So you're not the best attorney in your field. You didn't finish first in your class. You're not the best presenter, writer, or negotiator.
You're just you, someone who loves being a lawyer and helping people.
And you know what? That's enough.
You don't have to be the best to have a very satisfying and rewarding career. In the long run, your passion for what you do will attract everything you need. You can learn what you need to know and get better at what you do.
But you must be willing to grow.
Unfortunately, many lawyers stop growing the day they receive their license. The got school "out of the way" and then switched gears to focus on building a career.
Oh they go through the motions of continuing their education but mostly because they have to, not because they want to. Soon they find themselves in a rut, a career rut where billable hours and overhead and moving up the ladder are job one. In time, many such lawyers find themselves dissatisfied with their careers, but often they don't know why.
It's because they've stopped growing.
Charles Darwin said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change." Lawyers who stop learning stop adapting to the changes around them. If they're not careful, they'll find themselves on the endangered species list.
Learning and growth aren't limited to the law, however. There is much more to being a lawyer. You need to learn marketing. You need to understand human psychology. You should be able to read a balance sheet. And much more.
I heard someone say (on LinkedIn, I think) that it's no longer acceptable for an attorney to say they are "computer illiterate". Yet many attorneys are functionally so. Yes, you can hire people to do what you don't want to do, but in the wired world we live in today, someone who refuses to learn some basic computer skills might as well waive a white flag and call it a day.
Never stop learning. Never stop growing. Never stop adapting to the changes around you. That's how you will survive in this jungle.
Filed under Career satisfaction, Continuing Legal Education, Inspiration, Personal development by 
One of the "Eight Secrets to Getting More Done in 2012," in this Forbes magazine article struck a nerve with me because it is something I have struggled with. If you have ever been accused of being "overly analytical," "a perfectionist," a "procrastinator," or just somebody who has trouble making up their mind, we're bred from the same stock.
Yes, being an attorney means being careful, not jumping to conclusions, and not making rash decisions. We carefully weigh the options and we go out of our way to avoid risk. It goes with the job description.
It's also why attorneys usually make poor business people. Entrepreneurs see a vision of success and act on it; lawyers see what could wrong and either say no or mull it over so long the opportunity passes them by.
But according to Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, the ability to make quick decisions is the hallmark of rich people:
Analysis of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes well beyond the million dollar mark, disclosed the fact that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly, and changing these decisions slowly, if and when they were changed at all. People who fail to accumulate money, without exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, if at all, very slowly, and of changing these decisions quickly and often.
Marty Zwilling, founder and CEO of Startup Professionals understands this. It was his contribution to the Forbes article that caught my eye:
My key to productivity is simply “make a decision.” Even a bad decision is recoverable, and better than no decision, since it gets the issue off your plate and moving. Making no decision bottlenecks your work, and causes things to happen to you, rather than by you.
But if the ability to make decisions quickly is a habit of the rich and attorneys are prone to doing the opposite, why are there so many rich attorneys?
Two reasons, I think. First, we're around a lot of successful people and get in front of a lot of good opportunities. The odds are in our favor that we will be "in the right place at the right time". Second, attorneys are intelligent people and tend to make "good decisions," albeit not quickly. If we could combine the two and make "good decisions quickly," I think there would be many more rich lawyers.
Fortunately, making decisions quickly is a habit and habits can be developed. You do it once, the world doesn't end, you do it again.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Start with little decisions, "which movie to see," or "which topic to write about today." Give yourself five minutes to decide. Use a timer. Use a screen saver message or post-it to remind you to "Decide Now!" And do it every day.
If you mindfully make quick decisions every day, making quick decisions will soon become a habit. Eventually, you'll be able to make quick decisions about important matters and that's when you will see more significant results.
But don't forget the other side of the equation. Once you've decided, you must stick with your decision. Practice not changing your mind. Yes, you'll make mistakes, but as Zwilling says, "even a bad decision is recoverable". Isn't that why God invented E and O coverage?
Filed under Inspiration, Personal development, success, Wealth by
In Steven Covey's, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," habit 2 is, "Begin with the end in mind". Determine your destination before you begin so you wind up where you want to go. Covey says, "If your ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step you take gets you to the wrong place faster."
So, where do you want to go in your career?
I assume you want to be successful. Well, what does success look like for you?
Take some time today to answer this question:
"If my practice/career/job were perfect in every way, what would it look like?"
