In Business with Emily Farrell and Chapter 3 Consulting
February 21, 2023
Who are you and what do you do?
Hi, I’m Emily Farrell and I am the Co-Founder of Chapter 3 Consulting!
You can find us at www.ch3consulting.com
What products or services do you offer?
At Chapter 3 Consulting we provide expert operational and governance solutions for non-profits to help them achieve their mission.
Some of our specific services are strategic planning, operational reviews, information management strategies, fund development plans, policy review, and risk analyses.
We are currently in the process of developing online professional development for strategic planning and financial audit preparation, and will be offering topics on recruitment and training, employee engagement, performance management, and budgeting.
There are a lot of great organizations out there, and we want to help them be even better.
What is unique about your business?
We have heard from our clients and partners that we have a way of making stressful topics and complicated projects seem straightforward. We do this by breaking large problems into manageable steps, with milestones and evaluation tools integrated along the way so you know you’re on track.
Our clients and partners have also said that we are an “efficient process;” we tailor our services to each client to ensure you receive a useful product that meets your needs.
How did you get your idea or concept for the business? How did you come up with the name for your company?
The idea for the business came when I was the CEO of the Brockville Public Library and was looking for courses that I could take to improve my financial management knowledge and skills. I am both a Library Technician and a Librarian; while I learned valuable skills in both programs, I still didn’t feel confident in some of the administrative tasks, particularly HR and finance. I knew that there are many CEOs of small and medium-sized public libraries out there who were in the same position as me, and I wanted to do something to help build capacity within our profession.
The name comes from the idea that in the first chapter of a book, you are getting to know the characters; in the second, you get to know a bit more about the world; and in the third, well, that’s where the plot starts to get interesting.
Can you describe/outline your typical day?
My day can vary greatly based on the current project, and can sometimes include working evenings, weekends, or having to get up before dawn to catch a flight.
In general, I typically spend my morning working on client projects such as researching and working on documents or reports. I might have meetings in the morning or in the afternoon, depending on the time zone of the client.
When I don’t have an afternoon of meetings, I will work on developing the online training I mentioned above (stay tuned for Strategic Planning! Coming soon!) and volunteering.
(That sounds so glamourous, but I don’t actually get to volunteer as much as I would like.)
What motivates you?
I like helping people. I can remember times when I have struggled with something and how much it meant to me to have a colleague provide assistance or advice and I want to pass that on. I love how collaborative our profession is.
I don’t pretend to know everything, but I would like to use what I have learned to be of assistance to others.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
- The ability to organize your time and keep yourself on track
Moving from a 9-5 (ish) job to making my own hours is an ongoing test in self-discipline… especially when Netflix releases another historical drama. - The ability to put yourself out there and self-promote
This is something I have to constantly work on. - Expertise in a topic
Finding your niche is important. As is being knowledgeable in the topic.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
The most rewarding was earning the trust and confidence of members of an Indigenous advisory committee. The most fun was getting a tour of some the Canadian Museum of Nature’s artifact storage rooms and trying not to fangirl over the artifacts (I was mostly successful).
If your business were a book, song or famous artwork, what would it be and why?
Just like our business name, we would be the part of every book where the plot starts to get interesting.
What is an interesting and fun tidbit about your business?
When we were getting set up, a friend of mine gave me a bright purple t-shirt with our business name and a sparkly gold unicorn on it. I love it and I wear it when I do business admin.
If you had 24 hours all to yourself, how would you best like to spend it?
Because I primarily work from home now, when I have time off I usually like to get out of the house and do something. That might be go for a walk or meet up with some friends or do some thrifting. Currently, some of my downtime is spent going through seed catalogues and planning out my garden for the summer. I’m writing this in the winter and I can’t wait to be able to get back out into my garden.
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