buy a lead , than pay 20% of your gross plus 8 hrs telemarketing for the leads provided gratis. The challenge is to work within the IIB region to get help from those who have already been involved. That entails possessing a bit of emotional intelligence, something I would hope most consultants would have. It is obviously not for everyone, the methodology or the sales pitch may not appeal. As it is a not for profit , I am sure it has UK guidelines to follow. If I decide to take up the offer, I will file again.