Write down your answer. Here are some additional questions to help you clarify your "destination":
- Where would you be living?
- Who would you work for?
- What kind of office would you have or would you work from home?
- How many hours would you work?
- What services would you offer?
- How much would you charge?
- How much would you earn per month or per year?
- What kinds of clients would you work with?
- How many people would you employ?
- What systems or tools would you use?
- What makes you different from other attorneys?
Once you've got something on paper, take a step back and look at what you wrote. Did you write what you think you should be doing based on where you are right now or did you turn on your dream machine and "go for it"?
Forget logic for a few minutes. Quiet the adult in you and let the little kid speak. Ask your inner genie to grant you three wishes.
No rules. No restrictions. No responsibilities. What does your perfect career (or life) look like?
It's your career, after all, your journey. Where do you want to wind up?
Filed under Career satisfaction, Goal Setting, Inspiration, Personal development by
There are a lot of attorneys who do what you do, right there in your market. Many of them have more experience than you do. They have a bigger marketing budget, a better blog, and more traffic to their web site. They have better-paying clients and get more referrals. They earn more than you do. Hell, they're even better looking.
But no matter what advantages your competition have over you, you can keep them from beating you.
How do you stop a stronger opponent, or worse, an army of them? By ignoring them.
Stop looking at what other attorneys are doing. Forget about what they have. Don't compare yourself to others. It's the worst thing you can do for your career or your self-esteem.
Stay focused on what you do, on your clients, on your work. Build your practice, and don't worry about what anyone else is doing. Or as a friend of mine says, "keep your eyes on your own paper."
No matter what advantages your competition may have, they can't beat you unless you let them.
Filed under Career satisfaction, Inspiration, Marketing Plan, Personal development by
Black Friday. Some great deals out there. But for many, today is simply a reminder that they don't have money to spend, no matter how good the deals.
The economy has hurt a lot of people. You may be just fine but I'll bet you have clients or friends who are struggling. You may not know what to say to them (or to yourself) at a time like this, but there is something they need to hear.
They need to know that while financial problems can be painful, they can also help you grow.
Financial setbacks, no matter what the cause, are great teachers. They help us to see what does not work, on the path to discovering what does.
For some, hitting bottom is the only way they will change. It's a wake up call that finally motives them to take action to improve their situation. The sooner they bottom out, the sooner things will improve.
No one wants to have money problems, but no one is immune to them. The ones who overcome their challenges and go on to thrive are those who learn from their problems and refuse to be defined by them. As actor Mike Todd famously noted, "Being broke is a temporary situation. Being poor is a state of mind."
You can allow your financial situation to inspire your creativity or you can allow it to smother you. You can learn what does not work and never repeat it or you can make the same mistakes over and over again. You can dwell on your unpaid bills or you can focus on increasing your income.
The tree planted on the corner of our lot, in the path of the wind, is bigger and stronger than the tree tucked into a corner next to our house where the wind is not nearly as strong. The buffeting of the wind has made the tree on the corner grow stronger.
Like the wind, financial challenges push you and challenge you to grow. But unlike trees, you have free will. You can allow financial problems to break you or you can allow them to make you stronger.
Filed under Inspiration by
Every morning for sixteen years, our dear cat Andre woke us with a throaty greeting. We couldn't sleep in. Andre always made sure we started our day.
Last week, I realized a day would come when Andre was gone and I would miss his morning ritual. That day came on Monday.
We awoke not to his usual hearty urging but to a barely audible sound. He was on the bed between us, laid flat, looking up at us, telling us he was not well. We knew immediately he'd had a stroke. By the end of the day, a day of suffering and tears, we had to put him to sleep.
Andre brought us many years of love. He was a gentle soul and a part of our family. Our daughter was just ten years old when we brought Andre home. He was there when she was growing up and there when she came home from college. We had hoped he would be there at least one last time when she comes home this Christmas.
We lost a friend and we miss him. We are saddened but we are thankful for the years he was with us.
We all have many things to give thanks for this holiday season. One thing we should remember is the unconditional love and companionship of our pets. Don't take them for granted. Give them a little extra attention today, this week, this month. You never know when it might be their last.
Filed under Inspiration by
When I opened my own practice, I practically lived at my office. I buried myself in what little work I had and spent the rest of the time organizing files, creating forms, and worrying about how I was going to get some business.
