Modern organizations lack confidence in their internal marketing teams. By the same token, CMO's complain that they do not have the people, tools or resources necessary to meet their marketing objectives. Who's right? And is there another way to provision your marketing resource?

It was one of those rare occasions where someone acts on your good advice. Several years ago a friend and colleague of mine was transitioning out of her full-time job to build a new life, out of state. Eschewing corporate hierarchies as I do, while trying to remain sensitive to her need for stable work, I made that best suggestion I could. I told her she could put herself in business right away by marketing herself as a "Virtual assistant" to her existing network instead of waiting in line like everybody else to land full-time employment.

Virtually every web designer, graphic artist and creative services professional I know undervalues their professional contribution. And as a result I get to listen to them bitch about how it's a tough field and competition is stealing clients and sales aren't what they should be and on and on and on. Don't get me wrong. They think they're worth more. In some cases, they even know it. But there's one thing holding them back from commanding the kind of fees that make...

What does being out of work cost you every month? If you think you already know the answer to that question, think again. It's probably costing you a lot more than you think.

Leverage is getting the highest yield out of every opportunity, resource, asset or relationship you've ever come across or ever will come across. It's about knowing what value you bring to the world, exercising your value at every juncture and recognizing the advent doorways to higher and, even, unexpected outcomes.