> - Never price at the top of the market. It's better to be 100% busy at 80% of the fee structure, than it is to be 50% busy, at 125% of the base rate.

Wait, what?

I'm an FTE, never been a consultant. But personally, I would be ecstatic to give up 50% of my income in exchange for 6 months off per year.

Your numbers imply giving up only 21.875% of potential income, unless I'm mistaken. That seems like the mother of all no-brainers.