The life of an independent Microsoft Dynamics consultant: Unexpected rewards, trade-offs on one expert's journey

Editor's Note: The following is part of a series examining best practices for working as an independent Dynamics consultant, as shared by field veterans

Cristian Nicola was first introduced to Navision 1.30 as an intern to Navision A/S in Vedbaek, Denmark and he was immediately drawn to it.

And it seems that Nicola, now a principal at DynamicsBIGuide.com, had plenty of room in his heart for technology. In 2007, he began working on business intelligence (BI) solutions and gained another passion. He has worked on BI solutions from a range of vendors ever since, while still leveraging his deep knowledge of Dynamics NAV. As an independent consultant, he focuses on helping customers and partners understand how BI can improve their businesses and how to make the most of their investments in Microsoft products to bring information to their fingertips.

Nicola spoke with us about the role of independent consultants in the Dynamics ecosystem, his own experiences as an independent, and how those starting out can manage their careers.

Why become an independent consultant?

One of the common reasons for transitioning from the grind of a steady full-time job to the less structured life of an independent Dynamics consultant is flexibility, and that was the benefit that Nicola wanted.

"I wanted to try other things, rather than programming or working with clients. I've expanded into other things," he said. He has found greater flexibility in the role. But he warns that people should be prepared for the fact that it is a different way to earn a living, not necessarily more lucrative than more ...