Crushing Chaos with Law Firm Mentor
A lot of times, we’re told that the way to grow a business is by growing your revenue or cutting your expenses. And while those are both key components, there are ways to generate greater health for your business by increasing the amount on the bottom line - in ways we’re not taught to think about. My guest today is someone who thinks and focuses her practice on helping small law firms scale their businesses using sound financial policies. Her name is Danielle Hendon, and she is the founder and CEO of 4 Corners CFO, LLC. With more than a decade of experience working in...
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I'm a huge proponent of welcoming guests who don’t just sell a service but are tailored to the small law firm experience. And as a recovering attorney, speaker, and Founder and Chief Podcast Strategist of LawPods — Robert Ingalls fits the mold. Having worked with premier law firms including McGuire Woods, Blank Rome and The Law Offices of John T. Orcutt, LawPods helps busy attorneys create world-class podcast content that boosts SEO, builds relationships and drives revenue. In this episode we discuss: Challenges lawyers face in a highly regulated profession. How we might be resistant to...
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This is one of those topics that comes straight from the well of what I do here at Law Firm Mentor; coaching lawyers on how to look at things from a different perspective. Oftentimes, it’s a little tweak in the way we approach something that can bring traction. Other times, we have to do something grandiose; something far different than what we were doing before. Because the most power tends to come when we are being ourselves and doing what we already know — just a little bit differently — that can make a dramatic change. In this episode we discuss: 3 key strategies for how...
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Heather Moulder is a lawyer leadership and business coach, and she helps lawyers ditch stress, overthinking and imposter syndrome. You’re probably thinking, “My goodness, that’s a lot,” but… it really isn’t. It’s about learning how to manage your mind and emotions, and create a successful pathway toward the life you desire. As a former big law partner, public speaker and host of the Life and Law podcast, Heather helps lawyers to become happily successful in law - and in life. And today, she joins me to talk about mindset blocks; how to manage your mind and...
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We are joined today by entrepreneur, attorney, C.E.O, and innovator Matt Spiegel. Matt is an attorney, founder, and CEO of Lawmatics. Matt shares how a bar grievance filed against him is what led to founding Lawmatics. Matt also shares why automation is necessary for your law firm's growth and providing star treatment for your clients. This is a great episode you don't want to miss. In this episode we discuss: The areas of aspects of practice management software and legal automation. How to get a better client experience with automation software. Asking yourself as a law firm owner the...
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A lot of business owners have misconceptions around lines of credit and debt. Credit and debit are a necessary part of growing a business. Once debt has been accumulated, it is important to create a system to repay your debt. I will be going over all the ins and outs of taking accumulating debt to grow your business in this episode. In today's episode we discuss: Debt is an advance that affords an opportunity to invest in your business that will give you a greater return. How to use debt and learn how to use it effectively. Recognizing that there is a great distinction between...
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When it comes time to find a commercial rental for your office space, many lawyers are overlooking key strategies in their negotiation. In today's episode I will teach you the seven most overlooked strategies in order to prepare you for your next negotiation as well as get you the best deal and space for your business to grow. In today's episode: Why you should consult a commercial broker and not a real estate attorney. Why professionals are desirable to commercial landlords and how to leverage that in your negotiations. What to look for when renting out a commercial rental...
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There is a myth in business that managing your expenses means simply cutting costs. On today's episode, I will dispel that myth and teach you how to create a money system for your money coming in and going out so you can continue to grow your business. In this episode we discuss: How to create a plan for your money to know where it’s coming in and going out. Managing your expenses does not mean cutting your expenses. The way that you can create financial freedom through your business. How important it is to have an effective money managing system. Allison Bio: Allison C. Williams,...
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In today's market, in order to recruit new and retain existing employees, offering a flexible work environment is a great way. When your employees have flexibility in their schedule to achieve a work life balance they are happier and more productive. In today's episode I am going to teach you how to create systems for you to implement flexibility into your work environment. In this episode we discuss: How to structure a flexible work environment that will make your employees happier. 3-step query to ask of yourself to create a structure of flexibility in your workplace. Effective...
