"But I don't know anyone. I will never succeed like Katy did," you whine. If you don't know anyone in the industry you're eyeing from behind the Starbucks counter, then it's high time you take McColl's advice to heart and start on your schmoozing. Let's face it—getting where you want to be will largely depend on who you know. If you have a chance to donate some sweat and blood to these folks, there’s an excellent chance they will remember you before they start pouring through the stack of resumes on their desk.

Instead of limiting yourself with a career choice in a field that doesn't quite qualify as your dream job, McColl encourages you to progress in small, manageable steps. Check out the scene, see where you want to be, and start sniffing around in that arena. The book smartly asserts that even the lamest 9 to whenever the boss sets me free assistant job can help you acquire the skills and confidence you need to join the party.

Part I of the book is really the meat and potatoes, covering some dos and don’ts as you embark on your career adventure. For example: