What Consulting Actually Looks Like

When people hear the word consultant, they often imagine someone in a suit, delivering a slideshow full of buzzwords, and then disappearing just in time for the real work to begin.

That’s not me.

Firth Consulting was never meant to be about coming in with all the answers. It’s about listening, noticing, asking good questions, and helping people take the next step—even if they’re not exactly sure what the next step is yet.

Sometimes consulting looks like mapping out a full-blown marketing strategy. Other times, it’s helping someone write an email they’ve been avoiding for weeks. It might mean auditing their operations systems, or just standing next to them while they sort through what’s working and what’s not. It’s thoughtful. It’s collaborative. And most of all, it’s human.

What I’ve found is that most people aren’t looking for a guru—they just want someone to help them cut through the noise. Someone who can say, “Hey, here’s what I see. Want to figure it out together?”

That’s what I love doing.

Whether I’m supporting a small business, helping a nonprofit team get their footing, or partnering with someone who’s been wearing every hat for too long, the work always starts in the same place: connection. From there, we build systems, solve problems, and move forward—one intentional step at a time.

So no, I don’t have a slideshow.
But I do have a lot of heart, a sharp eye for detail, and a genuine love for helping people get unstuck.

And honestly? That feels like exactly the kind of consultant I want to be.

Managing Through the Madness: Lines, Call-Outs, and Keeping It Together

There are certain times of year in this industry that feel like trying to run a marathon... while also juggling... in a thunderstorm.

For us, that time is now.

Eugene Beer Week rolls into Father’s Day and graduation weekend, and together, they make up some of the busiest days of the year. We’re talking about back-to-back events, full taproom buyouts, collaboration beer releases, and a line out the door that doesn’t let up for hours. It’s exciting, it’s high-energy, and it can also push every system—and every person on the team—to the edge.

And here’s the part they don’t always tell you: someone will call out. Equipment will break. Something will run out. The day will not go as planned.

Still, the show must go on.

As a manager, you don’t get to tap out during the hard parts. You have to stay calm when it’s chaotic. You have to triage on the fly, support your staff, and keep the energy from turning toxic when the pressure is high. You have to be the steady voice when someone's overwhelmed, the backup dishwasher if needed, and the person reminding everyone to drink water and eat something.

What I’ve learned over the years is that the logistics matter, but the people matter more. Yes, we need prep lists, floor charts, and product counts—but we also need to check in with the bartender who’s been on their feet for six hours, give space for the kitchen to vent when the printer won’t stop, and make time to say thank you even in the middle of the storm.

Keeping morale high during high-volume stretches isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. Being available. Being honest. Having their back.

And when the last shift ends and the doors finally close, we take a breath, raise a glass, and remember why we do it. Not just for the business—but for the team that shows up, every single day, and makes it happen.

Beer Week, Back-to-Back Events, and Why I Secretly Love the Chaos

Every June, something wild and wonderful happens in Eugene: Beer Week.

For seven days, breweries, bars, and beer lovers come together to celebrate craft beer culture in all its hoppy, hazy, and barrel-aged glory. As someone who sits on the committee helping organize the week across the city and runs a business that hosts six of its own events during that stretch… let’s just say I have a front-row seat to the madness.

And I kind of love it.

Planning Beer Week feels a little like conducting a very enthusiastic orchestra. You’ve got different players (each brewery, bar, and bottle shop), different styles (IPA tastings, sour showcases, collab launches, brewery bingo), and a whole lot of moving parts. The committee works hard to make sure the events are diverse, fun, and well-coordinated—and it’s incredibly rewarding to see our city come alive with beer lovers from all over.

Meanwhile, back at my day job, it’s full steam ahead. The business I help run puts on six days of events throughout the week. Each one requires its own lineup, promo, staff coordination, vendor communication, and vibe. It’s exciting, exhausting, and one of the best ways to connect with our community. But it doesn't stop there…

Just as Beer Week wraps up, we head straight into Father’s Day and graduation weekend—two of the busiest, most high-volume days of the year for our taproom. There’s no pause button. No reset day. Just deep breath… and go again.

