Given how Salesforce certifications have lost most of their value, another question logically follows. How do you convey knowledge without them?
Here are three steps to get you going.
1. Specialize
If you’re a generalist, it’s difficult to distinguish yourself from your competition.… Read the rest
Before we begin, this is not an email about bragging.
This is about showing you the art of the possible. If I can do it, so can you. I don’t have any magical powers that you don’t have. I simply don’t limit myself to common perceptions.… Read the rest
There’s an well-known anecdote that goes like this:
Albert Einstein was often called to give public lectures on his Theory of Relativity. His chauffeur heard his lectures so many times that he claimed to know it by heart.
At the time, not too many people knew what Einstein looked like.… Read the rest
It starts when a client is explaining their problem. As a Salesforce consultant, it’s easy to want to jump in as early as possible with your solution. However that’s not usually the best approach.
Instead, actively listen to the client’s concerns in full, without designing a solution in your mind.… Read the rest
Continuing from yesterday’s email…
Step 3 – Define the scoring values
Rather than use a typical score of 1-5 or 1-10, this is where things become interesting.
Imagine the following scoring:
Having gaps between the scores allows for more discrete responses.… Read the rest
Let’s say your client has a need, and it cannot be fulfilled by Salesforce. So you provide them with a shortlist of your preferred third-party applications. (Note: you have a shortlist, right?)
How do you help your client decide which of the apps is the best one for their needs?… Read the rest
You understand that Salesforce, as great as it is, has limits. That’s why the AppExchange exists. To provide third-party organizations an opportunity to fill those gaps or improve upon core functionality.
However, as a Salesforce consultant, there’s a fine line between recommending an app and suggesting one.… Read the rest
My friend’s wife approached me earlier today to learn about Salesforce.
She is the owner of a small art consulting business, advising businesses and high net-worth individuals about which art installations to buy and why.
Last year, she purchased a Salesforce license and was now looking to implement it.… Read the rest
As a Salesforce consultant, how should you spend your time when you don’t have much work to do?
This is a common question that is becoming more and more relevant as work is harder and harder to find. Whether you’re a full-time employee of a consulting agency or an independent contractor, the answer is mostly the same.… Read the rest
When you’re delivering a Salesforce project, you’re probably using a form of agile methodology. It’s the popular kid these days.
Work is usually migrated from a Development (DEV) sandbox to a Quality Assurance (QA) sandbox every two weeks. Towards the end of the sprint, you’ll probably want to demonstrate to the client what was done in that sprint.… Read the rest
When you have several solutions to a Salesforce problem, how do you make a final decision? How do you recognize and fight for the best solution?
Enter a framework. A framework is a series of guidelines and considerations to help you make the right decision for a specific problem.… Read the rest
As an independent Salesforce Architect, I usually work on multiple projects at the same time.
Throughout the day, I often need to switch focus from project A to project B, and then return to project A. Then jump to project C, and back to A or B.… Read the rest