The US economic recovery signals are ‘mixed’ – which is an encouraging improvement over just a few months ago.  The Federal Government has become both more optimistic and more pessimistic, with GNP expected to recover slightly more quickly than previously expected, even while unemployment creeps slightly higher.

Ironically, job creation depends on business confidence, which depends on economic growth, which in the long run depends on… higher employment levels. So, is there really a turnaround in sight? What about business owners who are looking to implement plans they’ve had on hold?

If you’re still understandably wary of increasing your employee headcount, here is a solution:  Hire an independent consultant on a contract basis. Engaging an independent consultant to fill a resource gap is a much smaller commitment than hiring an employee, and your dollars will go further.  An independent consultant expects to perform immediately, so you get a faster return from your project.

Huge consulting firms often use a senior partner to convince you to sign a contract, then assign less-experienced, newly graduated MBA’s to do the actual work.  But with an independent consultant, the person you meet in the selling process will be doing the actual work.  So don’t be put off by the fact that the independent consultant may be a little older. Those gray hairs came from years of experience ahead of you, and you’re not buying all those years of experience, you’re just renting them.