Documenting your workflows is boring but essential if you want to crank the gears of your law business, and evolve into something that doesn’t depend on you doing all the work and making all the decisions. Why is it so hard to document workflows? Well, it has to do with the nature of the work we do, which is mostly information processing that’s intangible and ephemeral. But if you learn to visualize the work in the way I describe in this episode you’ll find it a lot easier to map your workflows, and then steadily refine them in a way that leads to blissful freedom. General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsors SweetProcess is a great way to document your important workflows. Doing so will help make your practice run more smoothly, and require less involvement on your part to keep things running smoothly. The best way to understand how SweetProcess will help streamline your firm is to start using it. The company offers a 14-day free trial, but as a loyal listener of this podcast, you can try it for 28-days free of charge. And you don’t even have to enter a credit card to get started. Just navigate to SweetProcess.com/ernie to start your 28-day free trial today. And thanks to the other sponsor of this podcast… Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai you’re actually hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at just $140 a month for calls or chats. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai.  EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at EmeraldCity Pro.  

Here are links resources mentioned during the episode : Financially Legal Podcast (Dan Lear’s podcast) Dan's White Paper on Subscription legal services  How do you “show up” for your clients? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Kim Bennett)  Can you sell legal services by subscription? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Jon Tobin)  Can you do that with your law practice? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Megan Zavieh) Could you be an outsourced general counsel? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Beth Lebowitz) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsors SweetProcess is a great way to document your important workflows. Doing so will help make your practice run more smoothly, and require less involvement on your part to keep things running smoothly. The best way to understand how SweetProcess will help streamline your firm is to start using it. The company offers a 14-day free trial, but as a loyal listener of this podcast, you can try it for 28-days free of charge. And you don’t even have to enter a credit card to get started. Just navigate to SweetProcess.com/ernie to start your 28-day free trial today. And thanks to the other sponsor of this podcast… Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai you’re actually hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at just $140 a month for calls or chats. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai.  EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at EmeraldCity Pro.  

Melissa Shanahan is a business coach who helps solo and small firm lawyers make massive changes to their practices —by harnessing the power of accountability. She does this through her 30-day “sprints” and exclusive Mastery Groups. In this episode, Melissa and I discuss things like super-thinking, meta-skills, and the vital importance of the “Monday Map” and the “Friday Wrap.” We talked about the War of Art, “the resistance,” and why process saves you from the poverty of intention. Resources discussed Velocity Work website (learn more about her 30-day accountability sprints) VelocityWork podcast The Practice, by Seth Godin (his newest book) The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield (about overcoming “the resistance”) The Trillion Dollar Coach, by Eric Schmidt (about Bill Campbell who coached Steve Jobs and other top Silicon Valley CEOs) Indestructible: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life, by Nil Eyal (follow him on Twitter @nileyal) FocusMate (free virtual co-working accountability to help you stay focused) Dan Pink on Information Asymmetry (Forbes article) Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind & Defy The Odds, by David Goggins (check out his website also) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsors SweetProcess is a great way to document your important workflows. Doing so will help make your practice run more smoothly, and require less involvement on your part to keep things running smoothly. The best way to understand how SweetProcess will help streamline your firm is to start using it. The company offers a 14-day free trial, but as a loyal listener of this podcast, you can try it for 28-days free of charge. And you don’t even have to enter a credit card to get started. Just navigate to SweetProcess.com/ernie to start your 28-day free trial today. And thanks to the other sponsor of this podcast… Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai you’re actually hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at just $140 a month for calls or chats. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai.  EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at EmeraldCity Pro.  