Later on, when I had lots of clients and lots of work, very little changed. I put in long hours at the office or in court, I brought home files at night and on weekends, and when I did manage to take a day off, I was on the phone with my office every couple of hours.
Some people called me a workaholic. What I was was scared s***less.
When I had no clients and no money coming in, I was paralyzed with fear. I looked at the calendar and saw the first of the month approaching and knew there was no way I could pay the rent. I tried everything I could think of to bring in business but I spent even more time distracting myself with busy work.
When I finally had clients and real work to do, I was afraid it wouldn't last so I buried myself in my work and made as much money as I could, as fast as I could. There was no way I was ever going back to my "lean and hungry" days.
I'm no shrink, but I think workaholic-ism is driven by fear. We may tell ourselves that we love what we do and this might be true to some extent, but it also might be a story we've told ourselves for so long that we actually believe it.
Nobody has the right to tell you how to conduct your business and if non-stop work makes you happy, I'm happy for you. Just be honest about it. Don't kid yourself into thinking this is what you want or this is the way it has to be.
If you'd like to work a bit less and enjoy some of life's other offerings, you can. I know because I did it.
How did I break free of the fear of losing what I had finally achieved? How did I stop working so many hours and eventually get down to working just three days a week?
I changed my focus.
I no longer focused on things that made me fearful.
Instead of thinking about what I did not want (e.g., being broke) and using that to drive me, I thought about what I did want.
I wanted the feeling of security and strength and power that money brings. I wanted to help people solve problems. I wanted to spend time with my family and to travel. I wanted to be able to read fiction, go to the movies, eat in nice restaurants and wear fine clothes.
There were plenty of things I wanted and when I began to focus on them, instead of what I didn't want, things began to change.
It was a process. I started with little things. Whenever I found myself thinking about the possible consequences of working fewer hours, for example, I would stop myself and think about going to a book store and browsing for an hour. A pleasant thought for a book lover like me. I relaxed. I stopped thinking about what I didn't want. It felt good.
Eventually, I didn't just think about going to a bookstore, I actually went. My world didn't come crashing down on me. The clients didn't leave. The work was still there, and so was the money.
Little by little, I trained myself to think about what I wanted and to let go of my fear of losing what I already had.
If you are a workaholic and you don't want to be, there are many things you can do to let go of the compulsion to work. Try them if they inspire you.
But you don't really need anything more than to let go of the fear-inducing thoughts that hold you back. Replace them with thoughts of a better future and let those pull you forward.
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, keep coming back to your vision of an ideal life, a life of happiness and success, of work that that gives you joy but does not overwhelm. Keep doing this and you will create that life. This is the law of attraction.
Think about what you want, not what you don't want.
Filed under Career satisfaction, Inspiration, Productivity by
Stop running. Yes, I know you have to get to court, crank out a new agreement, and meet with your new client. I know you're busy and this is how you earn your living. I know that if you don't do the work you won't get paid.
Slow down anyway. Better yet, come to a complete stop.
At least for a few hours.
Slowing down allows you to refine what you're doing so you can do it better, and faster. Just as a race car needs pit stops, so do humans. By taking a break periodically, we can ensure that everything is working properly and that we are on course and on pace. Taking a break allows us to recharge our energy and clarify our focus. It allows us to go faster, assured that we are going in the right direction.
Take some time to evaluate what you are doing and the results you are getting. Are things moving in the direction you want? Is there anything you could do better? What's working well that could be expanded?
Take some time to look at your calendar. How are you spending your time? What else might you do? Is there something you are doing that you don't really need to do? Is there something that takes you two hours that could be done in one?
Take some time to rest and reflect on the bigger picture. What big ideas could you start working on that might help you take a quantum leap? Where do you want to be five years from today and what could you start doing today to help you get there?
Take some time to get rid of clutter and distractions. If it doesn't serve you in some way, eliminate it. Simplify your life so you can focus on what is important and valuable.
Take some time to read things you don't usually read. Look for ideas and inspiration. Have some fun. Goof off. Go to the movies in the middle of the day. Take your best friend for a long lunch.
And take some time to give thanks for all that you have. When you appreciate the goodness in your life, you attract more of it.
Filed under Career satisfaction, Dealing with stress, Inspiration, Personal development, Productivity by
Mark Zuckerberg was interviewed recently by Charlie Rose. Mashable published twelve quotes from that interview.
