If you\u2019re saying things like \u201cI can\u2019t\u201d or \u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d you\u2019re setting yourself up to lose before you\u2019ve even started. We all have tough days and rough stretches, me included. (Have I mentioned that I have a teenager?) But here\u2019s the truth: it\u2019s incredibly difficult to succeed in business development with a negative mindset.<\/p>\n
One of the most effective ways I shift my thinking is by taking positive action. Whether it\u2019s working out, getting chores done or spending time on business development, I do things that move me in a productive direction. And the mind responds.<\/p>\n
My clients see this consistency. They pick up on the optimism that these habits create. I\u2019m part coach, part therapist and full-time optimist. We talk about everything, billable hour pressure, difficult clients or partners, and why business development efforts may be stalling. I listen, I understand, and then we collaborate to create a clear plan. By the end of the call, my clients leave with more clarity, energy, and confidence than they had at the start. That transformation from skeptical and apprehensive to motivated and forward-looking? That\u2019s the magic.<\/p>\n
2. Becoming An Organizational Assassin<\/strong> A lot of my clients start off this way. But it doesn\u2019t take long before they realize I\u2019ve become the master of organization. No paper clutter. Inbox at zero. And yes, I only work four days a week now (humble brag). What changed? I realized that in order to teach lawyers business development, I first had to master time management and organization. One doesn\u2019t work without the other.<\/p>\n So, I became a student of the game. I studied productivity legends like David Allen, author of \u201cGetting Things Done,\u201d and James Clear, who wrote \u201cAtomic Habits.\u201d And I applied their lessons relentlessly. It took time, but it was a game-changer. Today, my clients see that structure in everything I do, and they want in on the secret sauce. The best part? I love helping them get there.<\/p>\n 3. Build Your Brand To Build Your Business<\/strong> I would never ask a client to do something I\u2019m not already doing myself. That\u2019s part of why the results we get are so strong. Business development on its own can move the needle, but when you combine it with marketing and brand-building, you see transformation. I\u2019m also a big believer in automation and delegation. My virtual assistant handles most of the backend work, which frees me up to focus on high-value efforts like client engagement, content creation, and relationship-building with referral sources.<\/p>\n Many of the lawyers I work with struggle to even write their first LinkedIn post. No surprise there. As you are well aware, perfectionism and risk aversion are common in your profession. But with me modeling the behaviors and strategies in real time, we can find the approaches that work best for everyone. And because I\u2019ve already tested and refined them, they can hit the ground running.<\/p>\n Where We Start Isn\u2019t Where We End<\/strong> In order for my clients to grow, I have to be the ultimate role model. I must be the best at managing time, mastering business development, and building a brand, so they can trust the road I\u2019m leading them down. Their ability to emulate my systems, habits, and mindset is critical to their success.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re hungry to learn and improve, check out my books, podcasts, videos, and articles at www.fretzin.com<\/a>. Or for a more direct path, shoot me an email at steve@fretzin.com and we\u2019ll schedule a 30-minute call to see if there\u2019s a fit to work together.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s program and coaching for their success. He can be reached directly by email at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>steve@fretzin.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. Or you can easily find him on his website at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>www.fretzin.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0or LinkedIn at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/stevefretzin\/<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The post Leading By Example Is The Key To Creating Top Lawyer Rainmakers<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n While we all know the expression \u201cmonkey see, monkey do,\u201d it doesn\u2019t quite hit the mark for me as I sit down to write this. The word I\u2019m really searching for is \u201cemulate.\u201d The definition? To match or surpass someone or something, typically by imitation. There, that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n Before I go any further, let me be clear: this isn\u2019t about puffing out my chest or boasting. I simply believe that each of us has unique talents, and part of life\u2019s purpose is to share them with the world.<\/p>\n As a legal business development coach, my role is to teach lawyers behaviors, skills and language that save time, increase revenue and support them in living their best lawyer\u2019s life. I learned early on that if I wanted my clients to succeed, I had to walk the walk myself. If I\u2019m not someone worth emulating, what does that say about my coaching? Why would anyone want to follow my lead if I\u2019m not demonstrating leadership? With that in mind, here are a few key habits that have helped me grow\u2014and how they help my clients follow suit on their own journey to rainmaking success.<\/p>\n 1. Positivity Powers Forward Motion<\/strong> One of the most effective ways I shift my thinking is by taking positive action. Whether it\u2019s working out, getting chores done or spending time on business development, I do things that move me in a productive direction. And the mind responds.