It’s a marathon with a lot of sprinting built in.

And yet—despite the long hours, the constant prep, the endless kegs and event flyers—I genuinely love this time of year. It’s when creativity meets logistics, when collaboration meets community, and when we get to throw some of the most memorable events of the year.

Eugene Beer Week reminds me why I do this: because bringing people together around something they’re passionate about is always worth the work.

Even if I do sleep for a week afterward.

No Summer Break, No Problem (Mostly)

The beginning of June has a very specific energy in my family.

My dad was a college professor. My mom spent her career as a principal and administrator. Both of my sisters are teachers. So when June rolls around, there's a shift. The group texts get livelier. Someone inevitably sends a photo of a margarita. Words like freedom and nap and vacation countdown start flying around.

It’s summer break season, and for them, it’s sacred.

I didn’t go into education like the rest of my family, though I grew up surrounded by lesson plans, school schedules, and a deep belief in the power of learning. Instead, I ended up in operations and consulting—fields where there is definitely no “last day of school.” The work doesn’t slow down in June. In some ways, it ramps up. There are events to plan, projects to launch, systems to reevaluate. The calendar keeps going.

And honestly? I kind of love it.

Don’t get me wrong—I wouldn’t say no to an eight-week sabbatical and a beach chair—but there’s something fulfilling about this rhythm. I like the way my work moves with the seasons of real life, not the academic calendar. I get to help people build momentum during the quieter months, prepare for busy seasons, and carve out space for their own versions of “summer break,” even if it’s just an afternoon off that actually feels restorative.

Plus, I still get to channel that teacher energy. Explaining a new system, walking someone through a process, or helping a client see a path forward—it’s not so different from standing in front of a classroom. I just traded chalkboards for spreadsheets, and report cards for project timelines.

So no, I don’t get a summer break. But I do get something else: the chance to keep learning, keep building, and keep helping others do the same—all year long.

And if I’m being honest, I still text back with a margarita emoji anyway.

Business, Like Rafting, Is All About Reading the Water

I grew up in a raft.

Okay, maybe not literally, but some of my best memories are of early mornings loading coolers and gear into inflatable boats, life jackets still damp from the day before, and my parents—Jim and Lynda—double-checking straps and scouting rapids alongside a crew of family friends. We floated some of the most beautiful rivers in the Pacific Northwest, learning how to read the water, trust each other, and paddle like hell when it mattered.

That rhythm—the ebb and flow between calm stretches and white-knuckle rapids—feels a lot like running a business.

Outside of Firth Consulting, I manage a high-volume bottle shop and taproom with nearly 60 employees, dozens of vendors, a packed events calendar, and the daily dance of customers, coworkers, and kegs. Some days feel like a lazy river. Everything clicks. The team is in sync. The systems work. Other days? It’s class IV rapids and we’re bailing water while shouting directions over the roar.

Here’s the thing: both are normal.

Business, like rafting, isn’t about avoiding the rapids—it’s about being ready for them. It’s about building strong systems (aka paddling in sync), knowing when to pull off and regroup, and having the humility to admit when you're off-course.

Some days at work feel like a peaceful float—steady current, good rhythm, easy adjustments. Other days, it's full-on whitewater: surprises, tough calls, and the need to act fast without flipping the boat.

Rafting taught me that both conditions are part of the ride. You can’t always see what’s around the next bend, but you can learn to respond with a clear head. You figure out how to trust your crew, adapt in real time, and keep your footing—whether you're drifting or digging in with everything you've got.

Running a business is really no different. It’s not about avoiding chaos. It’s about learning how to move through it with a sense of direction—and maybe even a little grace.

getting unstuck

There’s this moment I love—when someone says, “I’ve been meaning to do this forever,” and then we actually do it. Whether it’s launching a website, getting their first real social media post up, or finally creating a system that makes their day run smoother, that moment is electric. You can see the relief in their shoulders, the spark in their eyes. It’s like they’re finally breathing again.

That moment is why I started consulting.

