The Monsoon- Making Rain in the Southwest: Is doing good work enough to grow your practice?

The Monsoon- Making Rain in the Southwest: Is doing good work enough to grow your practice?: Is doing good work is enough to grow your business? This is a great question and one that I am asked frequently. My go...

Is doing good work enough to grow your practice?

            Is doing good work is enough to grow your business?    This is a great question and one that I am asked frequently.  My go to response is, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it does it make a sound?  Think about it-just doing good work poses the exact same dilemma.  If you are doing good work and no one really knows about it, does it still count?

Don’t get me wrong, good work is essential to growing your practice.  In the early stages of your career, often the partners or mentors providing you work are your pseudo-clients.  Good work is absolutely the key to keeping your pseudo-clients happy and becoming a good lawyer.  In some instances and under some business models, doing good work is enough to maintain a steady flow of work.  Again-a great thing; but, not the same thing as growing your business. 

When you are ready to grow your book- the rules of the game change.  Just doing good work without anything else is not enough to grow your practice.  Why?  If all you are doing is doing good work without anything else the right people will never know about.  If you want to grow your business, you must do good work AND let others know. 

How do you let others know about your good work?  The choices are endless.  You can write an article highlighting your expertise.  You can conduct a seminar.  Tell your co-workers at a practice group luncheon.  Teach the new lawyers in your group about your practice area.  Speak at a trade show.  Apply for awards and public recognition.  Speak at the local bar association.  Tell your work out partner, your office mates, and anyone else that will listen.  The opportunities to let others know about your good work are limited only by your creativity and strategic marketing plan.  But, you must DO something.  You must take responsibility for finding a way to let others know about all of your good work.  Good work alone will not grow your practice.

If you are a worker bee that wants to move to the next level of your career, begin to strategize about how to let others know about your good work in a manner that is comfortable to you.  If you are stumped, sit down with your mentor, a rainmaking partner, or your marketing director.  Chances are good he/she can help you find some opportunities to show case your brilliance.

Do not be the tree falling in the forest with no one around to hear it.  Do good work, and sing about it from the rooftops.  Better yet-find a strategic partner (or 12) to sing it for you.  It all starts with doing good work and letting someone know about it.  You can do it.  It is OK. Your mother will not be disappointed.  You are not being bragadocious.  You are being strategic.  You are being a rainmaker!

Don’t forget your umbrella, I hear rain in your forecast.

About Jonelle- Jonelle Vold is a business coach that is passionate about your success.  A mother of twins, former Assistant Dean at a tier-one law school, attorney, and seasoned sales professional, Jonelle understands the challenges of high-level professionals.  Her coaching philosophy is every person has the ability to be a rainmaker by cracking their own personal code and doing business with intention.  You can reach Jonelle at jonelle@jonellevold.com or www.jonellevold.com.   

Women's Short-Term-Massive-Action Group Coaching Classes starting on September 22, 2011.  If you are ready to jump start your success, regain control of your time (and your life), reignite your professional passion, and of course learn to make rain-this is the class for you.  Space is limited contact jonelle@jonellevold.com for details

The Monsoon- Making Rain in the Southwest: "Power" Points- takeaways from Thursday's Power Lu...

The Monsoon- Making Rain in the Southwest: "Power" Points- takeaways from Thursday's Power Lu...: “Power” Points During Thursday’s Power Lunch we discussed the lessons we have learned about running our businesses from the tumultuous ...

"Power" Points- takeaways from Thursday's Power Lunch

“Power” Points

During Thursday’s Power Lunch we discussed the lessons we have learned about running our businesses from the tumultuous economy.  Here are the “power” points from our conversation:

1.     Business requires face to face interaction

2.     It feels great to give but if you give to the right people, you can feel great and grow your business.  Be strategic.

3.     Technology is wonderful but never be afraid to return to the basics.  It is a people business.

4.     The economy has created many interesting business partners.  One of the greatest trends: Gen X kids going in to business with Boomer parents.

5.     Don’t try to be something you are not.   If you are a woman in business-run your business like a woman-not a man

6.     It is never too late to re-invent yourself or your business.  If what you are doing is not working, stop.  Change direction.  Fight hard for what you really want.

