A college instructor, already experienced as a consultant and trainer in written and oral business communication, became convinced by two students in an executive management training program that gaining an insider's perspective might be exceedingly valuable. A few years later, the instructor got such an opportunity: she became a corporate editor for Chevy Chase Federal Savings Bank in Washington, D.C. She learned that as an employee she did not have the luxury of simply severing the client-consultant relationship and walking away if things did not work well. She had more at stake and took greater risks; the highs were higher and the lows could be lower. This type of "total immersion" learning is recommended to anyone who can get it. The instructor decided that she would rather be a consultant on the outside, "working in," than on the inside looking out. The lessons of the organization provided her with a perspective and a reality check she could have gotten no other way. (A marketing strategy to get the kind of experience the instructor had is included.) (RS)