To be shy is to be poor

As you're probably aware, companies today do WAY TOO MUCH marketing. In fact, an author wrote that half the work done in the world today consists in making things appear what they are not.

On the other hand, people (especially people who have talent) do not market themselves enough. You probably know, in your circle of acquaintances, a person who is highly talented yet stuck working for a company he or she is not very enthusiastic about.

The fact is, in today's economy, there are so many employment opportunities that the best way to be at the right place at the right time, is to be EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.

Self-marketing is no longer a "nice-to-have" option; it's a "must-have" capability.

But here's the conundrum: if you don't have a big talent, you won't likely attract a talent agent. But if you don't have a talent agent, how can you get the opportunities that will enable you to fully develop your talent? Even a movie star in Hollywood needs a talent agent to find opportunities for him/her to fully develop his talent.

LinkedIn might be the first step in helping you to gain profitable exposure.

The bottom line is, no one can afford to be shy in today's economy. If you're shy, well, the best job that you could have had is simply going to the other guy, who may be a little less talented that you are, but is not shy at all about showcasing his skill set, experience and irresistible personality.

The key is to be able to "show off" your achievements, but using a bit of humour and subtle language.