6. Have a short, laser-sharp intro about yourself -- 20 words or less -- ready to go at all times. Be a graceful, yet tireless, self-promoter.

7. Commit to public speaking. Join a Toastmasters group for six months to increase confidence. Build positive relationships with everyone you play with.

8. Create an audio tape business card and give it away. This is an inexpensive, more three-dimensional opportunity to share an experience of you.

9. Involve yourself in your community on an issue you are passionate about. In giving you will receive.

10. Offer articles on what you’re doing to local media and professional newsletters. Write about where your passion comes from. Share who you are and why you aredevoting this stage of your life to this endeavor.

Watch for next month’s installment! Visit www.maggielichtenberg.com!

© Copyright 1999-2003 Maggie Klee Lichtenberg, PCC, Professional Certified Writing and Publishing Coach, and former publishing company executive (Beacon Press, Simon & Schuster, Bantam, Grove). Inspiring you to complete, publish, market, and distribute your work.

(4) Your choice of attire signals whether you're attending a high-powered meeting, representing a client in court or washing your car. And first words on your site tell world who you are and what you do.

(5) Most successful people have a signature fashion style that says, "This is who I am." On web, discover your own writing voice and share your individual persona. Sanitized biographies ("Dr. Z is a well-known…") and copycat slogans are equivalent to shopping in a bargain megastore.

If you've got good fashion or word sense, you can get away with all sorts of rule-breaking. But if you show up wearing a bare bones birthday suit, most would say that's one rule too many.