Press Coverage
"I wish I'd had access to a book like this before I became a partner." --Charles H. Green, author of The Trusted Advisor
"[A] viable partnership path for accountants, architects, engineers, attorneys and other professionals in today’s competitive corporate environment. getAbstract recommends Townsend and Larbie’s guidance to those who work at partnership firms and charge clients for their time. This very basic career manual explains how to win the partnership war and how to survive the stresses of battle and of victory." --getAbstract
"How to Make Partner and Still Have a Life is a key for any business library appealing to aspiring professionals, and offers a 'route map' to making it to the top, from making career choices that build a definite path to overcoming hurdles in making partner. It also tells how to get promoted, and how to retain a life outside of work during the process. From overt and covert 'rules of the game' to making definitive steps in climbing one's career ladder, this covers everything from getting the most from a mentor to stopping meetings that waste time and identifying priorities. The result is a powerful set of specifics any aspiring businessman will appreciate." --Midwest Book Review, California Bookwatch, The Business Shelf
8 Golden Rules Every Equity Partner Needs to Follow to be Successful -- Guest post on Accounting Today
Online Reviews:
"[C]learly explains how a practice works and how you can develop your career, get noticed by influencers and contribute to the bottom line. The clear, concise case studies and tips in this book will enable you to get more from your career and for those of us who have already reached partner level, serve as a pertinent reminder of the key attributes of success." --Amazon
"I was struck by the fact it is comprehensive and full of many practical tips. As I run a training and coaching business, I will be putting into practice much of the great advice given. It's great on how to differentiate yourself, become the go-to-expert and build your own client portfolio in a time effective way." --Amazon
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Table of Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Overview and introduction
Part One Is partnership right for you?
1 What does being partner in the 21st century actually mean?
What makes a partnership environment different from a limited company?
The changing world of professional services firms
What does it take to be a partner in a firm today?
Summary
Action points
Further resources
2 What do you want from your career and life?
Taking responsibility for your career
Who are you, and why does this matter?
The importance of your firm's values to you and your career
Summary
Action points
Further resources
3 The four different routes to partnership
Differences between the small firms and large firms
The four different routes to partnership
The three different types of partner
Summary
Action points
Further resources
4 Is partnership for you?
Making the right choices
Becoming a career manager
Moving out of professional services into industry: taking an in-house role
Career change
Is partnership for you?
Summary
Action points
Further resources
Part 2 Building a firm foundation for partnership
5 How to become partnership potential
What is partnership potential?
How to be perceived as having partnership potential
Summary
Action points
Further resources
6 How to develop yourself on the route to partnership
How we learn and develop new skills and behaviors
The importance of playing to your strengths
How to identify gaps in your skill base
How to keep your knowledge up-to-date
Summary
Action points
Further resources
7 Creating and writing your own career action plan
Why set goals?
How to get started
Writing your own career action plan
The importance of gaining feedback from others
Summary
Action points
Further resources
8 Building your support team
Why do you need a support team?
The crucial role of a mentor
Mentoring and diversity
What do mentors do?
What to look for in a mentor
What should you expect from a mentoring relationship?
How to get the most from your mentor
Summary
Action points
Further resources
9 How your firm makes money
Building your understanding of your firm's financial performance
How does the firm make money and profit?
Summary
Action points
Further resources
10 How to be seen as "one of the club"
The firm's culture - warts and all
How to navigate and survive the firm's politics
Join "the club"
Summary
Action points
Further resources
11 How to find the time to fit it all in
The challenge of having to do it all
Adopt the right mindset to be productive
Why you need to be assertive
How to make sure you make time for the "right" stuff
Conquering distractions
Stopping meetings wasting your time
Delegation
Summary
Action points
Further resources
12 How to look, sound and be the part
What do we mean by effective communication?
Positively influencing others
How to handle a difficult conversation
How to give and receive feedback
How to dress the part
Delivering a presentation with impact
Summary
Action points
Further resources
Part 3 Surviving the early years
13 How to build your network for life
What is networking?
Common concerns and myths around networking
How to design and build your network
How to network effectively Summary Action points
Further resources
14 how your role will change as you move upwards
Pre-qualification
Qualified
Manager or associate
Partner
Summary
Action points
Further resources
15 Keeping your eyes on the prize
How to stay focused when you are too busy to think
How to keep yourself constructively busy and motivated when work is light
Summary
Action points
Further resources
Part 4 How to build your own client portfolio and team
16 How to keep your body working at peak performance
The Health Audit
Pressure vs performance
Feed your soul
Alternative asset management
Summary
Action points
Further resources
17 How to become the "go to" expert for your firm and profession
What do we mean by profile?
How to build your personal profile and become the "go to" expert in your field
Relationship management
Summary
Action points
Further resources
18 Building your own client portfolio The business development process
How to build your own personal marketing plan to build your client portfolio
The sales process
The importance of keeping in touch
Summary
Action points
Further resources
19 Managing and leading your way to success
What are "management" and "leadership"
How to build and develop a team
What motivates people
How to develop your people
How to run a performance review and set goals
How to coach
Quality controls
Summary
Action points Further resources
Part 5 How to make it through your firm's partnership selection process
20 Overcoming the final hurdles to making partner
Undertaking your own due diligence
The partner admission process
Your moment of truth - is partnership right for you at this firm?
Summary
Action points
Further resources
21 First steps as partner
Your first few steps as a new partner
Creating your legacy
Summary
Action points
Further resources
Index
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