I’ve always been a problem-solver, someone who likes jumping into the middle of a mess and finding a path forward. But it’s more than checking things off a list. It’s about helping people feel confident and clear about what they’re doing—and excited again. Because let’s be real: running a business, managing a team, or even just keeping up with your creative projects can get really overwhelming.

Sometimes you don’t need a five-year plan. Sometimes you just need someone to say, “Here’s what we’re going to do next.”

At Firth Consulting, that’s what I try to bring to the table: calm in the chaos. Whether I’m helping with marketing, operations, or big-picture strategy, my goal is always the same—help people get unstuck and moving again.

It’s not flashy work. It’s not always glamorous. But it’s honest. It’s collaborative. And it’s deeply fulfilling.

So if you’ve been meaning to get your systems together, finally update your branding, or figure out how to get your business back on track—let’s talk. You don’t have to do it all alone.

I’d love to help you find that spark again.

From Roommate Photo Shoots to Running Campaigns: My Social Media Journey

Long before I ever thought about hashtags or engagement rates, I was running around with a camera and a college roommate named Greg. Back then, we weren’t trying to “build a brand” or “create content.” We were just two students chasing light, trying out ideas, and letting creativity take the lead. Greg, who is now an incredible designer, had the kind of eye that made everything feel intentional. I had the curiosity (and sometimes the chaos) to just try things and see what happened. (See his awesome work here!)

Looking back, that’s where it really started for me—with freedom, experimentation, and the fun of making things with someone else.

After college, I found myself working in the nonprofit world. Like many people in mission-driven organizations, I wore about twelve hats at once. One of those hats? Social media. I didn’t exactly know what I was doing at first, but I knew we had a great story to tell—and I wanted people to see it. So I started learning. A lot.

What I quickly found was that social media is a constantly moving target. Algorithms change, trends evolve, and what grabs people’s attention one week might flop the next. But I also found something else: the challenge of keeping up was part of the fun. Creating content that actually connects with people—whether it’s heartfelt, helpful, or just funny—is deeply rewarding. When you see something resonate, when a post sparks a conversation or drives someone to take action, you realize it’s not just noise. It can be real connection.

Since those early days, I’ve worked on everything from nonprofit campaigns to restaurant menu launches to professional branding. I’ve coached teams, built strategies, and managed a variety of accounts. And I still love it.

These days, social media can feel overwhelming—and sometimes downright exhausting. But it can also be a powerful tool for telling your story, reaching your people, and staying true to who you are. That’s the part I care about. That’s what I help others do.

And it all started with a camera, a friend, and the simple joy of creating.

Why I Started Firth Consulting (Again)

Somewhere deep in my earliest memories is the sound of a suitcase zipping shut. My parents, Jim and Lynda Firth, were often on the move—boarding planes, chasing ideas, and building relationships with people who were passionate about their work. My parents ran a small but mighty consulting business back then—Firth Consulting—and together they traveled the world during their free time, sharing knowledge and learning just as much in return.

In the early 2000s, everything changed when my dad had a stroke. The traveling stopped. The business paused. But the spirit behind it—the belief in collaboration, curiosity, and lifting others up—never went away.

This year, I decided it was time to carry that torch forward.

Firth Consulting is back.

This time with me at the helm.

I've spent years working in operations, HR, marketing, and leadership roles—mostly in the world of craft beer, restaurants, and nonprofits. I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is to juggle all the things when you're running a business, chasing a dream, or just trying to get an idea off the ground. And I’ve found that what I enjoy most is helping people sort through the mess, clarify their direction, and build something that works.

So that’s what I’m here to do.

Whether it's streamlining your workflow, planning your next big event, creating social media that actually sounds like you, or just being the person who asks the right questions—I’m here to help.

There’s something really full-circle about using the same name my dad did. It’s a quiet nod to the values he and my mom instilled in me: curiosity, humility, laughter, and a genuine desire to be of service. I hope to bring those same values to every project I take on.

Thanks for being here at the start. I’m excited to see where this goes—and if I can help you along the way, let’s talk.

– Sarah Firth