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Here’s what I’ve got for you today:

Quick catch-up for the 100+ new readers: Besides our main job, developing land (LandLogic ← that’s us), we have a growing side hustle called chargeFUZE. It lets people rent portable chargers to keep their phones alive - think of it like a vending machine (though I've spent countless hours insisting it's not, usually while gesturing wildly at PowerPoint slides).

What started as my brilliant "passive income" idea has evolved into my wife Kirsten's full-time job, somehow wedged between her actual career and her more demanding role as CEO of the Mills Family Chaos Management Division.

Quick Hits From This Issue:

• Found out the hard way that charging stations are a tough sell at wedding shows (but robotics kids love us!)

• Finally, admitted I might be what I've been avoiding - a consultant (or "advisor" if we're being fancy)

• Apologizing in advance to all my consulting friends 😁 

• Created three new tools to help identify consultant tendencies:

  • The Consultant Evolution Venn Diagram (for when spreadsheets meet "circle back")

  • The Consultant Risk Assessment Matrix (from "Normal Human" to "Terminal Consultant")

  • The Consultant's Hierarchy of Needs (Maslow never saw this coming)

Key Takeaway: Sometimes, the right product finds the wrong audience - or, as I learned in real estate: Location, location, location. (Though in this case, it's more like: Audience, audience, audience.)

But what you REALLY want to read about is how I managed to get rejected by brides and crowned by teenagers in the same week...

Let’s get into it.

A Tale of Two Weekends

At the Calgary Wedding Show (as a vendor)

I stand awkwardly behind our chargeFUZE booth while Kirsten smoothly demonstrates our charging station.

A bride stops, eyeing our display. "I want everyone focused on ME at my wedding, not their phones!"

"But think of all the Instagram moments..." I try.

Death stare. "Did you just suggest my guests should be on their phones?"

"Greg, stop helping," Kirsten whispers.

"But what about when they want to take pictu—"

The bride struts away. "Let their phones die!"

Kirsten watches her go. "That's the seventh bride who's looked at us like we suggested wearing white to their wedding."

One Week Later: Calgary Robotics Competition (as a sponsor)

The energy couldn't be more different. We're surrounded by excited teenagers treating us like tech royalty.

"You're giving us FREE charging? This is better than pizza!" one student exclaims.

Another pulls out their phone. "Can I get a selfie with the charging station?"

"Remember last week when we couldn't get anyone to make eye contact?" Kirsten says, amused.

"Amazing what a difference a week makes. Last weekend we were wedding vendor peasants, this weekend we're tech gods."

The student team captain spots us. "Everyone! The chargeFUZE people are here! They're saving our TikTok livestream!"

"Should we tell them about last week's wedding show?" I whisper to Kirsten.

"Let's just enjoy being popular for once. It's like high school redemption."

Crowned…charging Royalty…boom ⚡️ 👑 

The Real Lesson

Sometimes your product isn't the problem - you're just at the wrong party.

Or as I learned in my land development days: Location, location, location.

(Though in this case, it's more like: Audience, audience, audience.)

Let's break for our sponsor (this is how we can write 2000 words per week and still eat)…

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Earlier That Day At The Robotics Competition

I'm about to learn that explaining my current role is harder than developing a wetland as one of the event organizers stops by our booth.

"Greg Mills? I thought that was you! Still developing communities?"

(Here we go...)

"Yes, I'm still a land developer."

"Oh cool, what projects are you working on?"

(me suddenly very interested in adjusting our perfectly level display) "Well... I don't actually have any land yet."

"Ah, so you're a consultant?"

My voice rises about three octaves. "No, I'm a developer who temporarily lacks land. It's different!"

"How exactly?" he asks.

I mumble into my coffee cup, suddenly finding the liquid very interesting. "...I help other people develop their land."

Later, At My Desk

You know how a Ronin is a samurai without a lord...still a samurai...just disgraced?

Or how a chef without a kitchen is still a chef...maybe a sous chef?

Well, that's me right now - a developer without land.

But here's the thing about being a Ronin developer: your skills don't disappear just because your business card changes.

