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, \u201cI\u2019ll get to it later\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
Now I see the same habits in my teenage son, and I catch myself sounding like my dad. We all know better, but let\u2019s face it, change and effort are hard. Most of us take the easy route today, hoping to dodge the consequences tomorrow.<\/p>\n
So, what\u2019s the point? You can\u2019t 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\u2019re willing to do to get it. Here are three actionable ways to stop deferring and start doing.<\/p>\n
Tip #1: Start small.<\/strong> The same principle applies to business development. Don\u2019t 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\u2019re more likely to follow through and build momentum from there.<\/p>\n Tip #2: Find support.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n Tip #3: Behavior drives attitude.<\/strong> 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\u2019re constantly falling short, you may be overcommitted. Delegate, automate, or drop the tasks that don\u2019t serve your goals so you can focus on the ones that do.<\/p>\n We all need to sacrifice time, money, or energy today to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. The world is unpredictable, and if you\u2019re not ready, now is the time to get there. That might mean learning business development, improving your health, or fine-tuning your internal systems.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be that angsty teenager, like I once was. Get on it today.<\/p>\n Whatever \u201cit\u201d is for you, you\u2019ll thank yourself later. And if building your book of business is one of those \u201cI\u2019ll get to it eventually\u201d 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.<\/p>\n Steve Fretzin is a bestselling author, host of the \u201cBe That Lawyer\u201d 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\u2019s program and coaching for their success. He can be reached directly by email at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>steve@fretzin.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(Opens in a new window). Or you can easily find him on his website at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>www.fretzin.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(Opens in a new window)\u00a0or LinkedIn at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/stevefretzin<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(Opens in a new window).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Join Steve and three of the top contributors to his latest book, \u201cBe That Lawyer: 101 Top Rainmaker Secrets to Growing a Successful Law Practice,\u201d for a live virtual event<\/em>\u00a0at 1 p.m. EST on July 24.\u00a0Register here.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The post Why Some Lawyers Succeed And Others Don\u2019t: It\u2019s Not What You Think<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n From time to time, I come up with what I call \u201cFRETZINISMS.\u201d These are unique quotes that pop into my head and need to be written down immediately, because sometimes they\u2019re gold. Here\u2019s one I think we can all agree is true:<\/p>\n \u201cProcrastination gives you a pass for today but hands you a problem for tomorrow. Action today clears a path for a smoother, easier future.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n 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, \u201cI\u2019ll get to it later\u201d 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.<\/p>\n Now I see the same habits in my teenage son, and I catch myself sounding like my dad. We all know better, but let\u2019s face it, change and effort are hard. Most of us take the easy route today, hoping to dodge the consequences tomorrow.<\/p>\n So, what\u2019s the point? You can\u2019t 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\u2019re willing to do to get it. Here are three actionable ways to stop deferring and start doing.<\/p>\n Tip #1: Start small.<\/strong> The same principle applies to business development. Don\u2019t 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\u2019re more likely to follow through and build momentum from there.<\/p>\n Tip #2: Find support.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n Tip #3: Behavior drives attitude.<\/strong> 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\u2019re constantly falling short, you may be overcommitted. Delegate, automate, or drop the tasks that don\u2019t serve your goals so you can focus on the ones that do.<\/p>\n We all need to sacrifice time, money, or energy today to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. The world is unpredictable, and if you\u2019re not ready, now is the time to get there. That might mean learning business development, improving your health, or fine-tuning your internal systems.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be that angsty teenager, like I once was. Get on it today.<\/p>\n Whatever \u201cit\u201d is for you, you\u2019ll thank yourself later. And if building your book of business is one of those \u201cI\u2019ll get to it eventually\u201d 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.<\/p>\n Steve Fretzin is a bestselling author, host of the \u201cBe That Lawyer\u201d 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\u2019s program and coaching for their success. He can be reached directly by email at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>[email\u00a0protected]<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(Opens in a new window). Or you can easily find him on his website at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>www.fretzin.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(Opens in a new window)\u00a0or LinkedIn at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/stevefretzin<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(Opens in a new window).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Don\u2019t 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\u2019ll see results.<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a lesser-known truth: when you break a commitment to someone else, there\u2019s 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\u2019t follow through.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/10\/VA_CLE_Deadline-300x197.jpg?resize=300%2C197&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
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Don\u2019t 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\u2019ll see results.<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a lesser-known truth: when you break a commitment to someone else, there\u2019s 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\u2019t follow through.<\/p>\n
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