Getting clients to write reviews is vital to your marketing success, but most lawyers struggle to gather reviews. Andy Stickel has helped hundreds of lawyers develop solid marketing strategies, especially showing them how to effectively and most easily gather reviews that are posted online. His new book is a trove of valuable strategies and tactics for attorneys who want to get more great reviews. In this episode, Andy explains how to get client reviews that help Google rank you higher by using 5 basic questions. And he explains why getting a few bad reviews can actually wind up being a good thing. Episode Notes Social Firestarter (Andy’s company website) Andy’s YouTube channel 5-Star Attorney Waiting List (get Andy’s new book on gathering reviews & testimonials) Lawyer Marketing Facebook Group Free Training On How To Get More Clients (by Andy) Hug Your Haters, by Jay Baer (why embracing complaints is a good thing) Derek Sivers TED talk (keep your goals to yourself) Never Split The Difference, by Chris Voss (about negotiation strategies and tactics) There’s a Customer is Born Every Minute: P.T. Barnum’s Secrets to Business Success, by Joe Vitale Didn’t Hire Survey (article by Andy Stickel) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsors SweetProcess is a great way to document your important workflows. Doing so will help make your practice run more smoothly, and require less involvement on your part to keep things running smoothly. The best way to understand how SweetProcess will help streamline your firm is to start using it. The company offers a 14-day free trial, but as a loyal listener of this podcast, you can try it for 28-days free of charge. And you don’t even have to enter a credit card to get started. Just navigate to SweetProcess.com/ernie to start your 28-day free trial today. And thanks to the other sponsor of this podcast… Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai you’re actually hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at just $140 a month for calls or chats. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai.  EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at EmeraldCity Pro  

After doing commercial litigation in an Oakland law firm, Pete Clancy and his wife started their own personal injury law firm. Pete is a member of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association where he strives to help fellow lawyers learn to improve their practices in various ways, including the strategic use of technology. In this episode, Pete and Ernie discuss the challenges of running a small firm and the opportunities for using technology to improve the operations and marketing of small firms. Episode Notes Clancy & Diaz law firm Sanebox Zapier Process St. X.ai Esquiretek Rocket Fuel, by Gino Wickman General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. Thanks to Our Sponsors Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. Get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai. SweetProcess helps you streamline your practice by creating documented systems. Get an extended 28-day free trial (no credit card required) by using this link today. ———————— EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at EmeraldCity Pro  

In his law practice, Joey helps entrepreneurs protect their brands by securing trademarks. And he’s also a brand strategist and entrepreneur. In this episode, he and Ernie talk about how he is able to find and hire virtual assistants for as little as $6 per hour. He also shares his special hack for learning things he needs to know by outsourcing the learning process. Yes, it sounds unusual but it will make sense once you hear him explain it. Episode Notes IndieLaw (Joey’s law firm website) Owning It (Joey’s podcast) Joey’s process doc template (which he mentioned in the show) Onlinejobs.ph Blinkist ClickUp Practice Panther Zapier Asana Slack General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. Thanks to Our Sponsors Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai you’re actually hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. Then can screen callers (obviously) but they do much more. Like create appointments and accept payments if you charge for initial consults (which you should!). And they do this 7 days a week. The best part is they don’t just handle these conversations by phone — they also have 24/7 live agents and chatbots capturing leads on websites and via text message (even via Facebook Messenger). If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at just $140 a month for calls or chats. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai. As they say, “don’t let another day go by without trying Smith.ai.” EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at EmeraldCity Pro  

Andy Wilson is the CEO of Logikcull, an e-discovery company that (in his words) aims to “democratize the process of discovery.” With over 1,300 law firm clients, Logikcull has been responsible for helping process many terabytes of valuable data. And as a result, they have their finger on the pulse of digital discovery in a way that few lawyers could hope to have. In this episode Andy explains why lawyers handling digital data should treat that data as a modern crime scene, and what proper handling of the data looks like. He and Ernie also discuss why small firms are in a unique position to take on cases with large data sets that corporate clients previously would have only hired large law firms to handle. Below are the resources mentioned in this episode: Logikcull’s website Missingkids.org Andy’s Twitter feed Information Anxiety 2, by Richard Saul Wurman General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. Thanks to Our Sponsors Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai you’re actually hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. Then can screen callers (obviously) but they do much more. Like create appointments and accept payments if you charge for initial consults (which you should!). And they do this 7 days a week. The best part is they don’t just handle these conversations by phone — they also have 24/7 live agents and chatbots capturing leads on websites and via text message (even via Facebook Messenger). If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at just $140 a month for calls or chats. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai. As they say, “don’t let another day go by without trying Smith.ai.” EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at EmeraldCity Pro  