<\/p>\n My clients see this consistency. They pick up on the optimism that these habits create. I\u2019m part coach, part therapist and full-time optimist. We talk about everything, billable hour pressure, difficult clients or partners, and why business development efforts may be stalling. I listen, I understand, and then we collaborate to create a clear plan. By the end of the call, my clients leave with more clarity, energy, and confidence than they had at the start. That transformation from skeptical and apprehensive to motivated and forward-looking? That\u2019s the magic.<\/p>\n 2. Becoming An Organizational Assassin<\/strong> A lot of my clients start off this way. But it doesn\u2019t take long before they realize I\u2019ve become the master of organization. No paper clutter. Inbox at zero. And yes, I only work four days a week now (humble brag). What changed? I realized that in order to teach lawyers business development, I first had to master time management and organization. One doesn\u2019t work without the other.<\/p>\n So, I became a student of the game. I studied productivity legends like David Allen, author of \u201cGetting Things Done,\u201d and James Clear, who wrote \u201cAtomic Habits.\u201d And I applied their lessons relentlessly. It took time, but it was a game-changer. Today, my clients see that structure in everything I do, and they want in on the secret sauce. The best part? I love helping them get there.<\/p>\n 3. Build Your Brand To Build Your Business<\/strong> I would never ask a client to do something I\u2019m not already doing myself. That\u2019s part of why the results we get are so strong. Business development on its own can move the needle, but when you combine it with marketing and brand-building, you see transformation. I\u2019m also a big believer in automation and delegation. My virtual assistant handles most of the backend work, which frees me up to focus on high-value efforts like client engagement, content creation, and relationship-building with referral sources.<\/p>\n Many of the lawyers I work with struggle to even write their first LinkedIn post. No surprise there. As you are well aware, perfectionism and risk aversion are common in your profession. But with me modeling the behaviors and strategies in real time, we can find the approaches that work best for everyone. And because I\u2019ve already tested and refined them, they can hit the ground running.<\/p>\n Where We Start Isn\u2019t Where We End<\/strong> In order for my clients to grow, I have to be the ultimate role model. I must be the best at managing time, mastering business development, and building a brand, so they can trust the road I\u2019m leading them down. Their ability to emulate my systems, habits, and mindset is critical to their success.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re hungry to learn and improve, check out my books, podcasts, videos, and articles at www.fretzin.com<\/a>. Or for a more direct path, shoot me an email at [email\u00a0protected]<\/a> and we\u2019ll schedule a 30-minute call to see if there\u2019s a fit to work together.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s program and coaching for their success. He can be reached directly by email at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>[email\u00a0protected]<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. Or you can easily find him on his website at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>www.fretzin.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0or LinkedIn at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/stevefretzin\/<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While we all know the expression \u201cmonkey see, monkey do,\u201d it doesn\u2019t quite hit the mark for me as I sit down to write this. The word I\u2019m really searching for is \u201cemulate.\u201d The definition? To match or surpass someone or something, typically by imitation. There, that\u2019s better. 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I\u2019ll admit it: I used to be a total disaster when it came to organization. Stacks of business cards. Messy file folders. A cluttered inbox. Missed follow-ups with potential clients and strategic partners. Sound familiar?<\/p>\n
Imitation isn\u2019t just the sincerest form of flattery. It\u2019s the start of real learning. A lot of my clients find me through my books, podcast, or articles \u2014 like this one. They\u2019re observing someone who\u2019s willing to put himself out there, and that matters.<\/p>\n
If you asked five of my high school friends how successful I\u2019d be in 30 years, not one of them would have predicted I\u2019d be a five-time author and coach to some of the most accomplished lawyers on the planet. But here I am, and I don\u2019t take it for granted.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/GettyImages-1129342452-300x200.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
If you\u2019re saying things like \u201cI can\u2019t\u201d or \u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d you\u2019re setting yourself up to lose before you\u2019ve even started. We all have tough days and rough stretches, me included. (Have I mentioned that I have a teenager?) But here\u2019s the truth: it\u2019s incredibly difficult to succeed in business development with a negative mindset.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll admit it: I used to be a total disaster when it came to organization. Stacks of business cards. Messy file folders. A cluttered inbox. Missed follow-ups with potential clients and strategic partners. Sound familiar?<\/p>\n
Imitation isn\u2019t just the sincerest form of flattery. It\u2019s the start of real learning. A lot of my clients find me through my books, podcast, or articles \u2014 like this one. They\u2019re observing someone who\u2019s willing to put himself out there, and that matters.<\/p>\n
If you asked five of my high school friends how successful I\u2019d be in 30 years, not one of them would have predicted I\u2019d be a five-time author and coach to some of the most accomplished lawyers on the planet. But here I am, and I don\u2019t take it for granted.<\/p>\n
\n