7.     Professional women supporting one another in business = a Powerful force!

Thank you to all of the amazing women who participated.  Thank you for the connection and the wisdom.  I look forward to October's participants.

The Monsoon- Making Rain in the Southwest: Yes the economy sucks-but how is your attitude?

The Monsoon- Making Rain in the Southwest: Yes the economy sucks-but how is your attitude?: The economy sucks. We all know it. We hear it every day, we read it in every paper, and we feel it in our retirement accounts...

Yes the economy sucks-but how is your attitude?

            The economy sucks.  We all know it.  We hear it every day, we read it in every paper, and we feel it in our retirement accounts.   But-come on folks, the economy is not responsible for everything.  I recently had a conversation with a potential client who explained to me that her extreme unhappiness and disdain for her current job was a result of the loss of equity in her house.  Which of course was due to the bad economy.  Say what?  So much for personal responsibility.  It is starting to feel as if we are sloughing every responsibility off on the economy.  So, today’s blog is a look at the economy through the other end of the spectrum- five great things about today’s economy.

            #1- The tight job market is forcing people to evaluate their job choices and pursue jobs that appeal to them personally rather then following like lemmings to jobs that are reported to pay well.  A happier work force is a great thing in my book.

            #2- Families are discovering new and creative ways to enjoy one another’s company rather than purchasing the vacation-in-a-box amusement park options.  I have seen three recent articles in my local paper about day trips for families or other creative ways to get away without spending a bundle.  Creativity-another great!

            #3-Small businesses are opening up in record fashion.   The most recent stats I have seen show small businesses are growing at double digit pace from this time in 2007.  Small businesses make an immediate impact on their local economies.  They diversify our economy and create jobs.  And, fingers crossed, this will also mean more Mom & Pop restaurants. 

            #4-Businesses have had to tighten their belts, re-evaluate their priorities, and dump the busy work.  Everyone is doing more with less.  As businesses are re-creating strategic plans with fewer headcount, the work that was keeping people busy but not moving the ball is being dumped.  As anyone that has ever had to create spread sheets that no one reads, attended a meeting with no real purpose, or been assigned to a pet project with no objective knows, less busy work and more substantive work is a wonderful thing.

            #5-We have rediscovered our tribal instincts.  In 2007 when money was flowing and deals were happening, it was easy to fly solo.  Now, there is a new movement toward doing things as a group.  It is as if our survival instincts from cave man days have kicked back in and people are migrating toward tribes.  I see this particularly pronounced when it comes to women.  You cannot walk ten feet without meeting someone who is involved in a women’s group of some sort.  Women are rising up to the occasion by supporting one another.  I have heard it described as the era of women.  Whatever it is-I am loving it.  But, men do not fret; there are tribes for you too.  Be wary of navigating the economic waters of 2011 solo, instead go find your tribe.   Find a group that will help you build your business, improve your skill, and thrive in this wild economy.

            I hope today’s blog made you chuckle, gave you pause, and more importantly caused you to question your own attitude.  Rainmakers thrive in any economy.  They understand they cannot control circumstances but they can control their attitude.   If your attitude is not one that others want to “catch,” STOP.  Do not pass go.  Do not interact with clients, perspective clients, or anyone else.  Go back to the drawing board and find a way to create a positive attitude.  Your attitude is your calling card.  You need a great one! 

 Don't forget your umbrella, I see rain in your forecast.

About Jonelle- Jonelle Vold is a business coach that is passionate about your success.  A mother of twins, former Assistant Dean at a tier-one law school, attorney, and seasoned sales professional, Jonelle understands the challenges of high-level professionals.  Her coaching philosophy is every person has the ability to be a rainmaker by cracking their own personal code and doing business with intention.  You can reachJonelle at jonelle@jonellevold.com or www.jonellevold.com.   

Women's Short-Term-Massive-Action Group Coaching Classes starting on September 22, 2011.  Ladies if you are ready to jump start your success, regain control of your time and your life, reignite your professional passion, and of course learn to make rain-this is the class for you.  Space is limited contact jonelle@jonellevold.com for details

The Monsoon- Making Rain in the Southwest: What can you learn about your career from a hairy ...

The Monsoon- Making Rain in the Southwest: What can you learn about your career from a hairy ...: " Thursday, I had one of the most surreal moments of my coaching life. I was teaching a women’s class about finding your..."