Are you constantly running on fumes, relying on caffeine to get through the day, and telling yourself you'll rest after the next big deadline?

You're not alone.

But here's the truth: your health is not a luxury or something to 'get round to' later. It's the single most important asset you have in your journey to partnership.

In this episode of the How to Make Partner podcast, you'll rethink the hustle-at-all-costs culture of professional services – and discover how optimising your wellbeing is a non-negotiable.

Listen to this episode to discover:

- Why burnout is more than just tiredness – and how it silently sabotages your performance.

- The 4 self-care pillars that support sustainable high performance (no scented candles required).

- How to use the 3 Buckets Model to check your energy levels and spot the warning signs of overload.

- The real cost of skipping sleep, exercise, nutrition and downtime – and how small changes can shift the dial.

- Why professionals who make partner and thrive long-term treat wellbeing as non-negotiable.

- One small change you can make this week to move from survival mode to strategic, sustained performance.

Tune in to learn how to stop treating your body like a machine and start investing in your most valuable career asset – your health.

About Progress To Partner Academy: On-demand career help and guidance

You have to drive your career forwards. Your firm wouldn't do that for you.

Stop waiting to be noticed for career development courses by your firm.

Make the firm notice you! You will get the skills and knowledge about what the partners are really looking for when you join our Progress to Partner Academy.

Join our Progress To Partner Academy and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Links:

Complete our FREE Partnership Readiness Assessment to see where you have gaps in your own development - you'll get a personalised report with actions for what progress your career forward

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Join our Progress To Partner Academy and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Buy your copy of Poised for Partnership

Buy your copy of How To Make Partner And Still Have A Life

Does your carefully planned week often get blown off course by Tuesday?

Do you feel like your diary belongs to everyone but you – filled with urgent client demands, last-minute partner requests, and endless firefighting? It's easy to feel like a victim of your schedule, constantly reacting instead of proactively driving your day.

This feeling of having your time controlled by external forces is incredibly common for busy professionals, but it's also a major barrier to focusing on what really matters for your career progression.

In this episode of the How to Make Partner podcast, you'll challenge that 'victim mindset' and explore practical ways to start taking back control of your most precious resource – your time.

Listen to this episode to discover:

- The tough truth: Why you are ultimately in control of how you spend your time (even when it doesn't feel like it!).

- Common ways you might be giving away control without realising it (and the underlying reasons, like firm culture, people-pleasing, or fear).

- Why simply accepting the chaos isn't sustainable for reaching partnership.  

- 6 actionable tactics to regain control:

Stop letting your diary dictate your priorities. Tune in to learn how to move from feeling reactive and overwhelmed to proactively managing your time and making space for what truly matters on your path to partner.

About Progress To Partner Academy: On-demand career help and guidance

You have to drive your career forwards. Your firm wouldn't do that for you.

Stop waiting to be noticed for career development courses by your firm.

Make the firm notice you! You will get the skills and knowledge about what the partners are really looking for when you join our Progress to Partner Academy.

Join our Progress To Partner Academy and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Links:

Complete our FREE Partnership Readiness Assessment to see where you have gaps in your own development - you'll get a personalised report with actions for what progress your career forward

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Join our Progress To Partner Academy and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Buy your copy of Poised for Partnership

Buy your copy of How To Make Partner And Still Have A Life

Are you technically brilliant? Do you consistently smash your targets and deliver great work for clients?

That's fantastic – but is it enough to make partner? Often, the answer is no.

Many high-performing senior professionals get stalled on their partnership journey because they're still operating with an 'employee' mindset, focusing primarily on utilisation and technical delivery. Making partner, however, requires a fundamental shift – thinking, acting, and feeling like a business owner.

In this episode of the How to Make Partner podcast, you'll hear, arguably, about the most critical mindset shift you need to make.

You'll hear why partnership isn't just another promotion and why your partners need more than just another pair of safe hands.

Listen to this episode to discover:

- Why making partner means transitioning from employee to business owner (and what that truly entails).

- The common 'employee mindset' traps that can sabotage your progression (Are you caught in the Utilisation Trap? Are you Waiting to be Fed work? Are you thinking Technically, Not Commercially?).

- Why partners are looking for commerciality, leverage, and strategic thinking, not just technical excellence.

- 5 Actionable ways you can start thinking and acting more like a partner today, regardless of your current role.

If you're aiming to progress your career in the professions, understanding and embedding this mindset shift is non-negotiable.

Tune in to learn how to move beyond being a top performer and start demonstrating true partner potential.

About Progress To Partner Academy: On-demand career help and guidance

You have to drive your career forwards. Your firm wouldn't do that for you.

Stop waiting to be noticed for career development courses by your firm.

Make the firm notice you! You will get the skills and knowledge about what the partners are really looking for when you join our Progress to Partner Academy.

Join our Progress To Partner Academy and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Links:

Complete our FREE Partnership Readiness Assessment to see where you have gaps in your own development - you'll get a personalised report with actions for what progress your career forward

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Join our Progress To Partner Academy and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Buy your copy of Poised for Partnership

Buy your copy of How To Make Partner And Still Have A Life

Do you start the year, or maybe come back from holiday, full of fantastic intentions to finally focus on your career progression, only for those plans to evaporate within days under a mountain of client work and deadlines?

You know you need to make time for development and strategic thinking, but the day-to-day reality of professional services just seems to get in the way.

If you're nodding along, feeling like your career goals are constantly being pushed aside by urgent demands, this episode is for you!

This episode tackles the common challenge of how to carve out that vital time for your career, even when you feel completely swamped.  

Listen to this episode to discover:

- Why you need to cut yourself some slack during peak busy times, but why starting is still crucial.

- The power of starting small: Forget grand gestures – what tiny actions can you take this week to build momentum?

- A powerful mindset shift: Treating your career progression like your most important client.

- How to escape the "when" trap (i.e., "I'll do it when things quieten down...").

- Why progressing your career is a marathon, not a sprint, and how to pace yourself to avoid overwhelm.

- Practical strategies for learning to say "no" (or "not right now") gracefully, protecting your time without damaging relationships.

- How to use a Default Diary or Time Blocking to proactively schedule time for your career development, ensuring the important stuff actually happens.

- Stop letting your career progression be an afterthought. Tune in for practical strategies, mindset shifts, and actionable tips to help you move from intention to action this year.

About Progress To Partner Academy: On-demand career help and guidance

You have to drive your career forwards. Your firm wouldn't do that for you.

Stop waiting to be noticed for career development courses by your firm.

Make the firm notice you! You will get the skills and knowledge about what the partners are really looking for when you join our Progress to Partner Academy.

Join our Progress To Partner Academy and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Links:

Complete our FREE Partnership Readiness Assessment to see where you have gaps in your own development - you'll get a personalised report with actions for what progress your career forward

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Join our Progress To Partner Academy and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Buy your copy of Poised for Partnership

Buy your copy of How To Make Partner And Still Have A Life

Are you an ambitious lawyer, accountant, or consultant working in practice? Is making partner your goal, but sometimes the path feels unclear, overwhelming, or just plain tough? Maybe you’re brilliant technically, but you know you need more – more commerciality, better time management, stronger leadership skills, or a clearer strategy for business development?

If that sounds like you, then you're in the right place. Welcome to the How to Make Partner podcast.

I’m Heather Townsend, author of bestselling books like Poised for Partnership and co-author of How to Make Partner and Still Have a Life. And in this weekly podcast, I share practical, actionable advice drawn from years of coaching professionals just like you, insights from our Progress To Partner Academy members, and the proven strategies outlined in my books.

We tackle the real-world challenges you face on the journey to partner: making that crucial mindset shift from employee to business owner, learning how to effectively build your client base, taking control of your time and workload, developing your leadership presence, building a compelling business case, and successfully navigating the often-opaque partnership admissions process.

My aim is simple: to give you the clarity, confidence, and practical tools you need to not just make partner, but to thrive when you get there.

So, if you’re serious about taking the next step in your career, hit that subscribe button now. Join me each week for straightforward, actionable strategies to help you navigate your path to partnership.

New episodes are published every Saturday morning at 06:30 UK time.

About Progress To Partner Academy: On demand career help and guidance

You have to drive your career forwards. Your firm wouldn't do that for you.

Stop waiting to be noticed for career development courses by your firm.

Make the firm notice you! You will get the skills and knowledge about what the partners are really looking for when you join our Progress to Partner Academy.

Join our Progress To Partner Academy and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Links:

Complete our FREE Partnership Readiness Assessment to see where you have gaps in your own development - you'll get a personalised report with actions for what progress your career forward

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Join our Progress To Partner Academy and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Buy your copy of Poised for Partnership

Buy your copy of How To Make Partner And Still Have A Life