I clicked through the quotes in the slide show and didn't think much of them. Perhaps they lost something outside the context of the actual interview.
But then I came back to one of the quotes, one that at first blush, seemed not to say much at all. The quote I came back to was Zuckerberg speaking about business:
"I think a simple rule of business is, if you do the things that are easier first, then you can actually make a lot of progress."
It seems simplistic, doesn't it? "Start with the easy things." But it is truly profound.
Many people who start a business project, myself included, tend to focus on the hardest parts first. My thinking has been, "I can always do the easy things, I need to conquer the toughest challenges first because if I can't lick those, this project will never get off the ground."
How about you? Do you start with the easy things or, like me, do you first jump into the deep end of the pool?
Perhaps we equate "easy" with "having less value," but in the practical sense, that isn't true. The things we can do without a lot of thought or effort are often of greater value because they allow us to get started and getting started is the most important part.
Most business projects never see completion because they never get started. They remain ideas, Someday/Maybes, wishes and dreams.
How many projects have you conceived in the shower or while out for a drive that never got past the idea stage? In the light of day, when you thought about those ideas, you saw how difficult they would be. "I can't do that. I don't have time to do that. I don't have the money to do that. Maybe some day."
Perhaps you did get started, but you started on the difficult things first and saw first hand the immensity of the challenge. Now you know you can't do this. Maybe some day.
What if you did the easy things first? What would happen?
You would learn things you need to know. Meet people who can help you. Gain confidence. And momentum.
If Mark Zuckerberg had thought about Facebook as anything more than what it was when he started, a little dorm room project, he may never have started. It was easy for him in the beginning, and fun. The hard parts came later after he was committed.
The most important part of any project is getting started.
Start with easy.
Filed under Inspiration, success by
Conventional wisdom says that success lies outside of your comfort zone. If you want something you don't have, you have to change what you are doing and this will probably be uncomfortable, as is anything new. Over time, you will become comfortable with your new activities and you may actually enjoy them.
But then, you will have a new comfort zone. To get to the next level in your growth, you will once again need to go beyond your comfort zone into new territory.
Success, therefore, requires continually being uncomfortable.
This is what we are told, but is it true?
Let's take marketing for example. Let's say you really don't like networking. You're shy, you don't like being away from your family, you're not a "people person". Whatever. You just don't like it.
But networking is a proven way for attorneys to build their practices. So what if you don't like it, there are lots of things we have to do in life that we would rather not do. Shouldn't you just get out of your comfort zone and do it anyway?
No.
If you tried it and truly don't like it. . . you don't like it. Don't do it.
There are other ways to bring in clients. You don't have to continue to do things that make you uncomfortable, you can do something else.
Ultimately, success lies inside your comfort zone.
When you like something, you'll continue doing it. The more you do it, the better you get at it. The better you get, the more successful you will be and the more you will enjoy doing it. And the cycle will continue.
In contrast, when you force yourself to do something you despise, you are miserable. You'll find ways to avoid going to your networking event, even to the extent of getting sick. You won't get better at it and your lack of results will only frustrate you and make you hate it even more.
Doing what you enjoy doing is the recipe for success.
Don't fight how you feel, don't try to talk yourself into it, and don't do it because you think you must.
There, did I just hear a big sigh of relief from you?
Good. I'm glad I could help. Just don't be too quick in deciding what is and what isn't inside your comfort zone.
Often, we decide we don't like something based on too little information. Sometimes, we never try at all, basing our opinion on what we've heard from others or what we imagine. Sometimes, we try it once, have a bad experience, and never try again.
Don't give up too soon and don't assume that when you try something and it is uncomfortable, it will always be so.
Give it a fair try. Study and learn how to do it better. Find mentors who can counsel you. Give the new experience enough time for the newness to rub off.
If it really isn't your cup of tea, relax, you don't have to do it. On the other hand, you might discover some things you thought you hated that you're actually quite good at and now enjoy.
My wife and I grew up with dogs in the house. Cats? Not for us. We don't like them. All that changed when our daughter was young and wanted a pet but nobody wanted to walk a dog. So we got a cat. Then another.
We gave them a chance and today, Seamus and Andre are like members of the family. That's Andre in the photo with me, sharing some love with his daddy.
Filed under Career satisfaction, Dealing with stress, Inspiration, Marketing legal services by
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