BE THAT LAWYER

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...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Bill Himmelstein discuss: Building relationships in a transactional industry. Having focus on who and how you are helping others. The 3 Keys to Finding a Good Networking Partner. Giving with a purpose to expand the pie.   Key Takeaways: Networking is rooted in a philosophy of giving to gain. Search for networking partners whose values align with yours. Take the t...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Josh Schwadron discuss: Lawyers and advertising in the United States. How Mighty is changing the personal injury law world. Secrets of personal injury lawyers. Separating yourself from other law firms.   Key Takeaways: Personal injury lawyers don’t compete on fees or on what they do, they compete on marketing and on who can scream the loudest and stand out. In pe...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Emily Hirsekorn discuss: The relationship between leadership and learning.  Why and when lawyers need support in their careers.  4 of the most common blocks to success.  The learning that can happen at different stages of your career.    Key Takeaways: When you are growing and learning and leading in a way that is most authentic to you, that is where you are goin...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Denny Esford discuss: How lawyers can better plan their day and execute that plan.  Build in “no” answers to your strategy.  Executing your business plan first thing in the day.  Content calendars, scheduling your business development, and preparing in advance.    Key Takeaways: Without having clients coming in, consistently, running your firm is just an expense....

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and David Neagle discuss: Why belief is the most important thing to your success.  Getting around walls that make you seem stuck.  How lawyers can overcome the struggle of negativity.  The formula for solving your problems.    Key Takeaways: You don’t have a problem, you only create problems. What you see as a problem, just is. You give what is the meaning of problem...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Stuart Baum discuss: Marketing missteps and mistakes that lawyers make in building their firm.  Making business development fun.  Leveraging what you are good at and what you like to do.  Stop being selfish and learn to be a resource.    Key Takeaways: The only failure is a failure to learn from your failures.  There are a lot of ways to do business development....

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Sasha Berson discuss: Statistics around lawyers in the United States.  The relationship between marketing and company performance.  Setting expectations with your marketing team.  Why you need to keep up on your advertising and marketing budgets.    Key Takeaways: Being a rainmaker is infinitely more profitable than just being a lawyer.  Most marketing companies...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Michael English, and Courtney English discuss: Improving efficiency to improve your life and business. Why SOPs are so important to your law firm and business. Top challenges lawyers face in automating and scaling. Writing out the SOPs for your law firm.   Key Takeaways: SOPs (standard operating procedures) are the key to creating a streamlined law firm and will all...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Neil Schwan discuss: Why lawyers don’t keep up with their expenses.  Top expenses lawyers have that they don’t look at.  Automation and outsourcing to reduce costs.  The power of looking to help others first.    Key Takeaways: You may not need to wait out a full lease if you are looking to move on. There are options out there, and speaking with a tenant advocate...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Kathleen McEntee discuss: Kathleen’s journey from strategy to full service marketing. Branding versus marketing.  Distinguishing yourself from your competitors.  Talking about what you do and not assuming people know what you do and what your brand is.   Key Takeaways: When you are living in the weeds, you are not looking at the bigger picture and looking at how...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Sarah Reiff-Hekking discuss: Understanding and implementing time management.  Building the dream job to live your dream life.  Changing behaviors to change your life.  Creating the time and environment to focus and do the tasks that only you can do.   Key Takeaways: The implementation of time management will look different for everyone because we are all wired di...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Karin Conroy discuss: Setting your pricing to attract the kind of clients you are wanting to work with. Knowing where your strengths are and hiring for your weaknesses.   Having your own plan for your website that fits with your strategy.  Understanding your strategy to understand your budget.    Key Takeaways: Start in the right way with your pricing and you won...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Mike Chastaine discuss: Understanding your financials and having money set aside for the rollercoaster of owning your firm.  Having the courage to say no.  Lessons for young lawyers and those going solo.  Qualifying your clients and listening to their stories.    Key Takeaways: If you’re worried about paying your rent, you’re not focused on your clients.  For you...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Clare Fanner, and Catherine O'Connell discuss: Producing content for SEO, social media, and the desired exposure.  Collaboration not competition with other lawyers. Where to invest time and get business from existing clients.  What to consider before doing business internationally.    Key Takeaways: Creating content is less of an issue, but how to show that content...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Clare Fanner, and Catherine O'Connell discuss: What is happening with the economy and legal industry in the UK and Japan. Why Japanese businesses are looking to invest outside of the country.  How COVID helped to elevate business development and marketing for law firms.  The way in which LinkedIn has changed marketing and business development.    Key Takeaways: Many...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Brandy Derrick discuss: Why lawyers are not great with money, billing, and books.  How lawyers can reduce AR and overhead costs.  Understanding your numbers and making more money.  Delegating and outsourcing your bookkeeping.    Key Takeaways: You are not taught how to do bookkeeping in law school or typically at the law firm level.  Collect a retainer up front a...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Blaine Oelkers discuss: The power of Selfluence. Build your firm with what matters most to you in mind.  The 30-minute hour and how time compression works.  Single-tasking, multitasking, and batch-tasking.    Key Takeaways: The easiest thing to control is you.  The use of your time and the habits you create will determine where you end up in life.  What you decid...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Michael Fielding discuss: Changing your mindset around networking. Michael’s three-part formula for business development. The evolution of client problems and anticipating where the market is headed. Growing your knowledge base and expanding your ability to solve problems.   Key Takeaways: Maintain the relationships that you build in law school as well as in your...