There's a great deal I cannot say here but as a former employee, I will try to be helpful. Yes, we fear retaliation.
This company operates a marketing program based on the premise that most business can use substantial improvement. The fact is that American businesses are on average as independent and undisciplined as a cross section of the public. Thus the opportunity to sell improvement, the opportunity to sell the ability for these businesses to make more money exists.
The "analysts" of this firm cater to the fear and greed of the clients they encounter. While some firms are healthy, other firms are not and ought to be closed up rather than rack-up $25,000 to $50,000 in consulting fees to confirm it's hopeless.
This work involves a "hard sell". You may wonder if you would welcome being treated in the harsh manner you are taught to treat others. If you can work there and remain ethical, fine. The instruction and training you will receive will lead you to wonder whether anyone can make a living at IPA being ethical let alone civil. Actions you may undertake to make you successful in this job may render you unfit to practice in other fields.
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