ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.
Listen "Ep 19 - Busy But Broke"
Episode Synopsis
EP 19 - Busy But Broke: Why High-Skill Consultants Stay Stuck — And How to Break Out for Good
You’re not failing because you lack skill — you’re failing because you inherited a corporate operating system that collapses the moment you go solo. This episode exposes the invisible traps draining your profit, your energy, and your future… and the structural fixes that finally make your expertise pay what it’s worth.
Most independent consultants, QSs, and construction professionals don’t fail because of a lack of expertise — they fail because they unknowingly rebuild a low-margin miniature version of their old corporate job.
They stay busy… but they stay broke.
In this episode, we break down:
The Corporate Safety Net Illusion and why your old success metrics are killing your solo business
The hidden Profit Killers silently destroying your margin
Why tiny jobs, discounts, and “quick favors” are not harmless — they’re a structural threat
The psychological cost of bad clients (and why they’re worse than no clients at all)
The mindset shift from the Time Equation → Value Equation
The three characteristics of every profitable six-figure freelancer
How to package your expertise into scalable outcomes instead of billable hours
The client-selection filters that eliminate nightmare clients before they enter your calendar
If you’re overworked, underpaid, and wondering why your skill isn’t translating into income, this episode is your blueprint for breaking the cycle permanently.
If you liked this episode, and would like more valuable content on how to start or scale your own business come and join my free Skool community here
https://www.skool.com/quantity-surveying-coaching-9986/about
You’re not failing because you lack skill — you’re failing because you inherited a corporate operating system that collapses the moment you go solo. This episode exposes the invisible traps draining your profit, your energy, and your future… and the structural fixes that finally make your expertise pay what it’s worth.
Most independent consultants, QSs, and construction professionals don’t fail because of a lack of expertise — they fail because they unknowingly rebuild a low-margin miniature version of their old corporate job.
They stay busy… but they stay broke.
In this episode, we break down:
The Corporate Safety Net Illusion and why your old success metrics are killing your solo business
The hidden Profit Killers silently destroying your margin
Why tiny jobs, discounts, and “quick favors” are not harmless — they’re a structural threat
The psychological cost of bad clients (and why they’re worse than no clients at all)
The mindset shift from the Time Equation → Value Equation
The three characteristics of every profitable six-figure freelancer
How to package your expertise into scalable outcomes instead of billable hours
The client-selection filters that eliminate nightmare clients before they enter your calendar
If you’re overworked, underpaid, and wondering why your skill isn’t translating into income, this episode is your blueprint for breaking the cycle permanently.
If you liked this episode, and would like more valuable content on how to start or scale your own business come and join my free Skool community here
https://www.skool.com/quantity-surveying-coaching-9986/about
In God we trust