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The goal of marketing is to keep your message content clear and consistent across all platforms. Regardless if you outsource your marketing, having an in-house marketing team is important in order to achieve your goals and receive your return on investment. In this episode, I will give you three reasons why you want to invest in an in-house marketing team. In this episode we discuss: How the in-house marketing team has to look like. 3 Characteristics that will justify making an investment in your in-house marketing team. You require someone who is the eyes and ears of your company. Have...
info_outlineWe set business goals at the beginning of the year with every intention of meeting them. But life can get messy and this year things got VERY messy. In today’s episode I am going to teach you three strategies you can use to get your business back on track. These are concrete strategies that you can not only use right away but you can work on RIGHT NOW as I outline them for you.
In this episode we discuss:
- What to do when you find yourself off course from making your goals due to unplanned challenges out of your control, such as covid.
- The importance of knowing your numbers when evaluating your business.
- How your reaction to unplanned challenges can impact business outcomes.
- Taking personal responsibility for your choices as they influence and contribute to outcomes going forward.
- Owning control over the things that you can control.
- Taking stock of your mental health and mindset.
- Asking yourself how you have maintained or changed your standards to adjust to a changed workplace.
- The impact PPP loans may have on your tax bill due to be paid next year.
- How there’s still time for an amazing fourth quarter with the right course corrections.
Bio:
Allison C. Williams, Esq., is Founder and Owner of the Williams Law Group, LLC, with offices in Short Hills and Wall Township, New Jersey. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney, and is the first attorney in New Jersey to become Board-Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in the field of Family Law. Ms. Williams is a member of the New Jersey Board on Attorney Certification (NJBAC) – Matrimonial Committee, a New Jersey Supreme Court committee that determines eligibility of candidates to be certified as a recognized practitioner in the field of matrimonial law.
Ms. Williams has been named a Rising Star Attorney by the New Jersey Super Lawyers franchise continuously from 2008 – 2013, and has been named a Super Lawyer by that organization for 2014 – 2019. In 2016, she was featured in the Super Lawyers publication (Williams v. The Rubber Stamp), she has been named one of the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers in New Jersey from 2017-2019 and in 2019, was voted in the Top 100 Super Lawyers in the State of New Jersey.
Ms. Williams is an accomplished businesswoman. In 2017, the Williams Law Group won the LawFirm500 award, ranking 14th of the fastest growing law firms in the nation, as Ms. Williams grew the firm 581% in three years. Ms. Williams won the Silver Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017. In 2018, Ms. Williams was voted as NJBIZ’s Top 50 Women in Business and was designated one of the Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs and Business Owners. In 2019, Ms. Williams won the Seminole 100 Award for founding one of the fastest growing companies among graduates of Florida State University.
In 2018, Ms. Williams created Law Firm Mentor, a business coaching service for lawyers. She helps solo and small law firm attorneys grow their business revenues, crush chaos in business and make more money. Through multi-day intensive business retreats, group and one-to-one coaching, and strategic planning sessions, Ms. Williams advises lawyers on all aspects of creating, sustaining and scaling a law firm business – and specifically, she teaches them the core foundational principles of marketing, sales, personnel management, communications and money management in law firms.
She received her B.S., magna cum laude, and her M.S., summa cum laude, from Florida State University. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law.
Snip-Its:
00:17:21 (47 Seconds)
Almost instinctually, we go to the mindset of if something is happening in the external world, we have no choice but to accept the ramifications of that in our law firm. And many times that is not true. Many times we are making choices that have adverse consequences for our business and if we were to make a different choice, the consequence would be different. And so you have to start thinking about what exactly is the cause of the current circumstance that you're experiencing in your business, whether it's an uptick or a downward slide in business. Where did that come from and what are all the pieces that contributed to that so that you can start making different choices to change the outcome that you're experiencing.
00:35:57 (43 Seconds)
There are ways for you to keep the standard the same in terms of production, but allow for some modification of what will actually be produced, meaning if I don't have the work to give to a client, I could give the work into a marketing initiative or I could give the work into a system for the firm, or I could give the work into, you know, pouring into the cultural morale, depending on how high your standards are. Ultimately, that will dictate whether or not your standards should be modified. But if there's a modification, the modification should be a revamping of your structure and it ought to have very clearly defined parameters around it. It should not be simply a wholesale walking away from the standards that you created.
00:41:31 (19 Seconds)
But your goal is to be fully educated and to make decisions that are best for your business based on your business metrics and separating your emotional connection to those decisions from the analysis. And this is where taking stock of yourself and why you are doing what you were doing is very important.