Larry Weinstein understands the special needs of lawyers and helps them create clever tax plans to save more money. As he points out “the less you pay in unnecessary taxes, the more money you can invest in your life and business.” In this episode, Larry shares six tax-reducing strategies that small business owners (i.e. lawyers) should be aware of and take advantage of. And then he and Ernie discuss some of their best marketing strategies and tactics for small firm owners. The CPA for Lawyers website The Successful Lawyer podcast (Larry’s best advice for free in audio format) General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. Thanks to Our Sponsors Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai you’re actually hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. Then can screen callers (obviously) but they do much more. Like create appointments and accept payments if you charge for initial consults (which you should!). And they do this 7 days a week. The best part is they don’t just handle these conversations by phone — they also have 24/7 live agents and chatbots capturing leads on websites and via text message (even via Facebook Messenger). If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at just $140 a month for calls or chats. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai. As they say, “don’t let another day go by without trying Smith.ai.” EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at EmeraldCity Pro  

Lexlee Overton became a trial lawyer just like her dad, but then found herself anxiety-ridden and suffering from what she terms “trial psychosis.” She learned to overcome her stress and turned to helping other lawyers. Now she helps lawyers learn how to use scientifically proven techniques to train their minds to release stress, anxiety, and fear; become power-performers; and love what they do all at the same time. In this episode, Lexlee tells us how (as a young lawyer) she met the world-famous Gerry Spence. And she shares the unusual advice the veteran trial lawyer gave her for achieving success in the courtroom (As you’ll learn, Lexlee ultimately went on to work as a guide in Spence’s popular trial academy in Wyoming). She and Ernie also discuss the power of psychology in negotiation and for inner-focus. Below are some resources mentioned in this episode: Lexlee’s website:Mind Over Law How to Argue and Win Every Time, Gerry Spence Spence’s Trial Lawyers’ College Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, by Chris Voss Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts by Annie Duke General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. Thanks to Our Sponsors Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai you’re actually hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. Then can screen callers (obviously) but they do much more. Like create appointments and accept payments if you charge for initial consults (which you should!). And they do this 7 days a week. The best part is they don’t just handle these conversations by phone — they also have 24/7 live agents and chatbots capturing leads on websites and via text message (even via Facebook Messenger). If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at just $140 a month for calls or chats. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai. As they say, “don’t let another day go by without trying Smith.ai.” EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com  

Visionary attorney Matt Homann shares insights garnered from practicing law as a solo lawyer, and as a consultant who now helps businesses innovate in practical ways. Among the topics discussed are the joys and practical benefits of systematically firing clients, the “ideal average client,” and Matt’s unique “client worthiness index.” Below are some resources mentioned in this episode: Filament (Matt’s company) The Monday Morning Meeting - Matt’s weekly email tips for helping you prepare for the coming week. Matt’s Twitter stream - filled with pithy actionable business advice. Practically In Person - Matt’s virtual meeting & collaborative online facilitation program. Thinksgiving - Matt’s initiative for helping non-profits get help with innovation and business strategy. Information Anxiety, by Richard Saul Wurman (book mentioned by Ernie) The Continuum of Understanding (mentioned by Ernie) General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. Thanks to Our Sponsor Smith.ai; is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai; you’re actually hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. Then can screen callers (obviously) but they do much more. Like create appointments and accept payments if you charge for initial consults (which you should!). And they do this 7 days a week. The best part is they don’t just handle these conversations by phone — they also have 24/7 live agents and chatbots capturing leads on websites and via text message (even via Facebook Messenger). If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at just $140 a month for calls or chats. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai;. As they say, “don’t let another day go by without trying Smith.ai.” EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at emeraldcitypro.com