{"id":122723,"date":"2025-06-11T09:42:08","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T17:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/06\/11\/quit-acting-like-an-angsty-teenager-to-build-your-book-of-business\/"},"modified":"2025-06-11T09:42:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T17:42:08","slug":"quit-acting-like-an-angsty-teenager-to-build-your-book-of-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/06\/11\/quit-acting-like-an-angsty-teenager-to-build-your-book-of-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Quit Acting Like An Angsty Teenager To Build Your Book Of Business"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Image via Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We hit a major milestone in the Fretzin household this week. My only child, Andrew, graduated from high school. To say the road was smooth would be a complete lie. If you\u2019ve listened to my BE THAT LAWYER<\/em> podcast, you already know that Andrew is full-blown ADHD. That means he\u2019s disorganized, impulsive, and occasionally argumentative. Funny enough, that also describes a few lawyers I\u2019ve worked with over the years.<\/p>\n

You might be thinking I\u2019m calling some of you out \u2014 and you\u2019re right. The messy workspace, the scattered marketing efforts, and the resistance to sound advice around business development are all too familiar. But if you\u2019re reading this column, there may be hope for you yet. Let me offer three ways to stop acting like an angsty teenager and start building your law practice with more maturity and purpose.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Get Organized To Get Started<\/strong><\/p>\n

Look around your office for a moment. Does it reflect a sense of order and professionalism? Or is it closer to a teenager\u2019s bedroom after a weekend of video games and fast food?<\/p>\n

For many attorneys, disorganization and poor time management are the biggest roadblocks to business development. It\u2019s not just about tidiness, it\u2019s about being in control of your time, your energy, and your strategy.<\/p>\n

One of the best things I ever did for myself was read \u201cGetting Things Done\u201d by David Allen. That book changed everything for me. It\u2019s a playbook for mastering your time and freeing up mental space. And to quote \u201cTommy Boy,\u201d one of my favorite movies, \u201cYou can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking your head up a bull\u2019s ass, but wouldn\u2019t you rather take the butcher\u2019s word for it?\u201d In other words, trust me and read the book. Once I did and actually applied what I learned, the stress, pressure, and time-wasting slipped away like magic. I\u2019m hoping it does the same for you.<\/p>\n

Step 2: A Failure To Plan Is A Plan To Fail<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve heard this phrase before, but it\u2019s worth repeating. Time is money. Wandering around networking events or posting on LinkedIn without a strategy is just spinning your wheels.<\/p>\n

Think about this: would you walk into court without knowing the case inside and out? Of course not. So why approach business development without a plan?<\/p>\n

Start by asking yourself a few basic but powerful questions:<\/p>\n