Make Every Meeting Count

This article was written by Paige Arnof-Fenn of Entrepreneur.com. Paige is the founder and CEO of Mavens & Moguls, a strategic-marketing consulting firm whose clients include Fortune 500 companies as well as early stage and emerging businesses.

Abe Lincoln once said, "If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four sharpening the axe." Whether you agree with his proportion of time spent preparing, it's hard to argue against the idea that doing your homework will serve you well.

How do you prepare for big meetings or presentations? Has that changed over time, or do you have certain routines you always follow? In speaking with many CEOs and business owners, there are a number of steps most agree help you put your best foot forward. ...