From time to time, I come up with what I call “FRETZINISMS.” These are unique quotes that pop into my head and need to be written down immediately, because sometimes they’re gold. Here’s one I think we can all agree is true:
“Procrastination gives you a pass for today but hands you a problem for tomorrow. Action today clears a path for a smoother, easier future.”
This FRETZINISM resonates with me deeply, both personally and from over 20 years of coaching lawyers in business development. You see, procrastination used to be my jam. Whether it was an overdue research paper or laundry piling up, “I’ll get to it later” was a regular phrase in my vocabulary. As a chubby teen, I often imagined getting fit, hitting the gym, or honing an athletic skill, but rarely followed through.
Now I see the same habits in my teenage son, and I catch myself sounding like my dad. We all know better, but let’s face it, change and effort are hard. Most of us take the easy route today, hoping to dodge the consequences tomorrow.
So, what’s the point? You can’t reclaim that time. At some point, we all must draw a line in the sand and decide what we want from life and what we’re willing to do to get it. Here are three actionable ways to stop deferring and start doing.
Tip #1: Start small.
Don’t overwhelm yourself by committing to a huge change out of the gate. Losing 50 pounds sounds great but feels impossible. Break it down. Two pounds a week over 25 weeks is manageable. Use calorie tracking or other tools to stay on target, and you’ll see results.
The same principle applies to business development. Don’t set out to land 10 new clients this month. Start by emailing three to five past clients to ask for introductions. By lowering the bar and making it achievable, you’re more likely to follow through and build momentum from there.
Tip #2: Find support.
Whether it’s a mentor, coach, or spouse, find someone who will hold you accountable. Many of my clients set up accountability buddies, small groups of three to five motivated lawyers who meet weekly over Zoom. They commit to goals, report back, and celebrate wins.
This works for fitness, weight loss, and yes, business development. As a coach, I ask my clients to submit a weekly success journal so I can hold them to their goals. Whatever form it takes, accountability turns intention into action and results.
Tip #3: Behavior drives attitude.
Here’s a lesser-known truth: when you break a commitment to someone else, there’s a clear consequence. But when you break a commitment to yourself, the damage happens silently. It chips away at your confidence and reinforces the idea that you can’t follow through.
That creates a self-sabotaging loop that kills progress. On the flip side, crossing something off your to-do list feels amazing. All lawyers know that rush. If you’re constantly falling short, you may be overcommitted. Delegate, automate, or drop the tasks that don’t serve your goals so you can focus on the ones that do.
We all need to sacrifice time, money, or energy today to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. The world is unpredictable, and if you’re not ready, now is the time to get there. That might mean learning business development, improving your health, or fine-tuning your internal systems.
Don’t be that angsty teenager, like I once was. Get on it today.
Whatever “it” is for you, you’ll thank yourself later. And if building your book of business is one of those “I’ll get to it eventually” goals, shoot me an email. Working with a coach helps with accountability which leads to better habits. Better habits create a winning attitude that will help you build the successful practice you actually want.
Steve Fretzin is a bestselling author, host of the “Be That Lawyer” podcast, and business development coach exclusively for attorneys. Steve has committed his career to helping lawyers learn key growth skills not currently taught in law school. His clients soon become top rainmakers and credit Steve’s program and coaching for their success. He can be reached directly by email at steve@fretzin.com (Opens in a new window). Or you can easily find him on his website at www.fretzin.com (Opens in a new window) or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefretzin (Opens in a new window).
Join Steve and three of the top contributors to his latest book, “Be That Lawyer: 101 Top Rainmaker Secrets to Growing a Successful Law Practice,” for a live virtual event at 1 p.m. EST on July 24. Register here.
The post Why Some Lawyers Succeed And Others Don’t: It’s Not What You Think appeared first on Above the Law.
From time to time, I come up with what I call “FRETZINISMS.” These are unique quotes that pop into my head and need to be written down immediately, because sometimes they’re gold. Here’s one I think we can all agree is true:
“Procrastination gives you a pass for today but hands you a problem for tomorrow. Action today clears a path for a smoother, easier future.”
This FRETZINISM resonates with me deeply, both personally and from over 20 years of coaching lawyers in business development. You see, procrastination used to be my jam. Whether it was an overdue research paper or laundry piling up, “I’ll get to it later” was a regular phrase in my vocabulary. As a chubby teen, I often imagined getting fit, hitting the gym, or honing an athletic skill, but rarely followed through.
Now I see the same habits in my teenage son, and I catch myself sounding like my dad. We all know better, but let’s face it, change and effort are hard. Most of us take the easy route today, hoping to dodge the consequences tomorrow.
So, what’s the point? You can’t reclaim that time. At some point, we all must draw a line in the sand and decide what we want from life and what we’re willing to do to get it. Here are three actionable ways to stop deferring and start doing.
Tip #1: Start small.
Don’t overwhelm yourself by committing to a huge change out of the gate. Losing 50 pounds sounds great but feels impossible. Break it down. Two pounds a week over 25 weeks is manageable. Use calorie tracking or other tools to stay on target, and you’ll see results.
The same principle applies to business development. Don’t set out to land 10 new clients this month. Start by emailing three to five past clients to ask for introductions. By lowering the bar and making it achievable, you’re more likely to follow through and build momentum from there.
Tip #2: Find support.
Whether it’s a mentor, coach, or spouse, find someone who will hold you accountable. Many of my clients set up accountability buddies, small groups of three to five motivated lawyers who meet weekly over Zoom. They commit to goals, report back, and celebrate wins.
This works for fitness, weight loss, and yes, business development. As a coach, I ask my clients to submit a weekly success journal so I can hold them to their goals. Whatever form it takes, accountability turns intention into action and results.
Tip #3: Behavior drives attitude.
Here’s a lesser-known truth: when you break a commitment to someone else, there’s a clear consequence. But when you break a commitment to yourself, the damage happens silently. It chips away at your confidence and reinforces the idea that you can’t follow through.
That creates a self-sabotaging loop that kills progress. On the flip side, crossing something off your to-do list feels amazing. All lawyers know that rush. If you’re constantly falling short, you may be overcommitted. Delegate, automate, or drop the tasks that don’t serve your goals so you can focus on the ones that do.
We all need to sacrifice time, money, or energy today to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. The world is unpredictable, and if you’re not ready, now is the time to get there. That might mean learning business development, improving your health, or fine-tuning your internal systems.
Don’t be that angsty teenager, like I once was. Get on it today.
Whatever “it” is for you, you’ll thank yourself later. And if building your book of business is one of those “I’ll get to it eventually” goals, shoot me an email. Working with a coach helps with accountability which leads to better habits. Better habits create a winning attitude that will help you build the successful practice you actually want.
Steve Fretzin is a bestselling author, host of the “Be That Lawyer” podcast, and business development coach exclusively for attorneys. Steve has committed his career to helping lawyers learn key growth skills not currently taught in law school. His clients soon become top rainmakers and credit Steve’s program and coaching for their success. He can be reached directly by email at [email protected] (Opens in a new window). Or you can easily find him on his website at www.fretzin.com (Opens in a new window) or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefretzin (Opens in a new window).
Join Steve and three of the top contributors to his latest book, “Be That Lawyer: 101 Top Rainmaker Secrets to Growing a Successful Law Practice,” for a live virtual event at 1 p.m. EST on July 24. Register here.
