BE THAT LAWYER

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Lewis Landerholm discuss:Adapting to the changing law industry. Having the money conversations and asking for the business. Questioning and qualifying potential clients. Creating an org chart for a visual of where you are going (then fire yourself from as many positions as possible).  Key Takeaways:The fear of the unknown often hinders moving forward with a necessary hire. Every time you answer “I’ll do it” will keep you as a true solo. If you wish to scale and grow you must delegate and let go of certain tasks. Assign a monetary figure to everything you do. If it is under your pay grade, delegate it out. Assign a responsibility title to each to do and see what role you need to hire for first. Learn to ask for help. You do not and cannot know everything. You need other people to grow.  "The piece that really helped me the most at the beginning, was just understanding that I had to fill in the gaps of figuring out what I didn't know. Because I knew there was a lot that I didn't know. So it was the not letting my ego or other things get in the way of seeking out that information from other people, and looking for it in mentors and coaches." —  Lewis Landerholm Thank you to our Sponsors!LegalEase Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Be That Lawyer Episode 263 with Marco Brown: https://www.fretzin.com/podcast/episodes/marco-brown-growing-your-firm-without-spending-a-dime/Book: Fans First by Jesse Cole - https://www.amazon.com/Fans-First-Change-Unforgettable-Experience/dp/154452921X About Lewis Landerholm: Lewis Landerholm is the Founding Partner of Pacific Cascade Legal, a law firm that represents family law, bankruptcy, and personal injury clients throughout the Pacific Northwest. Lewis's proclivity for business management and his desire to provide genuine support to families who are navigating difficult seasons and transitions have made him uniquely qualified to identify and deliver on the needs of clients and establish a successful firm that has become a household name throughout Oregon and Washington.  Connect with Lewis Landerholm:  Website: https://www.pacificcascadelegal.com/Email: lewis@pacificcascadefamilylaw.comPhone: 503-227-0200LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewislanderholm/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacificcascadelegalTwitter: https://twitter.com/PacificCasLegalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/PacificCascadeLegalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pacificcascadelegal/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Steve Seckler, Stuart Baum, Sharon Ve, and Chuki Obiyo discuss:The relationship between business development and marketing. Content creation to bridge the gap between marketing and relationships. Trusting your instincts and working with the clients you want to work with.Supporting and cooperating with your competition for wider spread success. Key Takeaways:Find out who your ideal client is and go to where they are. If your client isn't where you are, they will never see your content. Create content that you can repurpose across multiple platforms - it will help you stay top of mind and add value. Qualifying clients will help you to ensure it is a harmonious transaction for all involved. Ask enough open-ended questions before you try and solve the problem. With regards to _______, what are your greatest challenges, frustrations, and concerns you want to address today? "Consistently complimenting your colleagues. This is a blue-sky opportunity that a number of attorneys have not fully leveraged. Do that consistently, and you will get the benefits and the ROI." —  Chuki Obiyo Thank you to our Sponsors!LegalEase Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Gary Johnson: linkedin.com/in/j2marketingconsultants Connect with Steve Seckler:  Website: https://www.seckler.com/Email: steve@seckler.comPodcast: https://counseltocounsel.libsyn.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenseckler/ Connect with Stuart Baum:  Website: https://www.largerpond.com/Email: stuart@largerpond.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartbaum/ Connect with Sharon Ve:  Website: https://www.theinspiredattorney.co/Website: https://www.sharonve.com/Email: sharon@theinspiredattorney.coShow: https://www.theinspiredattorney.co/podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCctDNiTtEByHBIH5sPOczZg? LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonve/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInspiredAttorney/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinspiredattorney/ Connect with Chuki Obiyo:  Website: https://www.vedderprice.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chukiobiyo/Twitter: https://twitter.com/lawchukiInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/chuki_law Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Discover the significance of motivation in growing a law practice. Phone trees are disliked while Money Penny's human voice is praised. Explore approaches for young lawyers to develop their careers by building a niche and establishing relationships. Understand the power of documentation and accountability in business development. Learn about aligning interests and strengths to bring in business and the concept of mirroring authenticity.

