BE THAT LAWYER

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Mark Homer discuss: How legal marketing has evolved.  Seeing your law firm as a business.  Multichannel marketing.  When you should spend money on marketing.    Key Takeaways: Understanding your brand, not just the logo, but who your clients are and how you approach the work, helps you to be more successful in marketing your firm.  Talk about what you are doing t...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jamie Spannhake discuss: The relationship between the billable hour and efficiency.  Time management and mind mastery.  The 168 Hour exercise and time management tools.  Delegation for items below your paygrade.    Key Takeaways: Time management is always clearer when we know what our values are - we always want to spend the most time on what we believe is the mo...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and John Sciaccotta discuss: The foundation of John’s love of business development and marketing.  The different forms of business development.  Identifying the influencers around you.  Significant touches and reaching out meaningfully.    Key Takeaways: Make friends in the practice of law and establish relationships.  Success breeds success - a small win can be expa...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Catherine O’Connell discuss: Being your own brand in a solo firm.  Maneuvering through a list of contacts and utilizing organizational contacts.  Tips for handling meetings with Japanese clients.  Greetings and etiquette for leaving meetings.    Key Takeaways: What is risky to one person, may not be considered a risk by other individuals.  In Japan, introductions...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Robert Plotkin, and Cynthia Gilbert discuss: Relationships at the root of all business and networks. Business development as a learned skill, regardless of personality. Commitment and the art of the follow through. From generalization to specialization.   Key Takeaways: Different environments are better for different people. Know yourself and speak to people who are...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Bob Kohn discuss: How Zoom and online connection has changed networking and opened more doors. Challenges lawyers are facing while growing a law practice. The power of a community of allies. Moving from planning to doing and really learning.   Key Takeaways: Things do change and will change with little to no notice. By being in control of your own book of busines...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Scott Rahn discuss: The importance of people and community.  Building law firm culture.  Benefits of great culture, detriments of a poor culture.  Modernizing the suggestion box and put your money where your mouth is.    Key Takeaways: You can only do so much well. Focus on what you do well and hunker down in that area. Your law firm culture is the glue that bind...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Sami Azhari discuss: Networking as a referral source. Qualifying referral sources and keeping an open mind. There is always time to be a thought leader - the law is always evolving. The power of social media and leveraging your work.   Key Takeaways: You can be the most brilliant lawyer, but if you can’t generate business you’re not going to be successful. There'...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Steve Adams discuss: The cultural addiction to distraction and how it is affecting your work.  Productive and destructive health habits.  Using your prime time for your prime tasks.  Living a healthier, better life.    Key Takeaways: Physiology, psychology, and engineering your lifestyle are key to your peak performance.  You've got to take care of the billion do...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and John Strohmeyer discuss: Recognizing how lawyers and law firms are different from other types of companies. Definition of customer service for a law firm.  Minimize the things that don’t help you solve the problem your clients bring to you. Take care of your referral partners with exceptional service as that is where your primary business comes from.    Key Takea...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Tom Latourette discuss: The three levels of why and looking beyond the apparent reasons.  Finding the quantified cost, not just the story of what happened.  Generating traction to get in the door for the sales call. Questioning, curiosity, and focusing on the client for best results.    Key Takeaways: The first or second conversation you have with a client or pot...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and John Yaworsky discuss: Lessons John has learned from big budget projects and has been able to apply to small budget projects.  The evolution of video marketing and production. Getting more content out of your videos and three tips for the DIY attorney.  Understanding when to DIY your videos and when to work with a production expert.    Key Takeaways: Media litera...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Alex Stamatoglou discuss: Making the decision to work with a coach. Understanding what you want to actually do and accomplish in your career.  Business development - it’s not selling, pitching, and convincing. Developing business and sustaining the work you are bringing in.    Key Takeaways: Do the little things that you know you need to do, trust the process, an...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Lana Manganiello discuss: Why business development matters as an attorney. Control and how it makes or breaks your career. Tips to keep your business development going even while you’re busy. Business development can be as formal or as informal as you make it.   Key Takeaways: Business development gives you control over who you work with and what matters you work...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Deb Smolensky discuss: Missteps companies are making as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Retraining our brains to be our best, authentic self.  Mental health and mental wellbeing.  Bringing positive energy into the micro-moments of your life.    Key Takeaways: We need to show up with empathy and curiosity as we meet with people. Pause to get your footing wi...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Karin Conroy discuss: How websites have changed from the beginning brochure style to how they work best strategically now. Where lawyers and law firms are missing the boat on website design and strategy.  Being unique and memorable from the first look of your website.  Connecting your message with your design.    Key Takeaways: Website technology is constantly ch...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Mark Silverman discuss: Understanding your clients business.  The trigger to developing long lasting relationships.  Arrows in your quiver of business development.  Tips and tricks for driving engagement.    Key Takeaways: Turn on news alerts for what is going on, when it is happening, in your clients business or industry.  Use your calendar to keep yourself acco...

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Mo Lilienthal discuss: Separating yourself from the others in your field.  Developing content to humanize yourself.  Getting started on social media.  Ways to get introductions and connect with those you may not have access to otherwise.    Key Takeaways: Social media is an equalizer for smaller firms. It is a way to build a network and stand out in your field. ...

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...