When Executive Coach Marshall Goldsmith asks audiences around the world to complete the following sentence, one word is overwhelmingly provided: “When my kids grow up, I want them to be _______.” Your response? It was probably “happy.” No other answer – successful, wealthy, healthy, well-adjusted, etc – comes remotely close. …Read More
You know them: The “I need it yesterday” client. The “I’d like to pick your brain” long sales-cycle prospect. The “Can you take a quick look at this?” partner. They may be well meaning, or they may be jerks; but either way, they take up more of your time than …Read More
It’s too easy to get hooked by stress and worry – particularly when our experience of the stress and worry is (or seems) justified by the high stakes matter or financial pressure at hand. It’s all too easy to forget, in the midst of our daily work, why it is …Read More
There are two characteristics of successful attorneys that often keep them from being good delegators. By proclivity and by training they are risk averse, and they really like to win. It’s your core mission after all, to protect your clients from negative outcomes. And your determination to represent them rigorously …Read More
Confucius was asked by the farmer, “When’s the best time to plant my orchard?” Confucius sighed quietly and replied, “20 years ago.” The farmer then asked, “When’s the next best time to plant my orchard?” Confucius smiled gently and answered, “Today.” In my work coaching lawyers, I have yet to …Read More
You’ve heard it said that “Insanity is doing the same over and over but expecting different results.” Though the point is clear enough, I prefer a slightly less extreme diagnosis: “Doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results is denial in action.” Sure, on some level it’s …Read More
From yesterday’s New York Times (3.12.13): “What he doesn’t realize is if he tried a different style, he’d get a whole lot more cooperation,” [Republican Senator] Coburn said, adding: “He’s really a neat guy. People don’t know that about him.” Irrespective of your large-P Politics, it’s a powerful (though …Read More
Aside from poor time management, one of the main reasons attorneys don’t get the help they want or need to improve their practice management is because they simply don’t ask for it. Why? We usually don’t ask because we’re embarrassed or insecure at some level. Fortunately, all it takes to …Read More
Let’s say you’re determined to get and stay on the path of business development. You acknowledge that the changing world of client expectations requires that you take initiative to ensure your long-term success. You’re committed to learning and applying the strategies and skills outlined in the previous parts, and you’re …Read More
Your Attitude Toward Yourself Not surprisingly, your attitudes about business development, marketing, and time management are shaped by how you see yourself and the world around you. And in turn, these flow from a complex mix of inherited traits, learned behaviors, unconscious beliefs, emotions, and a lifetime of experiences. You …Read More
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