COMMUNITY Q&A

Business Questions, Answered

Browse real questions about business with detailed responses and links to the full breakdowns on GummyGuide.

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43 real questions 8 categories Detailed answers + linked breakdowns

r/consulting 125 upvotes Business Featured

So I got let go during my trial period last week after 9 months. The reason cited was not on an expected level in slide writing. This came out of blue because my feedback was pretty good until the last one. But upon further deep dive on it, they said I got g...

Getting fired or laid off is one of the most difficult professional experiences anyone can go through. The uncertainty, the self-doubt, the fear of the unknown - it's a heavy weight to carry. But I want you to know that you are not alone. Thousands of talented people go through this every year, and many of them come ou...

r/consulting 77 upvotes Business Featured

Hey /r/consulting I work at a mid-size ERP provider (not SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, etc.) We're about a $300M a year company and our market is manufacturers. I started as a BDR and because of my performance was given the opportunity to start as a business con...

I know exactly what you're going through. Making the leap from corporate to solo consulting can be an exhilarating but daunting experience. The reality is, many new consultants get overwhelmed because they fail to establish a clear, compelling position in the market. They end up chasing any available work instead of ta...

r/consulting 71 upvotes Business Featured

I’m often conflicted, I get frustrated when specialists don’t see the impact of decisions up and downstream and I’m grateful I’ve went a more generalist route and can see the bigger strategic picture, but also struggle with the feeling I’m not good at anything...

I can totally relate to the struggle you're describing. It's so common for generalist consultants to feel overwhelmed and uncertain, especially when you're just starting out. The root cause is that without a clear, differentiated positioning, you end up trying to be all things to all people. This leads to a constant sc...

r/consulting 66 upvotes Business Featured

Recent discussion on exits: - Exits compilation - Management consulting exits (Wiki) - Tech consulting exits - Best time to exit - Guide to exiting - mod's note: somewhat extreme approach, but there's usefulness here If anyone wants to write an article ...

We've all been there - facing the uncertainty and self-doubt that comes with losing a job. It's an emotional rollercoaster, and the ripple effects can be far-reaching. But the reality is, this happens to countless professionals every day, often through no fault of their own. The real root cause usually lies in broader ...

r/cscareerquestions 62 upvotes Business Featured

Hey everyone, I’m a software engineer with 5 years of experience, recently laid off. My stack includes React, Angular, Java with Spring Boot, and Node/Express. I’ve also worked with AWS and have decent CI/CD experience. On paper, it feels like I should be get...

Being laid off can feel devastating, like the rug has been pulled out from under you. But know that it's not a reflection on your abilities - in today's volatile job market, even talented professionals are sometimes casualties of corporate restructuring or economic downturns. The good news is, there are concrete steps ...

r/freelance 50 upvotes Business Featured

To preface a little. I'm a freelancer (1YR) often working directly with founders/CEOs for design projects. And more often than not the relationship turns into using me like a crayon for their creative outlets. Most of my freelance gigs are highly visual and I...

Dealing with feedback from non-creatives is one of the most frustrating challenges for creative professionals. It's like trying to explain color theory to someone who only sees in black and white. The reality is, those who don't understand the creative process often miss the nuance and intention behind the work. The r...

r/Wordpress 50 upvotes Business Featured

Hey everyone, I’m a freelance web developer and recently started helping a small business owner, a concrete lifting company, move away from his previous web provider, LinkNow Media. He originally paid them for the full website design and build, and then stay...

I know how frustrating this situation must feel. It's a common problem that far too many businesses face - a client who disappears or refuses to pay after you've completed the work. But there are proven strategies you can use to get the money you're owed without damaging the relationship. The root cause often comes do...

r/freelance 47 upvotes Business

After quitting my toxic 9-5 job as a digital project lead for a startup 8 months ago I decided to try freelancing (UI/UX Design) on Fiverr as a side hustle. It took off unexpectedly and I started getting so busy with work that I became too overwhelmed and had ...

I hear you, my friend. The freelance journey is not an easy one, and self-doubt can creep in, especially when things go south unexpectedly. But know that you're not alone - many talented freelancers experience the same rollercoaster of feast-or-famine cycles and lost opportunities. The root of the problem often lies i...

r/consulting 34 upvotes Business

I'm a junior at a MBB and I have to say I find the job amazing. I was pivoting between joining banking / consulting post University but am so happy with my MBB stint. The hours are not that bad, the work (thus far) was diverse and interesting. I traveled a lot...

I hear you, my friend. Feeling trapped in the wrong career, especially after 30, is a tough spot to be in. The stakes feel so much higher when you have the mortgage, family responsibilities, and lifestyle expenses that make the "follow your dreams" advice feel out of reach. The core issue here is that traditional car...

r/sales 33 upvotes Business

I have been in SaaS sales coming up on 7 years. I have metrics in my resume stating the success I've had in prior roles. I have probably applied to 150 jobs have have had like 7 interviews. The most frustrating part is internal recruiters or whatever title I...

