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Part 2 of Craft Your 1-Minute Introduction – The #1 Question You Need To Answer
Think back to the last time you met new people at a business gathering, networking event or social function. How clearly do you remember those you met? Do you remember their names? Can you recall what they look like, what they do for a living, how they like to spend...
Part 1 of Craft Your 1-Minute Introduction – Stop Saying “I’m a Lawyer!”
Frequently Asked Question: What do you do? Frequent Response: I’m a lawyer. Thud. And, perhaps, yawn. Yes, of course, you are a lawyer. But when you answer the question with that one-word answer (or its close cousins, “I’m a litigator” or “I do M and A”) you lose a...
Want Success? Fire Your Friends
Do you know someone who is negative or cynical? Someone who complains, gossips, and blames others for his or her situation? Whatever you call these people – downers, kill-joys, energy vampires – your success as a lawyer depends on eliminating or limiting...
What Criminal Law Can Teach You About Success
Remember that Criminal Law class during your first year of law school? Your professor unwittingly laid out a simple model to help you get exactly what you want . . . Success, Criminal-Style Do you remember the two elements of a crime? You will probably recall that...
Time Management Doesn’t Work
What are you doing with your time? If you’re like most lawyers: You’re spending it, tracking it, billing it, prioritizing it, bemoaning it, and trying to wrest it into submission. You’re always on the lookout for time management techniques on the theory that there...
The Great Interview Question You Should Ask Yourself
I sat across the desk from the senior partner and chair of the real estate department at one of the largest law firms in the country as my interview drew to a close. Our conversation had gone well so far, and I was cautiously optimistic about my chances of receiving...
The #1 Obstacle To Your Success – A Tragic Story
Do you ever have those days when you feel that no matter what you do, nothing seems to go your way? Like all the obstacles in the world have miraculously lined up squarely between you and your goals and dreams? There are so many possible roadblocks that can pop up...
Who Really Controls Your Career As A Lawyer?
Do you take full responsibility for the results you get in your life and your career as a lawyer? Before you answer with an automatic and resounding “Yes!” think about it. Have you ever uttered the following excuse (or something close to it)?: If it weren’t for the...
Are You A Great Lawyer? Or An Imposter?
If they only knew . . . Have you ever asked yourself “what gives me the right to be here?” Are you a law firm partner who sometimes wonders why they ever elected you? Or in-house counsel who worries that the business people are finally going to figure out that you...
The Real Reason Your Client Went To A Competitor
Have you ever experienced the disappointment of a client leaving your practice only to hire someone else to do a job you know you can do (and maybe do even better)? If you felt abandoned or were left with a bad taste in your mouth, it’s certainly understandable. But...
The Line Item Successful Lawyers Have In The Budget
Multiple Choice Question: How much time and money have you allocated for your professional development budget this year? (a) I pay for mandatory CLE. That's what you mean, right? (b) I went to law school. That's all the professional development training I need....
Using Speaking as a Strategy to Attract Clients? Ask Yourself this Question
One of the best ways to establish yourself as a leading authority in your area of practice is to consistently speak for groups. Standing in front of a group and sharing interesting content can establish you as an expert and a reliable resource for prospective...