From Project Manager to Purpose-Driven Entrepreneur: Lessons from Cheri Smith on Scaling with Meaning

Are you tired of watching your brilliant consulting recommendations gather dust while clients fail to implement them, leaving you questioning whether you're truly making an impact or just collecting a check?

In episode 9 of the Thriving Through podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Cheri Smith, founder of Crevay. What began as a conversation about project management evolved into a profound exploration of purpose-driven entrepreneurship that every self-employed consultant needs to hear.

Cheri has developed a unique approach to helping small and medium-sized businesses (50-150 employees) execute their most important initiatives. Rather than following the traditional consulting path where recommendations often gather dust, she's created a proprietary playbook that empowers her clients to build sustainable project capabilities long after she's gone.

"I felt a little bit dissatisfied with the focus on how you manage versus the value that you're delivering," Cheri shared when discussing her pivot from traditional project management. Her insights touch on a common frustration among consultants: seeing our work shelved rather than implemented.

What struck me most was Cheri's candid admission about the entrepreneurial journey. She didn't sugarcoat the challenges of being self-employed, acknowledging that if she'd known how long it would take to establish her business—with all its pivots and iterations—the financial calculation alone wouldn't have made sense. Yet her deeper purpose drove her forward.

"The return on investment has been in terms of my belief in myself and my ability to say some of the things that I really wanted to say before, and didn't know how," she explained.

For consultants who feel like misfits in traditional roles or who are frustrated by the limitations of project-based work, Cheri offers three pieces of invaluable advice:

1. Niche down and focus on specific areas of value
2. Don't be afraid to say no to work that distracts from your purpose
3. Build mutually beneficial relationships and effective teams

The episode delivers practical wisdom on value co-creation, setting appropriate boundaries with clients, and building a business with scale and sustainability in mind.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to pivot your consulting practice toward greater fulfillment and impact, Cheri's journey offers both inspiration and tactical guidance.

Ready to break through your own consulting limitations?

Watvch or listen to the full episode now. Cheri's insights might just be the catalyst you need to transform how you deliver value and find deeper purpose in your work.