BE THAT LAWYER

This episode was recorded prior to the Coronavirus epidemic, however, the ideas and methodologies still work in the virtual environment. In this episode, Steve Fretzin discusses in his training class:How to be efficient in a one-on-one meeting.Setting out a gameplan going into a networking meeting.Keeping the steps moving forward during the conversation.Scripting for networking situations. Key Takeaways:Keep the conversation balanced - if one person dominates the networking conversation, there is not an appropriate amount of communication to know if you’re going to work together.When working with someone new, start small. Baby steps to see if you’re a good fit working together.Bring something to the table at networking events even if you can’t bring anybody any new business that day.Be a giver. Help people first and it will be reciprocated if done intelligently. "We want to invest our time wisely with the right people. You want to set up some activity to continue to drive your new strategic partners to see if they’re a player and can go on your team." —  Steve Fretzin Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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 Geo Bellas discuss:Geo’s long-term use of technology in law and how he has evolved as technology has evolved and will continue to evolve.Reverse mentoring with new lawyers to move into a technological world.The impact of AI in the law industry. Using technology to your advantage.  Key Takeaways:Technology advancements have drastically accelerated over the last 30 years - as a lawyer, you need to continue to grow with that technology as it will continue to advance at an even greater rate. This pandemic is accelerating the pace of change - it is all going towards a technological world.Technology is allowing lawyers, and others in all professions, to serve those in underserved, and previously unrepresented communities. You must start thinking out of the box in order to survive in your law practice.  "The old way of practicing is going to fade out, and is fading out. We have to learn how to live in that world, make money in that world, and, more importantly, serve our clients." —  Geo Bellas Connect with Geo Bellas:  Twitter: @GeoBellasFacebook: Bellas & Wachowski, Attorneys at LawWebsite: Bellas-Wachowski.comLinkedIn: Bellas & Wachowski & George “Geo” BellasJustia Lawyers: Bellas & Wachowski - Attorneys at Law Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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 discuss:Top 5 tips and ideas for starting your solo practice. Knowing your sweet spot in the marketplace and how to find it.Leveraging your network and going after the low hanging fruit first.Evolving and changing with the socioeconomic climate. Key Takeaways:Evaluate your strengths and your weaknesses - there is always something to leverage or improve.Consider rewriting your business plan to take into consideration the state of the world at this moment, it may have changed since last year or even since January. It’s not about creating a list, it’s about taking action on that list.If you don’t have a coach, have an accountability partner to help you to achieve your goals and help them to achieve their goals. "Your level of activity will determine your level of success." —  Steve Fretzin Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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 Stacey Kalamaras discuss:How she moved from marketing and advertising to her second career in intellectual property law.Adding value to your team and your company overall in whatever way you can.Understanding how to interact with people to understand their problems. What to do when networking, branding, and growing your book of business. Key Takeaways:Understanding your client’s business will give them faith and trust in you as the lawyer.Developing your book of business can be difficult, and it will be individual for every lawyer. Play to your strengths in connecting with people and potential clients. It’s the business of law - you can’t practice without your own clients.  "Remember, regardless of what size firm you go into, your internal partners are your clients. You need to make those people happy. If you make them happy, not only with your work product, but also with your can-do attitude, word is going to spread and everyone is going to want to work with you." —  Stacey Kalamaras Connect with Stacey Kalamaras:  Twitter: @LegalKloWebsite: klolegal.comEmail: info@klolegal.comPhone: 708-320-2033LinkedIn: Kalamaras Law Office, LLC & Stacey Kalamaras Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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 discusses:Developing a tactical, actionable marketing/prospecting plan.The 3 P’s Methodology.Narrowing your strategy focus to best achieve your objectives.The power of deadlines and following through on those deadlines. Key Takeaways:Improve your process along the way with feedback to improve your performance.Write down your objective, think about your strategies, and consider the low hanging fruit.Lay out tactics once you decide on your strategies to actually understand how you are spending your time.If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. "There is a process for everything related to business development from how you run a meeting with a friend to get an introduction, how you meet with a prospective client and walk them through a buying decision, how you drive client loyalty, so that your clients never leave. There's processes that I've developed for everything." —  Steve Fretzin Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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 