I ran across this quote recently: So true, isn’t it? And yet, we all tend to make assumptions. This client is thrilled with our engagement; this one isn’t. That target client is represented and is no interest in moving; that one understands the legal situation that’s cropped up and but can’t (or won’t) spend the […]
New behaviors, especially those that play out in public for others to see, can be difficult. We lawyers especially, who tend to fall toward the perfectionist side of things, perceived a high risk in trying something new. What if we fail? What if we look stupid? What if we really mess up? Last Sunday, I […]
I went shopping a few weekends ago. I’m in the market for a new car, and I need a dark rose or burgundy tablecloth for my dining room table. I haven’t purchased either just yet (though I’m moving closer), but two very different sales experiences have offered plenty of insight. Saturday afternoon, I went to […]
I’m serving as an officer in the ABA Section of Science and Technology Law, and I’ve been on the planning committee for an upcoming conference that will be useful for many readers. So….. Please Join Us at the Third Annual Internet of Things National Institute in Washington, DC on May 9-10! We live in a connected […]
Business is the greatest personal development tool that exists. The moment you take responsibility for your work and for generating and serving clients, you become your own best asset. That’s why you must invest in yourself. If you don’t grow, your business won’t grow. Give that some thought the next time you’re faced with an opportunity […]
What happens to your business development activity when you get busy? If you’re like many others, you may find that it slips. I’ve had more than a handful of clients who hire me to ramp up their rainmaking, and they succeed – right to the point that they’re so busy they pause and start backsliding. […]
Jon, a midcareer lawyer working in a boutique law firm, handles white-collar criminal defense matters. Most of his clients come through referrals from other lawyers. Far too often, those lawyers fail to appreciate that they need someone who practices in the area every day. Instead, they try to handle a matter themselves. After doing the […]
Business development can sound so easy: make a plan, execute the plan, land the business, rinse and repeat. And sometimes it might even work that way, or perhaps you may discover that plans need to be tweaked to account for unanticipated opportunities. That’s what a dear friend calls a nice problem to have. Other times, […]
Best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous new year!
I recently paged through the Vanderbilt University alumni magazine and ran across a story titled Law 2.0: Vanderbilt Law School Innovates to Stay Ahead. The article provides a nice summary of the practice a law in the years leading up to the Great Recession, the shifts that the economic crisis created, and the efforts to […]