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Diane Camacho discuss:Eliminating the doubt, taking chances, and making mistakes.Diane’s experience with starting her consulting firm. Setting appropriate expectations. What it takes to be a good leader.  Key Takeaways:You must understand the realization and understand the cost of AR, unbilled time, and the cost of everything happening in your firm.Just because someone seems busy, doesn’t mean they are fully engaged. Understand workflow and what people are actually doing each day. Technology can be a great tool, but you need to know what you are looking to get out of it, how the automations can save you time every day, and how it will be utilized by your team. Treat people the way they want to be treated.  "A lot of times in the finance piece, lawyers are not looking at reports, they don't know really what the cost of their widget is - their widget is their hour or their flat fee. They understand what is happening, sort of, but they don't understand the true cost." —  Diane Camacho Thank you to our Sponsors!LegalEase Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: Working with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman - https://www.amazon.com/Working-Emotional-Intelligence-Daniel-Goleman/dp/0553378589 About Diane Camacho: Diane L. Camacho is the founder of DLC Consulting Services, LLC which provides legal management and operations consulting services to small and solo law firms. She is a Certified Legal Manager with over 30 years of legal management experience and a degree in organizational behavior and leadership. Diane teaches in the paralegal program at San Francisco State University and speaks on a variety of legal management topics to attorneys and legal organizations. Connect with Diane Camacho:  Website: https://dlccs.com/Email: diane@dlccs.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianelcamacho/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dlc-consulting-services/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dlcconsultingsrvcs Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Molly McGrath discuss:Hiring right and hiring legal leaders. Changing your interview process to focus less on the resume and more on the human interaction. Giving time, attention, and feedback in real-time. Investing in personal and professional growth to attract and retain team members.  Key Takeaways:You are hiring human beings, not human doings. Employees and team members are wanting purpose and reason in their job. When hiring, it should be a hard yes or a hard no. If it is a maybe, you are trying to convince yourself. You will know within 30 days if someone is a good fit or not. The #1 thing people want is connection and collaboration. Automations are great, but don’t forget about the soft skills and the people aspect of managing your team.  "I really am very passionate about transforming the great employee resignation and quiet quitting into the great employee restoration." —  Molly McGrath Thank you to our Sponsors!LegalEase Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Law Firm Admin Bootcamp: https://hiringandempowering.com/law-firm-leadership-development-program/Book: Transitions by William Bridges - https://www.amazon.com/Transitions-Making-Sense-Lifes-Changes-ebook/dp/B004ZY23TS About Molly McGrath: Since the late nineties, Molly has coached, consulted, and directed presidents and founders of national organizations and over 4,000 law firms in; executive-level leadership, continuous improvement, and team empowerment initiatives to infiltrate new markets, leveraging partner ecosystems and producing profitability. Molly has 23 years of specific skillset experience in legal CMO marketing, factional CEO, conversation intelligence coaching, team development & empowerment, intrapreneur talent acquisition, Kaizen leadership, root cause analysis, revenue mapping, and action-based project management. Connect with Molly McGrath:  Website: https://hiringandempowering.com/  Books: https://hiringandempowering.com/business-development-books/Show: https://hiringandempowering.com/podcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-hallmcgrath/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HireAndEmpowerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiringandempowering/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiringandempowering/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molly_mcgrath_co/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Robert Plotkin discuss:How AI can assist a law firm and the benefits of automating those things that can be automated.Best practices for selecting automation and law firm technologies.Common misconceptions about law firm automation.Creating a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Key Takeaways:No matter how much we automate, there will always be something for humans to do. Not everything can be automated, but those things that can be, can help your law firm run more efficiently.When you use automation to generate content, you must apply the same level of care and review that you would when reviewing content generated by humans.If you haven’t used much automation, start with the tool that gives you the most return for the least amount of setup effort.You can automate many things on the business side that don’t have anything to do with the document generation or client tasks. This will still save you time and money. "I still think it's true that performing legal analysis, in many ways, cannot be automated. If you were to observe, during the course of your day, what all the tasks are you perform as a lawyer and you break them down into smaller units, many of them don't really require the skill of a lawyer. Those can be automated." —  Robert Plotkin Thank you to our Sponsors!LegalEase Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz - https://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Choice-Why-More-Less/dp/0060005696 About Robert Plotkin: Robert Plotkin is a patent attorney who has been specializing in software and AI patents for over 25 years. He also enjoys automating business processes in his law firm and sharing his automation and efficiency tips with other lawyers. Connect with Robert Plotkin:  Website: www.robertplotkin.com.Website: https://blueshiftip.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertplotkin/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blueshift-ip-llc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/blueshiftipFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueshiftIP/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and John Kormanik discuss:Creating a career that allowed John to have greater impact and geographic independence. Picking a firm and practice area that aligns with your values and lights you up. Lies lawyers accept in their profession. Setting expectations and boundaries in your career.  Key Takeaways:We are all placed on the planet to do incredible things. If you are busy, you are lazy because you aren’t making the hard decisions that need to be made for what gets you to stay on your 168-hour week. It is hard to improve when you’re on your own. You cannot see where your blindspots are and where improvements can be made. You are the bottleneck if you are trying to do everything yourself. You cannot do it all and expect to grow.  "The fact of the matter is, you went to law school to have freedom. And a large part of freedom is getting to decide who you work with." —  John Kormanik Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization by Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D.About John Kormanik: John R. Kormanik is a Certified Professional Coach and Lawyer who coaches lawyers. He’s driven by the belief that the only way for the legal profession to reclaim its soul is to learn how to say “no” to what no longer serves you. John guides lawyers to reclaim their L.I.F.E. (Legacy, Impact, Freedom, and Energy) by rewiring their mindset, reengineering their systems, and redefining their legacy.  Connect with John Kormanik:  Website: https://www.johnrkormanik.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrkormanik/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/johnrkormanikcoaching/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jkormanik19  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkormanik/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jkormanik Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Ross Albers discuss:Having the courage to run your own firm. The hardest thing about starting and growing your own law firm. Why Ross describes his firm as a personal and professional development company that happens to practice law. The pros and cons of working at a firm versus being on your own. What it takes to run a successful business.  Key Takeaways:Having your own book of business can help with the courage to start your own firm. While there is natural-born leadership, it is a skill that can be learned if it isn’t a skill that you were born with. You should not go completely alone when you start a solo firm. You should have an accountant to keep track of money, and you should have a coach to help keep you accountable. Owning a business is being a salesperson. Your law firm is a business and you need to be able to acquire new business, acquire top talent, and do all the other things related to business, not just the practice of law.  "I think people have a misconception between going out on their own and starting a law firm and going out of their own and creating a glorified job for themselves. And that's two very different things." —  Ross Albers Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: Hunting in a Farmer’s World: Celebrating the Mind of an Entrepreneur by John F. DiniAbout Ross Albers: Two weeks before he got married Ross was fired. He came home and told his wife.She was pissed.But, Ross told her not to worry. He was going to start his own law firm.In the past eight years, Ross has grown the business from a solo practice to multiple offices, practice areas, and attorneys throughout Maryland. Along the way, Ross has learned to dream big, take action, and be relentless. His role has changed from practicing attorney to that of a CEO that hires, acquires, and inspires. Connect with Ross Albers:  Website: https://www.rossalbers.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-albers-a7b2b183/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-law-office-of-ross-w--albers-llc/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosswalbersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RossAlbersLaw/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Ken Crutchfield discuss:Limitations of traditional market research in uncharted territory. How VUCA is affecting the legal industry. AI, ChatGPT, and how the future of the world is changing. Technologies lawyers should have or should be considering.  Key Takeaways:You cannot do market research on a market that doesn’t exist. You can use ChatGPT as a starting point, but you need to be extra diligent about reviewing and validating the information that comes out of the technology like this. With the increase in AI technology, there will be a change in the user experience and in the current advertising model. Utilize the tech you have to do the mundane things that can be automated so you can focus on what you do best.  "There's a term called VUCA, volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity that really pervades everything. That's kind of the backdrop that I look at with all of this. And when you see that, there's pressure on firms, and on individual attorneys to perform, to think, to do differently, to be better in how they operate." —  Ken Crutchfield Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. ChristensenAbove the Law: https://abovethelaw.com/author/kcrutchfield/About Ken Crutchfield: With more than three decades of experience, Ken Crutchfield leads the Legal Markets Group within Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., providing legal professionals across a wide range of markets with expert content and analysis and leading workflow solutions. Throughout his career, he has successfully led the growth of multiple businesses in varying industries, including tax & accounting and legal. Connect with Ken Crutchfield:  Website: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/legal-regulatoryEmail: ken.crutchfield@wolterskluwer.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-crutchfield-95b79/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolterskluwerlr/Future Ready Lawyer Survey: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/future-ready-lawyer-2022 Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Steve Seckler discuss:Steve’s professional journey from law school to coaching. Why Steve is well-suited to coaching lawyers, and how to know if a coach is right for you. Challenges lawyers face in their own personal development. Results that happen when coaches coach and the players play. Investing in coaching and changing the way you think about money.  Key Takeaways:Hiring a coach can help you to fill in the skill gaps that you might have, and help you to identify where they are if you don’t think you have any. Working with a coach can help you to focus your messaging and better articulate what you do that nobody else does. Communicating outside of work-related tasks only is key to understanding how the firm works and building your relationship skills. Your greatest insights will come when you work one-on-one with someone. There is a level of safety that allows for greater vulnerability.  "Not everybody is coachable, they have to be willing to be coached. And, as you and I know, the best people to coach are actually the superstars." —  Steve Seckler Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Larry Richards: https://www.lawyerbrain.com/Book: What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith About Steve Seckler: Stephen E. Seckler, Esq. (steve@seckler.com), is the President of Seckler Attorney Coaching. He is an award-winning coach who helps lawyers looking to build more satisfying careers. As Counsel to Counsel, he has coached hundreds of attorneys through career transitions and helped hundreds of lawyers to grow their income and become better leaders. You can listen to his podcast Counsel to Counsel wherever you get your podcasts or follow the link on his website. Connect with Steve Seckler:  Website: https://www.seckler.com/Email: steve@seckler.comPodcast: https://counseltocounsel.libsyn.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenseckler/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.