Hey buddy, can you spare some time? I promise you won't regret it.

Heather Townsend's "9 classic mistakes guest speakers make" on her blog The Thoughts and Ideas Of The Efficiency Coach (now at The Efficiency Coach). Don't let the title fool you. These mistakes aren't limited to guest speakers. And frankly, if you step back and think about them, the nine mistakes Townsend identifies are probably committed in one way or another by virtually every professional at any networking event: "not thinking about your audience," "no prepared introduction," "going on too long," etc. The point is that whether you're speaking to one person or one hundred, they're giving you their time. Townsend's post will help ensure that they don't regret it.

Sorry Mr Sedaka: starting up is hard to do, too.

Heather Townsend's "Ten things you MUST do before starting a business" at The Efficiency Coach's Partnership Potential blog. This post is for lawyers thinking about striking it out on their own. And for those who have already started a firm. And those just beginning to scratch out an idea on the back of a napkin. And even those who don't think they'll ever hang out their own shingle. Does that cover everyone? Good. Townsend's post compiles ten pieces of solid, practical advice for generating success, advice that will help you focus your efforts and maximize the value of your time NOT spent on client work. Read it and you'll agree.