How do you go from unpredictable consulting income to a sustainable, lifestyle-aligned business?

In this episode of Thriving Through, host AJ Riedel sits down with independent consultant Dave de Céspedes to explore his journey from teaching and creative work to building a thriving consulting practice—one now highly specialized in serving venture capital firms.

Dave shares how his early years as a generalist consultant led to inconsistent lead flow, volatile revenue, and scattered engagements—and how niching down into the VC space completely transformed his business. He explains how working within Notion’s consultant ecosystem initially fueled inbound leads, but also exposed the risk of relying on lead sources you don’t control.

This episode dives deep into consulting lead generation, relationship-based growth, and why longer-term, sprint-based retainers create far more predictable revenue than traditional project work. Dave also breaks down how workflow audits, change management, and flexible sprint planning help VC teams actually adopt new systems—rather than letting them collect dust.

If you’re a consultant, coach, or solopreneur navigating feast-or-famine income, wondering whether to niche down, or trying to design a business that supports both time freedom and financial stability, this conversation delivers practical, real-world insight.

In this episode, we cover:

Dave de Céspedes’ path from teaching to consulting

Navigating the consulting revenue roller coaster

Why relying solely on inbound leads is risky

How niching down into venture capital builds authority

Relationship-driven lead generation strategies

Structuring retainers and sprint-based engagements

Solving workflow and operations challenges for VC firms

Staying relevant as AI and productivity tools evolve

Designing a consulting business around lifestyle and family

Dave also reflects on how consulting has enabled him to be present for his family while building a profitable, fulfilling business—without sacrificing impact or flexibility.

If you want to thrive through uncertainty, create consistent consulting income, and become a recognized expert in a clear niche, this episode is a must-listen.

👉 Learn more about Dave’s work:
workcraft.co

👉 Connect with Dave de Céspedes:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmdecespedes/