Book excerpt: There are many things in life that you cannot prepare for but the board appointment process is not one of them. Non-executive board directors often describe finding their first directorship as an arduous and time-consuming process. More experienced board members suggest finding subsequent board roles equally challenging. For these reasons, the biggest mistake most people make when considering their board career is not starting the process early enough and not understanding how board appointments are made. Regardless of your approach, the process of finding and being appointed to a board takes a certain amount of skill and practice. This book provides practical advice, clearly written, to help get you on a board and 'dare them not to appoint you'.