Realize you're trying to make a sale here.

Meaning that your first job is to Stand Out.

If you don't stand out, you don't sell.

Every competitor of yours has a portfolio.

It sure helps if you have several prospects, but even if you only have one that's OK. I once had a company create a custom production management role for me...one target, one customer, and a four-day turnaround. Suddenly I had 150 people and six supervisors reporting to me.

They weren't "hiring", by the way.

So go at this from your customer's perspective: what is it that would make THEM want to hire YOU? How can you Stand Out to them?

I've had employers create custom roles for me four times, with zero competition. Throwing your application package in with the blizzard chasing Want Ads is a bad way to go about this. Targeting specific firms you'd like to work for, and knowing why, is much better.

If I was in your shoes, I'd talk with Michael to get your strategy together. Tighten up on your message: who you want to work with, and why. How you can Stand Out. Then, if you want some unorthodox expertise on getting in front of the right people who have the power to hire you, talk to me.