I want to be a consultant but analyze: can I start consulting without credentials? Map consulting requirements: expertise needed, credibility building, client acquisition. Calculate: time to build credibility vs. time to first paying client. Show me the consulting path: build credibility like this, get clients like this. Give me the launch strategy: position myself as consultant even without formal credentials. Include: whether I need credentials to consult, how to build credibility fast, and how to get first consulting clients.