I feel your pain, friend. The job search when you have no professional experience can be incredibly frustrating. It's like they want you to have experience to get experience - how's that supposed to work? The core issue is that employers are looking for signals that you can actually do the job. Without any work histo...

r/freelance 32 upvotes Business

I'm starting a website project for a client that can't afford to spend over 3k. This is my longest-standing client, who basically started my whole career and offered a lot of referrals which have gotten me to where I am today. I've been freelancing for a year ...

I've been in your shoes, my friend. Underestimating project hours and feeling that sinking dread as the invoice deadline looms is a common freelancer struggle. The root cause is often a mix of "value blindness" and "scope hallucination" - we fail to fully recognize the true value of our expertise, and we subconsciously...

r/freelance 32 upvotes Business

I'm doing design work for a client that requires a lot of materials that they need to generate on their end, particularly copy and content, I'm only here to make it look pretty... but I don't think they quite understand that. I'm happy to provide advice but I ...

We've all been there - the project is chugging along, then suddenly the client goes radio silent. It's one of the most frustrating situations a service provider can face, and I'm sorry you're dealing with it. The good news is, there are steps you can take to get this project back on track. The root cause is usually a ...

r/sales 30 upvotes Business

Just wanting to ask the sales community about how normal this is to be making 7.5% commission, no base, no salary. Made only around $45k gross last year in total-pay/commissions and repped a few hundred surgeries by myself. Their pay/bonus structure means I wi...

It's understandable to feel frustrated with your current comp package as a Med Rep, especially when there's no base pay and you're essentially relying on commissions alone. Unfortunately, this type of "100% commission" structure is all too common in sales-oriented roles like yours. The root cause is often a combination...

r/freelance 29 upvotes Business

I found a job related to some video game guide writing for a cheats/guides website on Guru. I sent them an e-mail inquiring about the job posting, got interviewed successfully, and it seems I am a strong candidate for getting the job of writing my first guide....

I understand the frustration of a client refusing to pay, especially after you've held up your end of the deal. This is a common problem many service providers face, but there are ways to address it and protect your business. The root cause often lies in the Payment Psychology Reset - where the client has shifted thei...

r/freelance 28 upvotes Business

My freelance business is based on word-of-mouth referrals and building ongoing relationships with a hand full of returning clients. I always start a project with an introductory call to assess the client's needs, goals, and of course, compatibility. I feel lik...

Losing clients and projects can feel devastating, especially when you've put in so much time and effort. I've been in your shoes, and I know how much it sucks. The reality is that the freelance lifestyle often comes with feast-or-famine cycles - it's the nature of the beast. But there are specific things you can start ...

r/freelance 25 upvotes Business

I have a BS in computer science and 10 years of project management, 10 years of network, maintenance and troubleshooting and team management.

I can completely relate to the struggle you're going through. Losing projects seemingly out of nowhere is one of the most frustrating and demoralizing experiences for any freelancer, no matter how talented or experienced they are. The root cause is that the traditional "cold pitch" approach to finding clients is fundam...

r/freelance 23 upvotes Business

I apologize if this is redundant. I read the wiki, but I feel that this situation is a bit complex. My fiance works for a small business, and eventually introduced me to the owner who has needed different types of tech-related help. It started out with simpl...

I'm really sorry to hear you're dealing with this tricky situation. Underpricing and scope creep are such common struggles for freelancers - I've definitely been there myself. The core issue is often what we call "value blindness" - where we have a hard time seeing the true value we bring because we're so close to the ...

r/Accounting 22 upvotes Business

I am a college student pursuing an Accounting degree, and I was recently fired from an accounting internship. Prior to getting the internship, I was very honest with the company (small local public firm) that I had zero accounting experience whatsoever and had...

Getting fired or laid off can feel absolutely devastating. I know, because I've been there. The feelings of rejection, confusion, and self-doubt can be overwhelming. But I want you to know that this is a common experience, and there are proven strategies to not just recover, but actually come out stronger on the other ...

r/freelance 20 upvotes Business

I've been trying a few self-discovery exercises recently and contemplating what I actually want to do in life and I've been considering the idea of freelancing, specifically being able to combine it with travel if I want to move around or freelance in my home ...

I hear you, friend. The struggle of a mid-career pivot is all too real. You're not alone in feeling trapped, unfulfilled, and uncertain about taking the leap into freelancing. At the core of this challenge is the fundamental shift required - it's not just a job change, but a change to your very identity and lifestyle. ...

r/freelance 20 upvotes Business

I've been hired as a 3D artist for a learning app, by a client in the EU. We signed a contract stipulating what I'd provide. I have to build 3D models to go in the app, there's a 'script', there's a time schedule for various sets of models. We both signed it. ...

It's a frustrating situation when a client reneges on the agreed-upon contract, leaving you in the lurch. Unfortunately, this is all too common, as the Payment Psychology Reset framework outlines. Clients often underestimate the true value of the work, or they may be dealing with their own cash flow issues, leading the...