Friday Links 08-05-09

From the Web

Getting to “I Can Do This” – How do you build confidence? Ben shares a few tips such as, “Accumulate small wins. Successfully take baby steps.” and “…demystify the accomplishment. If you want to start a company, read tons of first-hand accounts.” He points out, however, that being skilled is only half the question, if you’re not passionate, your strengths don’t matter.

The Art of the Elevator Pitch – Tim shares his secret on how to make a memorable impression in 60 seconds. Establish credibility, make it clear you aren’t looking for a handout and mention something incredibly hard to forget. I’m sure if you bumped into Tim and he mentioned that he was the world-record holder for tango, you wouldn’t forget him.

From the Archives

20 Procrastination Hacks – An old guest post written by Zen Habits’ Leo Babauta. Here Leo shares some tips for how to combat the big enemy of productivity.

From the Shelf

The Count of Monte Cristo – For those of you who haven’t heard of Alexander Dumas’ classic, The Count of Monte Cristo is a great story. It follows the wrongful imprisonment of Edmond Dantes, his escape and his plot for revenge against his persecutors. Usually I find it harder to be entertained by books written over a hundred years ago, the cultural/language shift making it difficult. However, I’m pleased that the translation I’m reading is both easy to understand and fun to read.