Tip #7: Across the universe
Build a solid database of client information from your contact lists in email, cell phone address book, holiday card list. This information is gold and can be used in so many ways from promoting your business to finding leads for future prospects.

Once you have a list, categorize it so you can tailor your communication and promotional strategies. This is a great opportunity for a CRM (customer relationship management) system. You can build your own or buy one.

For Notes and Domino users, one well-respected CRM comes from iEnterprises. If there are only one or two of you, you can "outsource" your CRM to a free service like Zoho.

Tip #8: Here, there and everywhere
Stay on top of trends in your industry. Beyond reading the trades, look outside your industry to see what macro-trends may impact you later down the road.

An excellent Web site to review current trends worldwide is trendwatching.com, and, of course, to see what's happening in the Lotus world on a day-by-day basis, nothing beats DominoPower's own news coverage.

Tip #9: Drive my car
Work on the business -- not always in it. When your head is down and you're doing all the work, you miss the strategic opportunities. This is a tough one for many of us. You must be willing to let someone else do the driving so you can read the map and identify the best routes.

If you have a project plan that you have signed off on, let another team member do the work, so you can work on how to build your business.

Tip #10: Twist and shout
Find ways to refresh and refuel. A tired consultant is an uninspired one. Exercise, eat well, give yourself some downtime doing something you love best. Mini-vacations, even for a couple of hours, will do a body good. If you have iTunes on your computer, make sure you have a few songs that force you to stand up and dance (just don't post them on YouTube -- you know who you are!). It makes any problem you're working on easier to solve!

Put this Beatles-inspired playlist ot tips in your repertoire and you'll find yourself with one hit after another until you top the consulting charts.

Janine Sutphen (1946-2003) was a Durham, NC-based freelance writer and cellist. Sadly, she was murdered in the early part of 2003. She will be missed.