In case you have not yet read it, Derek has written an e-Book that shares his insights and personal stories (it is about marketing your music but all marketing is marketing)
"When I think about every big leap that happened in my career, it was always because of 'someone I knew.' Always friends of friends. People in some position of power who I kept in touch with, did favors for, and got the same in return."
"You can break someone out of their drab life as an assistant sales rep for a manufacturing company. You might be the coolest thing that ever happened to a teenager going through an unpopular phase. You can give them a mission!
If they’re a fan of your music, invite them over for pizza to spend a night doing a mailing to colleges."
(Though it's very worth getting the real book.)
One of my favorite quotes: "Money is exactly like sex. You think of nothing else if you don't have it, and think of other things if you do."