Tom Ciesielka discuss:Reason why lawyers and law firms may need to work with a PR firm. Mitigating problems and promoting or publicizing when appropriate.Public relations and social media.Delegating social media to get it personalized for you when you have time. Key Takeaways:In PR, your words have to be just as precise as they would need to be in a law brief. Getting out first is a great way to put yourself in front of others.Social media often drives mainstream media.LinkedIn is both social and professional. It is a great way to connect with those you may not otherwise be able to. "Don’t get mad, get proactive." —  Tom Ciesielka Connect with Tom Ciesielka:  Twitter: @TomciesielkaFacebook: TC Public RelationsWebsite: TCPR.netLinkedIn: Thomas CiesielkaPhone: 312-422-1333 Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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 discusses:Handling the pandemic from a business standpoint.5 constructive ways to maintain and grow your practice.Leveraging social media and creating content.Building client loyalty. Key Takeaways:Evaluate your personal and business standpoint and what challenges are being faced and the opportunities that exist at this time.Take time with developing your personal and firm brand, creating new content, and finding ways to connect.Connect with people and be a resource when you can.Check in on your current and past clients, prospects, and strategic partners. See how they are doing and how you may be able to help. "Really thinking about developing your brand now is the right time. To just sit back, let this all blow over, and hope for the best is probably not the strongest play right now. You're going to want to get active with calling people, emailing people, content development, technology development - this is going to be a make or break for a lot of people." —  Steve Fretzin Connect with Steve Fretzin: LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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 Jerry Maatman discuss:The evolution of being a lawyer since Jerry started practicing in 1981.What goes beyond being a great lawyer that is critical to a successful, sustainable practice.Being responsive to your client in the age of the internet.Four Steps for going above and beyond what the standard lawyer is doing. Key Takeaways:You must be a great lawyer, a great problem solver, and have a great book of business.Resolve every day on how you will find the next case, the next project, the next client. Find ways to keep yourself supercharged and wanting to be the best lawyer you can be.Persistence, diligence, and dedication are key to being more than just a lawyer to your clients.If you’re not thinking about business development, someone else is stealing that work from you because they are thinking about it. "The first is you need to invest in yourself. You need your time. Be your own best friend when it comes to business development. And by that, I mean you need to set aside time, not once a month, but every day to polish your brand, to enhance your skills, and to deepen your relationships." —  Jerry Maatman Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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 Jeremy Baker discuss:What design and construction law is and what it means at Jeremy’s firm.Jeremy’s transition from large law firms to opening his own firm in October 2019.Lessons learned from going solo at any budget.What wasn’t taught in law school but is really important as regards to growth, practice management, and the business side of the firm. Key Takeaways:By proactively avoiding disputes and achieving win-win outcomes, it can help avoid the cost and hassle of protracted litigation or arbitration.Small firms and solo lawyers are doing cutting edge things with technology and implementing lean methodologies to increase efficiencies, self-improvement, and improving practices.You can commit on a monthly basis instead of long-term subscriptions which can help in getting your practice off the ground.You must be focused on client acquisition. It’s more than just about practice area. "It's an exercise in project management, starting your own firm. The kind of project management that I had to do over the last couple years is really no different, in many ways, much easier, than a lot of the project management that I had to do on major pieces of litigation when I was at the large firms." —  Jeremy Baker Connect with Jeremy Baker:  Twitter: @builderlawyer & @BuildChicagoLawFacebook: Baker Law Group LLCWebsite: BuildChicagoLaw.comYouTube: Baker Law Group LLCLinkedIn: Jeremy Baker & Baker Law Group LLC Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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 discusses:Resources and processes for time management.Making decisions and being honest about where the disorganization needs to go.David Allen’s 4 D’s.Looking at managing your time for business development. Key Takeaways:Don’t be afraid to do The Purge – taking everything that is out of order in your office, put it in one pile, and work your way through it top down.Multi-tasking is a misnomer – you lose productivity as you try and do more than one thing at a time.Hold true to appointments with yourself as thoroughly as you would with a client.Breaking commitments to yourself breaks down your belief in yourself. "Be okay letting things go. Be okay moving on and looking on to other elements of things that you can do." —  Steve Fretzin In Episode References:David Allen – Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free ProductivityBlinkist App Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.