Depending on the client and the project, or even for a particular moment, being a Salesforce consultant can feel like being a firefighter or a janitor.
A firefighter is someone who jumps into risk and uncertainty, and saves the family from the burning building. When you feel like a firefighter, rescuing the client from a doomed project, you feel energized, exhilarated, and fulfilled. These are the glorious moments that make you feel invincible.
A janitor is someone who cleans up other people’s messes, while grinning like you enjoy it. When you feel like a janitor, you need to keep your ego in check and get through the displeasure. Don’t worry, better days are ahead.
Hopefully you feel more often like a firefighter than a janitor, but both of these analogies are extremes.
Instead, it’s better to feel like an American football quarterback. A quarterback needs to read the field, anticipate several moves ahead, and then make the important technical decisions.
Being a quarterback is awesome because you also have a team supporting you. A team that moves and flows with you. A team that has the same motive as you.
The takeaway
Be like the quarterback. Help lead your team to victory and let everyone enjoy the fruit of their labors.