I can’t talk right now, I’m flowing

May 2, 2018 by
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You’ve heard the term “flow”. You know a “flow state” refers to an immersive and highly focused mental state and that when it occurs, you are more creative, productive, and happy.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the Hungarian psychologist who recognized and named the concept said, “The happiest people spend much time in a state of flow — the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.”

Sounds like a plan.

To achieve a flow state more often, manage your environment to make it more conducive to achieving flow:

  1. Outsource or delegate tasks that don’t lend themselves to a flow state, if possible, to give yourself more time for those that are.
  2. Allow more time for flow to occur, e.g., don’t schedule appointments immediately after a writing session, for example.
  3. Eliminate distractions and interruptions; you know the drill.
  4. Single task; one thing at a time, so you can do “deep work”.

Then, when things are going well, when you find yourself lost in a task and losing track of time, don’t kill the mood by stopping. Breaks can wait. Other tasks can wait. Maintain the flow state as long as possible.

When you do this, you should find that in addition to getting more of your best work done, you actually have more energy than before you started.

All that and a bag of chips.

Get into the flow of getting more referrals

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Filed Under: Productivity Tagged With:

Scheduling time to think

May 1, 2018 by
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I’m thinking about scheduling time for thinking. Putting 5 minutes each day or 30 minutes once a week on my calendar, dedicated to thinking.

What would I think about? My goals, my plans, my work in progress, ideas, anything that’s on my mind or on my list.

Use the time to figure things out. Make decisions. Figure out what went wrong.

Contemplation is important, especially for cerebral and creative types like you and me. And we don’t do enough of it.

Scheduled thinking time should be used just for thinking, not for brainstorming ideas. We can do that at another time. Thinking time should be used to evaluate ideas we’ve already had, not create new ones.

Thinking helps us to weigh consequences, evaluate plans, and solve problems. It helps us to decide to go forward, incubate further, make changes, or cross things off our list.

True, our subconscious minds do a lot of this for us. We think about something, let go of it, and suddenly, somehow, we know what to do.

And, we do a lot of thinking while we’re doing other things: driving, showering, exercising, washing dishes.

But I want to build some regular “contemplation” time into my schedule so I can do more of it. (I have a naval. I might as well use it.)

So, what do you think about my idea? Are you going to try it?

I know, you need to think about it.

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Filed Under: Personal development Tagged With:

You should be saying THIS a lot

April 30, 2018 by
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You’re busy. Good at what you do. And you get asked for lots of favors.

Information, advice, appearances (at events), endorsements. You get asked to share content, review proposals, add a link or authorize a guest post on your site.

All day, every day, people want something from you. If you’re not saying no to most of these requests, most of which are not a priority for you, you may not have time for the handful that are.

Not to mention time to get your own work done.

You delete most of the email offers and requests from people you don’t know. At least I hope you do. You are not obligated to reply.

But what do you do about a request that comes from a client, a colleague, or a friend?

How do you say no?

If they want your time, you can say, “Sorry, I have a prior commitment.” And that’s true. You have a commitment to spend that time doing client work, doing something for the handful of people you want to help, or doing something for yourself.

Because you’re no good to anyone if you’re not taking care of yourself.

What if the request isn’t time-bound? They want you to review their article, for example, and tell them what you think. No hurry. You could provide a cursory response. “Looks good. I like the donkey story.” A few minutes won’t break the bank.

But if what they ask requires more than a few minutes, or they ask you to do something you don’t want to do, you’re going to have to come up with something else.

The truth is a good option. If you’re uncomfortable doing something, if you don’t have time to do something, tell them. And tell them why.

You don’t want to hurt their feelings. You don’t want to come off as a jerk. But you have to say no to most requests because every time you say yes to something that’s not a priority, you say no to something that is.

Referrals should be one of your top priorities

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Filed Under: Client relations, Personal development

Your passion is more valuable than you think

April 27, 2018 by
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Following on yesterday’s post about making a career out of your passion (if possible), attorney John R. writes to lament that despite his best efforts, he cannot find a way he can do that with his passions: woodworking and golf.

If you find yourself singing a similar song, I have a suggestion I think you’ll like.

Take one of your passions and make it your target market.

Use your knowledge, experience, and love for the subject, to market your legal services to prospective clients and referral sources who inhabit that market.