Lessons:

1. Keep your head high (even if your land count is zero)

2. Focus on adding value (people remember who helped them)

3. Be patient about payment (the money follows value)

5 Early Warning Signs You Might Be a Consultant

(A Public Service Announcement from Someone Who Just Figured It Out)

Here are the warning signs I missed:

Sign #1: Your Most-Used Phrase Is "Have You Considered..."

• You can't walk into a room without spotting "optimization opportunities"

• Friends have banned you from their home renovations because you keep suggesting "value engineering alternatives"

• You've caught yourself drawing process flow diagrams on restaurant napkins

• Bonus Point: You've ever said "Let me play devil's advocate" in a casual conversation about pizza toppings

Sign #2: Excel Is Your Love Language

• Your idea of "casual reading" is a 47-tab spreadsheet

• You've created a decision matrix for choosing lunch options

• You refer to your morning coffee as "productivity optimization fuel"

• Bonus Point: You've color-coded your sock drawer using conditional formatting logic

Sign #3: PowerPoint Is Your Preferred Method of Communication

• You've made a deck to convince your spouse about vacation destinations

• Your family photos are arranged in a 2x2 matrix with clear action items

• You keep trying to add transition animations to verbal conversations

• Bonus Point: You've ever said "Let me just share my screen" during a face-to-face chat

Sign #4: You Think Every Problem Is Really An Opportunity

• You've described a flat tire as a "mobile optimization challenge"

• Your dating profile includes the phrase "proven track record of success"

• You see traffic jams as "time for strategic planning"

• Bonus Point: You've referred to your morning alarm as a "daily value proposition reminder"

Sign #5: You've Mastered the Art of Professional Vagueness

• You answer questions with "it depends on various factors"

• Your emails always end with "let's discuss further"

• You describe timelines as "fluid and iterative"

• Bonus Point: You've ever used "synergy" unironically in a sentence

The Diagnosis

• 0-3 Signs: You're still a normal human being. There's hope.

• 4-7 Signs: Early-stage consultitis. Treatment available.

• 8-12 Signs: Advanced case. Consider starting a LinkedIn newsletter.

• 13+ Signs: Too late. You're probably already charging people for your "expert insights."

Emergency Treatment Plan

If you've identified more than three signs, please:

1. Step away from the spreadsheet

2. Take two doses of reality

3. Call a friend who works in a normal job

4. Avoid all books with "strategy" in the title

5. Limit PowerPoint exposure to once per week

Remember: Admitting you're a consultant is the first step to... well, probably creating a framework about recovery stages.

P.S. If you found yourself nodding along while making notes about how to optimize this list, I have bad news for you...

🛠️ Consultant Self-Identification Tools (built by me)

The Consultant Evolution Venn Diagram

Ever wonder what happens when spreadsheet addiction meets an uncontrollable urge to 'circle back'? Here's a scientifically* proven Venn diagram showing how three harmless habits combine to create a full-blown consultant.

(*Data collected during 47 unnecessary meetings where we could have just sent an email)

The Consultant Risk Assessment Matrix:

After 30 years in real estate development, I've finally created the ultimate consultant detection tool. It's exactly the kind of over-engineered solution a consultant would make, which probably means I'm part of the problem.

The Consultant's Hierarchy of Needs:

Forget everything Maslow taught you - consultants have their own pyramid of priorities. Turns out self-actualization isn't about reaching your full potential, it's about creating the perfect framework to explain why you need three different.

Another sponsor break…

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THAT’S A WRAP

So, I guess I'm a consultant...I prefer advisor.

Consultant sounds so pedestrian. I'm sorry, consultants. I know you are faithful readers...I know you are people...

(Please still hire me.)

Stay curious and keep charging,

Greg "Ronin Developer" Mills

P.S. Got a story about being at the wrong party with the right product? Hit reply - misery loves company!

If you liked what you read and are not a subscriber yet, join the crowd:

Here are some back issues if you are just not sure yet:

Issue #22: Adding Value At $30k Per Minute 

Issue #13: The 5-Minute Research Mistake That Almost Cost Us Everything 

Issue #12: Three Easy Steps To Get Thrown Out Of A Convention 

Looking for more to read:

Note: Some of the links in the newsletter are affiliate links. I believe in transparency and honesty, so if you want to know more, visit Full Partner Disclosure for details.