Books by Eric May

The Solo Consultant

For everyone who dreams of reinvention, has the courage to try and the drive to keep going, “The Solo Consultant” is the essential guide to starting and building a successful solo practice. Written specifically for mid to late career professionals making the leap from employee to self-employment, brimming with valuable insights from people who set out on the journey and made it work, The Solo Consultant gives aspiring practitioners the practical techniques and strategies to build a thriving small business and a reputation as a thought leader, trusted advisor and problem solver, making a difference for their clients and a good living for themselves.

  • Why your expertise alone is not enough
  • Identifying value that clients will pay for
  • Finding your niche
  • Marketing your consultancy
  • Building your business acumen- Winning your first clients
  • Setting fees and how to increase them- Building and maintaining long term client relationships
  • Going global with international clients
  • The three stages of a successful solo consultancy

From the book:

“I don’t know a single case of anyone who started to do this who was not changed in a positive way. It shapes you. It is something that allows you to be a little bit more you.”
– Tobias Maier, head of seminars and training at the National Institute for Science Communication (NaWik), Germany

“Figure out what you can offer and keep figuring that out. Keep refining it and let it develop into something that’s unique, something that defines what a client will get from you.”
– Dr. Iain Patten, PhD, Spain

“The key skill is to be able to create an atmosphere in which the client thinks they may like working with you. And having ideas for solving the problem.”
– Mart Normet, Television Presenter and Producer, Estonia

Workshops that Work

Using engagement, interaction and understanding to inspire change

Using engagement, interaction and understanding, “Workshops that Work” is the comprehensive, step-by-step guide to improving performance, productivity and problem-solving in professional settings. Written specifically for workshop leaders and the organizations that engage them, “Workshops that Work” has the modern, insightful and effective tools that inspire change, enhance capacity, create higher visibility and drive better business results.

In this book:

  • Learn the key difference between clients and participants
  • Creating objectives and agendas
  • Connecting practical exercises with daily practice
  • Inspiring interactivity in six steps
  • Designing compelling presentation graphics and slides
  • Time management and stagecraft
  • Handling your nerves and staying confident
  • Compassionate critique
  • Evaluating your results
  • Developing workshops internationally
  • Making online workshops work better

“Year after year, Eric May has created unique, powerful and rich workshop experiences at the international level. He has decided to share his ideas on Workshop Design in a solid and honest book. Reading this book is like a treasure hunt, exploring expertise, tradition and respect. From managing workshop dynamics to mastering the smallest details, it’s all here.”
– Nathalie Labourdette, Manager EBU Academy, European Broadcasting Union, Geneva

“Ideal… a gift to anyone who ever has to host a workshop. I can see myself referring back to it every time.”
– Tom McGuire, Head, RTÉ Radio 1 Ireland, 2013-20

“A wonderfully logical, informative and mind-expanding guide both for those who lead workshops and the business leaders trying to source the best ones. Whatever you are trying to achieve with your workshop, the answers are in this book.”
– Janet Trewin, award winning author, consultant and journalist, UK

“Insightful, thorough, methodical… distils the core principles and practices that can be applied across any discipline or context. This book is sure to appeal to professionals and practitioners across multiple disciplines and walks of life.”
– Rudi Cohrssen, Barrister and Arbitrator, Melbourne, Australia

Now available as an audiobook!

The Modern Media Strategist

A practical guide to successfully getting your story told by the news media

Comprehensive, compact and eminently practical, “The Modern Media Strategist” is the essential guide to finding your story and pitching it successfully to the news media. Written specifically for practitioners in international development, non-profits, NGOs, scientific researchers and global business people, this is the go-to guide for reaching wide audiences through getting your story told by the news media.

The audiobook is narrated by the author and available everywhere audiobooks are sold. The audiobook includes bonus content available for download, including a step-by-step guide to building a network of media contacts to make it more likely the news media will cover your story.

Listen to a part of the audiobook’s first chapter here:

Here Eric May explains the audiobook’s bonus content:

“Indispensable… anyone seeking to develop or expand their organization’s positive public image needs to read this book.”
– Mike Cavender, Executive Director Emeritus, Radio Television Digital News Association, Washington, DC

“The essentials for understanding the news media, formulated in a useful, practical and effective way. Excellent.”
– Siegfried Bracke, political commentator and former President of the Belgian Chamber of Deputies

“Convincing, well structured and easy to understand. Helpful methods to explain your expertise.”
– Christian Boehler, media and digital content executive, Munich

“An incredibly thorough approach to strategic communications.”
– John Boit, Partner, Melwood Global Public Relations, Washington DC