I don’t know a lot about woodworking but I’m sure it is composed of a wide variety of individuals and businesses: vendors, machine and tool manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and retailers.

People who sell wood furniture and art. People who run conventions, write books and blogs and sell instructional videos.

There are insurance brokers, real estate brokers, accountants, and financial planners, who sell to or advise wood mills, hardware and furniture stores, and others in the chain of distribution.

And many others who share your passion.

It’s a big niche, or rather a collection of related niches, and it’s yours for the taking. Focus your marketing efforts on this niche. No matter what your practice area, there are people in it who need your services or can refer people who do.

Speak and network at their events. Write for their publications. Let them know you’re “one of them”.

Soon, you will dominate that market, or at least carve out (sorry) a large enough chunk to keep you busy many times over.

You may not make your living turning a lathe or sanding shelves but you’ll do the next best thing. You’ll get to spend time talking to and helping other people who share your passion.

This will help you find the right target market for you

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Filed Under: Marketing legal services Tagged With:

Don’t follow your passion

April 26, 2018 by
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More than a few smart having been saying lately, “Don’t follow your passion”. The main reason they give is that just because you’re passionate about something doesn’t mean you can make a living at it. There has to be a market for it.

If you love building Star Wars Battle Cruisers out of Legos, you probably have a hobby, not a business.

But some people build fortunes following their passion so telling everyone not to pursue theirs does them a disservice.

How about this: “Don’t follow your passion as a career unless there is a market for it”. Or, “Find a way to leverage your passion so you can make a living at it.”

Few among us love every aspect of our chosen careers. You may love standing in front of judges or juries and flapping your gums but hate marketing. If you asked me, I’d tell you to find a way to do more of the former because your passion for doing that will likely mean you don’t have to do much marketing.

And, if you aren’t passionate about any aspect of your career, if you do it because you’re good at it and it’s paying the bills but you would rather be doing something else, I’d tell you to keep looking for a way to do that something else.

Because if you can make a living doing what you love, not only will you be happier, you’ll likely accomplish more than you ever thought possible simply because you’re doing more.

In speaking about productivity, Leo Babauta of Zen Habits said: “…if you’re passionate about your work, you won’t procrastinate — you’ll love doing it, and want to do more. . . Make your life’s work something you’re passionate about, not something you dread doing, and your task list will almost seem like a list of rewards.”

Go find your list of rewards.

This can help you figure things out

 

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Filed Under: Inspiration, success Tagged With:

Living life on your terms

April 25, 2018 by
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Take a gander at your todo list, reminders, and calendar and ask yourself this question: how many of these items fall into the category of “have to do” and how many are “want to do”?

Yes, I know, some things fall into both categories. And some things you have to do because they allow you to do things you want to do. Or something like that.

The point is, I think we should all be working towards doing more of what we want to do.

Come on, as long as the things that have to be done are getting done, by us or someone else, why shouldn’t we be able to do more of what makes us happy?

The question is, how can we do it?

One way is to get money out of the way. Accumulate a ginormous pile of cash so you no longer have to work. If not cash, passive income will do the trick. When money is out of the way, you can do more of what you want to do.

Sound good? Okay, put that on your list of goals. Actually, you might want to make that your number one goal because if you accomplish this, when you accomplish this, most of your other goals will also be taken care of.

Don’t scoff. You know people who have done this. I’ve done it. It can be done. You can do it. You should do it.

Now, while you’re working on this, what else can you do to get more “want to” into your life?

I think you begin by being more aware of what you’re putting on your lists. If you routinely ask yourself, “Is this something I want to do?” before you write it down, you might start gravitating towards a list comprised of more things you want to do.

You might also get frustrated as you realize how much of what you do falls into the “have to” category. But frustration isn’t a bad thing. It might be all the motivation you need to get going on your plan to get money out of the way.

Referred clients are more likely to make referrals

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Filed Under: Inspiration, success

You might want to sit down to read this

April 24, 2018 by
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Some people advocate keeping a “not to do” list. By eliminating or delegating low-value activities, or activities they simply don’t like doing, it frees up time to focus on high-value/high-enjoyment activities.

Most of us have a list like that. We just keep it in our heads. I don’t mow my lawn, for example, but I don’t have this written down anywhere.

I have other things on my (mental) list. Not just “not to do” but also “not to consider doing”. On that list: getting a standing desk.

My daughter uses one at work and recommends it. What the hell do kids know?

