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“There have always been, and inevitably will be, a certain number of bullies, braggarts, brutes and bigots who manage to insinuate themselves into any assemblage of humans, the legal profession not excluded. In the past, these misfits have been dealt with by peer pressure and sanctions; however, as the rude, degrading behaviors creep ever closer [...]
 During my first conversation with a new client, we were talking about the goals she’d like to set. She said she’d like to make partner at her firm, and I asked what she needed to do to reach that goal. She answered that good work and maybe bringing in a few clients would get her [...]
 One of the interesting things about practicing law is that, until relatively recently, little discussion occurred about how to advance in practice beyond becoming a top-notch practitioner. While I have no doubt that other skills have always been required (the ability to communicate well, to lead well, etc.), it’s quite clear to me that more [...]
 This week’s article AmLaw 200 Managing Partners Issue Fog Advisory for 2008 provides a clear snapshot of some of the challenges facing law firms and lawyers these days. According to the article, a “substantial number” of managing partners (25% of those polled) are “uncertain” about their firms’ prospects in 2008, largely due to the slowing transactional market [...]
 Only 34 days remain in 2007, including weekends and holidays. Before we know it, the books will close and another year will have passed. What’s the most important step you can take today to ensure that you’re well-positioned as you move into 2008?
Business development: Perhaps you could set aside a couple of hours to evaluate [...]
We cannot solve problems with the same level of consciousness that created them.
                                                      — Albert Einstein
This is one of my favorite quotes. It is, at least for me, a truism that I must change my perspective, my way of thinking, my approach to a problem before I can possibly solve the problem. Another great quote [...]
 As those who frequently reads this blog know, I’m a proponent of planned disengagement from work to facilitate full engagement while working. Tomorrow will be a regular working day (complete with client meetings and the regular Tuesday Shorts on the blog) but the rest of the week will find me cleaning, cooking, and spending time [...]
 Thanks to Stephanie West Allen’s Idealawg, I’ve been mulling over a couple of interesting articles that connect neuroscience with the law and with leadership. First up is a Wall Street Journal article titled, Except in One Career, Our Brains Seem Built for Optimism. Research suggests not only that the human brain is predisposed to an [...]
I’m out of town this week (as I have been most of the last month) and decided this morning to order room service for breakfast. I ordered scrambled eggs and rye toast. What I got was scrambled eggs (but no salt and pepper) and wheat toast. Mildly annoying, right? I noticed the error, of course, [...]
There is such a thing as a bad client… Tom Kane’s Legal Marketing Blog inquires, Are Bad Clients Keeping You Up At Night? If you have bad clients (or wonder whether you do), the answer is surely yes. Tom draws from a post on the Bootstrapper blog to help identify bad client characteristics and to [...]
January 08, 2008 
