Profitable Can Still Be Too Expensive

What do Marie Kondo, Jurassic Park, and a law firm owner staring at a profitable lunch on the calendar have in common? It is not that Marie Kondo could have saved Jurassic Park with better labels. Although “raptor paddock” does feel like a category that should have received more attention. All three force the same […]

Training Only Works When the Next Case Changes

What do Serena Williams practicing a serve, Mr. Miyagi teaching Daniel to wax a car, and a law firm owner training the team on a new client-update process have in common? It’s not that any of them need a 43-slide presentation. Although I would absolutely watch Mr. Miyagi explain “wax on” while someone from HR […]

Working 80 Hours Is Not a Growth Strategy

A law firm growth strategy should not require an 80-hour week. If ordinary operations need emergency-level effort, the model is broken. What do Michael Jordan playing through the flu, John McClane crawling through the air vents in Die Hard, and a law firm owner answering a “quick question” at 11:47 p.m. have in common? It […]

The First 15 Minutes Decide Whether Marketing Worked

A law firm intake process can make or break the promise your marketing makes. What do a Super Bowl ad promising the easiest purchase of your life, Dorothy finally reaching the Emerald City only to get stopped at the gate, and a law firm website saying "We’re here for you" before the caller lands in […]

The 10,000-Client Mistake I Could Have Fixed in 15 Minutes

What do Billy Beane building the Oakland A’s in Moneyball, a law firm owner treating the CRM like a dusty address book with a login screen, and me inheriting roughly 10,000 prior traffic-ticket clients with no real follow-up system have in common? It is not that we all needed one more spreadsheet. Although, to be […]

The Invisible Work Running Your Firm

What do Leslie Knope, Elon Musk, and I have in common? It’s not our level of fame…it could be a love for waffles though. But really…we are all the same story in different costumes: when our systems can’t hold the work, we try to. Leslie Knope becomes the entire town’s emotional support animal. Elon falls […]

When “The Plan” Stops Working

What do Ferris Bueller, Thomas Edison, and me staring at the scale like it just filed a motion to dismiss my happiness have in common? They all hit the same moment: the thing worked… until it didn’t. Ferris could charm his way through one more “sick day” until the principal basically went full Terminator. Edison […]

The Secret to Better Delegation? Clearer Instructions.

What do The Bear, a NASA launch checklist, and me turning a $500 delegation mistake into a leadership lesson have in common? They help us realize that everything falls apart when the instructions only make sense inside one person’s head. In The Bear, the kitchen may be loud enough to make your Apple Watch ask […]

Your Firm Is Stealing Your Attention. Here’s How to Take It Back.

What do Steve Jobs wearing the same outfit, The Mandalorian refusing to take off the helmet, and well your favorite Hawaiian shirt wearing lawyer coach have in common? We do all have strong feelings about wardrobe…and yes I do realize I just placed myself with one of the most successful CEOs in history and the […]