Actually, I did look into this a while back. I read articles and watched videos and decided that while I could use the exercise, standing for hours at a time wasn’t going to work for me.

I used to go to a lot of conventions. Multi-day events with a lot of sitting. I used to stand (and walk around) a lot at these events because it was better than being squished into a seat.

I just don’t want to do that every day.

Anyway, the point is that this is something I’ve looked at and made a decision about. That means when I see an article or video on the subject, I don’t have to think about whether or not I’ll read or watch it. I already made that decision.

I’ve made that decision about a lot of things. It saves me a lot of time.

When I see an article about Linux, for example, I don’t read it. I know it’s not for me.

Does that mean I’m not open to anything new?

Of course not, silly. If you saw how many apps I’ve downloaded on my iPhone, you wouldn’t ask that question.

Are you open to a different way to get more referrals?

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Filed Under: Productivity Tagged With:

Paying full retail

April 23, 2018 by
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I don’t mind paying full price for things that provide value in my life. Things I appreciate and enjoy. Things I need. Even if they cost more than they “should” or more than I want to pay.

There’s nothing wrong with saving a few bucks but there’s also nothing wrong with buying the best or hiring the best and paying full price.

I deserve it. You do, too. It’s good to remember that.

We also deserve to be paid full price by our clients.

If a client doesn’t appreciate what we do for them, if they insist on getting an unreasonable deal, they don’t deserve us and shouldn’t have us.

Remember that the next time you feel a little guilty for saying no.

There’s a cosmic justice at work in the world. You get what you pay for and if you try to cheat the system, the world finds out and makes you pay.

You want to be successful? You must pay the price. No discounts. No shortcuts. Put in the time, put in the effort, do what needs to be done.

“At the counter of success, everyone pays full retail,” goes the old saw.

That’s the way it is. That’s the way it must be.

Step by step: how to get more referrals

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Filed Under: success

Sprinting towards success

April 20, 2018 by
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Building a successful career is a marathon. It takes place over time, not overnight.

And, as professionals, we’re comfortable with that because we don’t like making mistakes. We don’t like it when things get messy.

So we take our time. We plan, we put one foot in front of another, and we stroll towards the finish line.

Ironically, it is the pedantic nature of that slow and steady process that often creates the mess we’re trying to avoid.

When you go slowly, carefully, planning to avoid mistakes instead of planning to make something happen, it’s easy to get stuck in the mud.

Slow is painful. You feel the sting of rejection. You get discouraged by poor or nonexistent results. It’s harder to try again. Or try the next thing on your list.

Speaking of lists, if you have a dozen things you want to do to build your practice over the next year, instead of doing one each month as you might ordinarily be inclined to do, my advice is to do them all this month.

This way, you’re bound to find something that works and you’ll be encouraged to move forward.

If you do it slowly, one a month, and the first five or six things don’t work or you hate them, you may feel like quitting.

Your career is a marathon but it’s made up of a series of sprints. Run, as fast you can. Like your future depends on it. Because it does.

This will help you create your list 

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Filed Under: success

What’s bothering you?

April 19, 2018 by
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Are you worried about something right now? A problem in the office or at home? Paying your taxes? Too many bills? Not enough income?

We all have problems. Most of them aren’t fatal. With a modicum of time and effort, we can resolve them or at least make enough progress so that they no longer keep us up at night.

But sometimes, they have a nasty habit of sticking around.

Whatever you do, don’t dwell on them. Because what you focus on, grows.

Instead of focusing on your problems, focus on solutions.

Get the problems out of your head and onto paper or into your favorite app. Brainstorm all of the possible solutions. Write down your available resources. Note what you can do, not what you cannot.

Talk to smart people and get their suggestions. Talk to people who love you and are good listeners and ask them to listen to you talk it out.

Let your subconscious mind (your gut) help you figure out what to do and then do it. It will almost always be the right decision.

What if your gut tells you to do nothing? Then, do that. Sometimes problems go away by themselves. Sometimes the passage of time gives you perspective and makes you realize that the problem wasn’t as bad as you had imagined. And sometimes, time helps you to discover other solutions that weren’t possible before.

Finally, once you have made a decision about what to do and you’ve started doing it, turn your attention to all of the good things in your life.

Dwell on your blessings. Because what you focus on, grows.

Need clients? Here’s the best way to get them

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Filed Under: Inspiration
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