BE THAT LAWYER

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Walt Hampton, David Ackert, and Liz Wendling discuss: Staying consistent in your business development amidst the whirlwind of life. The top automations that are saving automations time. Scheduling made easier. Removing email as a friction point.   Key Takeaways: Block time for you and your tasks, not just to accommodate others. Your calendar communicates your values...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Joe Brocato discuss: Pursuing your passions, belief in yourself, and having a determination to succeed.  Living authentically with balance in your work and passions. Conveying confidence. The three pillars of relationships.   Key Takeaways: If you want to have a great book of business, you need to be a great lawyer first. Be who you are and have confidence in you...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Josh Fitch discuss: Taking educated risks.  How Josh started his own firm directly out of law school.  Networking as an allyship.  Having a fit with you, your client, and your employees.     Key Takeaways: Having a partner takes away some of the isolation of running a firm alone. It also gives you a time to share in the victories and strengthen each other through...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and RJ Curcio discuss: Growing up surrounded by lawyers.  Being a millennial lawyer. Keys to getting a strong book of business in a transactional field of law.  Adapting the modern workplace to the workforce in your company.    Key Takeaways: The way law firms were run in the 1950s was very different from how they are run today. Learn from the other generations, in b...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Ellen Freedman discuss: Learning and growing in all aspects of your law firm. Going out on your own as a solo firm. The automations and technologies that lawyers should implement in their business. The best approach to hiring and the growing trend of going virtual.   Key Takeaways: Your best work never happens immediately, especially when trying something new. Ke...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Steph Vaughan-Jones discuss: Hiring the right people for the right job. Being flexible to find success. Getting closer to your customer. Developing relationships and developing leaders.   Key Takeaways: People fear mistakes - that is why they don’t take risks. Mistakes are not a failure, they are a chance to learn and further your success. Recognize the potential...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jordan Spear discuss: Common pitfalls lawyers make in digital marketing.  The unique challenges to marketing for your unique way of doing business.  Creative content creation to stand out in the market.  What to look for in a marketing agency.    Key Takeaways: Marketing can help you to stabilize your inflow pipeline and allows you to bring in clients beyond just...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Mark Bullock discuss: Addressing more than just the logistical and legal side of your client's cases.  Why do lawyers hesitate to delve into social or video.  Secrets to making great video content.  Getting tons of content from one video.    Key Takeaways: 99.99+% of people will not go on video. YouTube is not the 11 o’clock news, it is people authentically talki...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Marco Brown discuss: Figuring out the business of law for survival. Key systems for success at your firm. Marketing and sales for lawyers. Becoming a student of the sales game.   Key Takeaways: You have to want success. Wanting to be a good lawyer is the bottom of the barrel. You need to also want to have monetary success. When you make more money, you can help m...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Deb Knupp, Alay Yajnik, and Gary Johnson discuss: Strategies to build a network when you’re away from the city.  LinkedIn and being a thought leader.  Getting out of the net of the friend zone.  Making the pitch and getting the sale.    Key Takeaways: Staying in touch with people is all about authentic reasons. Even from a distance, invite people, introduce people,...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Deb Knupp, Alay Yajnik, and Gary Johnson discuss: Time management and business development.  Finding focus when you’re having a hard time focusing.  Getting in front of the decision-makers.  Knowing when to hire an associate.   Key Takeaways: Get a bigger impact out of everything you do in marketing. All aspects of what you do should be working in tandem to give you...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Tracy Coenen discuss: How Tracy got into forensic accounting and how it can help in your law field. Being a valuable connector.  Time blocking and being strategic with your networking, referral sources, and other business development.  The importance of touch points with your clients.    Key Takeaways: If you have an extensive network of professionals, it will he...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Michael Strauch discuss: Why lawyers are averse to sales.  The top 3 things to do during the initial intake phone call.  Building trust, listening with empathy and skillfully getting information.  Honing your persuasion (and sales) skills that were learned in law school.    Key Takeaways: Clients are the lifeblood of your practice. If you can’t bring them in, you...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Colin Levy discuss: The intersection of law and technology.  ChatGPT and the applicable potential of AI. Benefits and drawbacks of social media platforms.  Value-based social media content.    Key Takeaways: Each social media platform is unique and offers different benefits and risks than the other platforms. Do your research before you dive into using all of the...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Gary Winter discuss: How practicing law is like flying an airplane. Must have technology to run your firm. Evolution of the legal industry. Working remotely and building a strong team.   Key Takeaways: If you approach your practice of law as a business, it eases the stress of the business side, because that is what it is. Managing a team in a remote environment i...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jennifer Gillman discuss: Jennifer’s transition from litigation practice to legal recruiting. Why many lawyers are unhappy.  The importance of a book of business.  Growing and enjoying your career.    Key Takeaways: There are a lot of differences from firm to firm. If you are unhappy in your job, it may not be the job itself, but it could be where you are working...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Gary Johnson, David Ackert, Steve Seckler, and Sharon Ve discuss: Getting more value from your presentations. Qualifying prospective clients.  Building referral sources. The hidden power of being an introvert.   Key Takeaways: Your ideal client will not be the same as someone else’s, even if you are in the same practice area, because you both have different strength...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Gary Johnson, David Ackert, Steve Seckler, and Sharon Ve discuss: Changes to make in marketing as we go into recession. Planning for success in 2023. Building a vetted, powerful, networking cohort. Marketing versus business development (and why both are important).   Key Takeaways: Double down on what you are really good at, what you like to do, and those relationsh...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jonathan Zacks discuss: Finding a solution for efficiency.  Automation for better running your business.  Apps and programs to make your life easier.  Focusing to improve communication with your customers and employees.    Key Takeaways: Technology is constantly changing. Take advantage of it for solving the problems it can solve, but don’t assume it can solve al...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Angela Dunz discuss: Diving into LinkedIn now, even if you didn’t get started from the beginning.  How LinkedIn is different from other social media platforms.  Client-focused LinkedIn profiles.  Optimizing your LinkedIn, cleaning up keywords, and being clear about what you do.    Key Takeaways: LinkedIn is more than a database, it’s a relationship builder. It is...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Rich Woo discuss: Establishing habits to accomplish your goals.  Creating strong relationships to help those around you.  The systems of building a relationship-based network. Wide versus deep in relationship building.    Key Takeaways: There is value in people, relationships, and caring for others. This will help you to become a better relationship person and a...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jeremy Poock discuss: Designing and brokering your exit strategy.  Building your law firm like the business it is.  How to implement trust transfer.  Selling the machine that you created.    Key Takeaways: At some point, solo lawyers will need to look at their law firm as a business and build it in the way that it will work for them and is something that they mig...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Keri Sicard discuss: Creating a truly virtual IP firm.  Pitfalls of the current law firm model.  Promoting collaboration (even through a commission model).  Connecting and building culture in a virtual environment.    Key Takeaways: The partnership law model was created in the early part of the 1900s. The world has shifted drastically in the last 100 years, but t...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Dr. Bill Saleebey discuss: Report versus rapport.  Doing your research before networking with someone.  Top tips for networking wide and deep (and for improving your elevator pitch). Deep diving into what people really do.   Key Takeaways: Establishing rapport is one of the key elements of networking. You have to engage in rapport talk to really establish relatio...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Sarah Tetlow discuss: Why email is so important and so readily used by lawyers. Ways to manage your inbox to make it effortless. What ARTT stands for and how it can help you manage your inbox. Tips for better managing your email.   Key Takeaways: Treat your email like a mixed bag of jellybeans. Keep only your favorites (what needs to be done) in your inbox and ke...