On the topics of consulting, contract work, and independent contracting,  did you see Paul Davidson's article in USA Today (Dec 7, 2009), "Contract workers swelling ranks"?  Go to article   Some interesting points:

— About 8% of the US workforce consists of contract employees, most of whom are independent contractors.

— One person interviewed, a member of an employment law firm, predicts that half the jobs created in the recovery "will be filled by contractors, consultants, and other temps."

— More than half of all of these temporary slots are now "filled by professionals such as engineers and physicians."

— One of the key benefits for contractors like that is freedom: freedom to choose opportunities, and freedom to move on.

— From the perspective of an employer, one of the key benefits is flexibility: for example, firms can pull in specialists for product launches and new ventures without having to undertake the front-end costs in time and dollars of a permanent staffing-up.

All of this, need I point out, ties in with our overall theme: by learning to sell yourself (or your skills or whatever) face to face, you can help fill those needs.