BE THAT LAWYER

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Gary Johnson discuss: A business coach for accountability and encouragement.  Deliverables are more than a selling point.  Networking in the transition post-COVID.  The Gang of Five.    Key Takeaways: Continually work on your marketing - write down or communicate the idea as soon as you get it, don’t hold on it and hope to remember it later.  Strategy without exe...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Rho Thomas discuss: The FIRE Movement.  Managing the money you are bringing in and your lifestyle.  Talk about the why, not just the what, when you’re trying to manage money with your partner. Gaining awareness around your spending to figure out how to get where you want to go.    Key Takeaways: Budgeting is really important - how you spend your money determines...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jim Zadeh discuss: Having a marketing plan, in writing, that you stick to. Going beyond “get out there and network!” Marketing no matter what.  Setting important goals that work towards what you want to achieve.    Key Takeaways: Be open with your friends and family that you are a lawyer and what it is that you do. To grow, you have to go beyond just friends and...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jane Tabachnick discuss: Getting visibility for yourself and your business. Why attorneys struggle with brand building and getting their name out there. Maintain relationships and hug an influencer. Things you can do today to push your brand in a positive direction.   Key Takeaways: You can’t have a business if there is no marketing or business development. It is...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Susan Mendelsohn discuss: Susan’s strategy and relationship driven approach to recruiting.  Mistakes and misconceptions have regarding recruiting and bringing in new lawyers.  Being recruitable as a lawyer and what to look for when looking to move.  How the pandemic has affected recruiting.    Key Takeaways: As a law firm, be very specific about what your needs a...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Clint Schumacher discuss: Resilience in athletics and in business.  Connecting with those who have gone through similar challenges. Changing the shape of our adversity.  Understanding and implementing your core values.    Key Takeaways: Failure is an important part of the learning process - we need to learn how to let that failure allow us to become better, not t...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Michael Caroff discuss: Imagery in marketing.  Understanding the purpose of the website before creating the design.  Trying different types of marketing.  Fitting together the parts of your marketing seamlessly.    Key Takeaways: Find what makes you unique within your field and allow that to shine. Get creative and allow your website to shine! Humans react to ima...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Dan Cotter discuss: Associations as a great way to network.  Increasing engagement in networking meetings.  Networking as gardening - it’s a long term process that takes attention.  Setting appropriate expectations from the beginning.    Key Takeaways: You can’t just show up to networking events and hope that it works. You will make more of an impact if you can d...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Neil Tyra discuss: Decoupling yourself from the courthouse.  Podcasting for education.  Understanding your audience in podcasting or in blogging.  Outsourcing those things that are not cost effective for you to do.    Key Takeaways: Outsource everything that you don’t need to do yourself.   Don’t jump at every shiny opportunity that goes by. Say yes only to the t...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Chuki Obiyo discuss: Diversity, inclusion, and equity in business development.  Business development as a method and tool of empowerment.  The top challenges and concerns people face in business development. The Diversity Business Development Roundtable.    Key Takeaways: There is accountability with your actions in every roundtable or initiative that you take pa...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Carl Ficks discuss: Taking control of your wellness as a busy professional.  Taking better care of yourself than your car.  Having specific goals in your health and wellness, not just your career.  Carl’s 10 Steps for getting back in the game.    Key Takeaways: You cannot get through long days on RedBull and Snickers. You need to take care of your body and health...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Colin Li, and Sam Alkoubey discuss: Technology as a value add to your legal space. The change in client intake in the pandemic and as we are moving back to in person. The upsides to electronic payments and automation. Utilizing Practice Panther to help your practice succeed.   Key Takeaways: Build out electronic intake forms and embed them onto your website - it wil...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Gerry Riskin discuss: Leadership agility in trying times and attributes of successful leaders.  Learning, as a lawyer, from businesses and what works for them.  The fragmentation of the law industry and how it affects the exploration of new ideas and forward thinking.  Supplementing your own training as an individual lawyer.    Key Takeaways: New lawyers are not...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Sahmra Stevenson discuss: Having a successful practice without being at a desk.  Recognizing how your job affects your mental and physical health.  Utilizing technology to create the workplace you want to have.  Lessons learned as a virtual lawyer.    Key Takeaways: If you build it they will come. If you build opportunities and those you’re hiring understand the...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Dave Johnson discuss: What separates a normal negotiator from a grand master negotiator. The unpredictability in a negotiation and in the courtroom. Utilizing your immediate network to connect with decision makers outside of your circle. The importance of your own word choice and listening to another’s word choice.   Key Takeaways: You have to believe it is your...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Wayne Pollock discuss: Content as your biggest advocate.  The cumulative effect of content and creating content from conversational topics.  The two kinds of marketing and business development content.  Balancing your content and going broad, beyond your specific field of law.    Key Takeaways: The burden is on the lawyer to write compelling material that keeps t...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Corinne Heggie discuss: Advocating for yourself from early in your career.  Finding success without losing the balance in your life.  Fitting business development into your day-to-day activities.  Turning the friendzone into business success.    Key Takeaways: Learn to ask for what you want. “No” is just “no right now” not “no forever.” Ultimately, nobody cares a...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Conrad Saam discuss: Focusing on what is important to the client right now, not the financials.  Seeing marketing as an investment, not a cost or as part of a budget.  Be proactive about problems and upfront in your communication.  Making helping your clients achieve their goals your goal.    Key Takeaways: When people are hiring a lawyer, they are hiring a perso...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Terry Isner discuss: What culture is and how it is part of the entire organization, not just at one level.  Giving culture a seat at the table.  Finding the common hard things from different departments of your organization.  Treating people the way they want to be treated.    Key Takeaways: Culture does not have boundaries if we believe in it and have a set of b...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Michelle King discuss: The importance of media relations to your law practice.  What becomes newsworthy and the timeliness of your content creation.  Critical roles for attorneys to play in the media and in current events.  Spotting trends and understanding how you fit as a media expert.    Key Takeaways: Media coverage is a huge boon to SEO and your perceived au...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Seth Price discuss: Challenges lawyers face in digital and online marketing.  Understanding your cost of money.  The changing world of SEO.  The get to know you phase of SEO before clients may full commit to you and your company.    Key Takeaways: High quality content and authoritative links have been, and continue to be, the one-two punch of online marketing and...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Katy Mickelson discuss: The critical role of relationships in building your law firm.  Relationships with clients and relationships with business partners.  Creating key strategic partnerships.  Managing expectations.   Key Takeaways: You have to balance providing value with your firm and providing value to your clients.  A lot of family law is based on trust and...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Mark Rockwell discuss: Top challenges law firms are struggling with.  Understanding the vision of your firm.  Achieving success and quality in any culture.  Avoiding communication ball drops.    Key Takeaways: Get clarity over what you want to do, where you want to go, and where you want your law firm to be in 3-5 years.  To be successful, you must see your law f...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jay McAllister discuss: The one factor that will take you to the next level.  Where lawyers waste time because they don’t have the right tech in place. Understanding why the technology is beneficial and how it fits into your practice.  Looking at the discomfort versus the impact on the firm.   Key Takeaways: From a technology standpoint, all of the elements are c...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Amy Gardner, and Keith Sbiral discuss: The effect of remote work and the transition in the legal field. The necessity of formal and informal engagement between coworkers.  The process of reintegration and rebuilding of teams.  Engaging your team in the changing environment.   Key Takeaways: Employee engagement is at an all-time low, and disengagement is at an all-ti...