Several board members split up the tasks at hand and pitched in to figure out solutions, including bringing a projector and figuring out how to handle the patchwork of audio-visual equipment. In Washington, I hang with a lot of professionals who are frequent speakers, meeting planners and event-throwers, and it’s common for folks to leave events like this one running down everything that went wrong and tsk-tsking about it. I’m always coaching speakers to plan ahead, then be ready for anything on the ground. That's two different mindsets: One to get ready, rehearsing for the

from Oregon and New York to South Carolina and Washington, DC. Here's what's on my list of reminders that come in handy when you're lucky enough to be in demand as a speaker: Double-check and record all your logistical arrangements: From travel arrangements to audio-visual equipment, make sure you've got your bases covered--and can carry those details with you in a PDA, thumb drive or other portable device. I've got a full slate of speaking engagements , already in motion, between mid-April and late May--and all over the U.S., Even if you're an experienced speaker,