BE THAT LAWYER

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Ross Albers discuss:Having the courage to run your own firm. The hardest thing about starting and growing your own law firm. Why Ross describes his firm as a personal and professional development company that happens to practice law. The pros and cons of working at a firm versus being on your own. What it takes to run a successful business.  Key Takeaways:Having your own book of business can help with the courage to start your own firm. While there is natural-born leadership, it is a skill that can be learned if it isn’t a skill that you were born with. You should not go completely alone when you start a solo firm. You should have an accountant to keep track of money, and you should have a coach to help keep you accountable. Owning a business is being a salesperson. Your law firm is a business and you need to be able to acquire new business, acquire top talent, and do all the other things related to business, not just the practice of law.  "I think people have a misconception between going out on their own and starting a law firm and going out of their own and creating a glorified job for themselves. And that's two very different things." —  Ross Albers Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: Hunting in a Farmer’s World: Celebrating the Mind of an Entrepreneur by John F. DiniAbout Ross Albers: Two weeks before he got married Ross was fired. He came home and told his wife.She was pissed.But, Ross told her not to worry. He was going to start his own law firm.In the past eight years, Ross has grown the business from a solo practice to multiple offices, practice areas, and attorneys throughout Maryland. Along the way, Ross has learned to dream big, take action, and be relentless. His role has changed from practicing attorney to that of a CEO that hires, acquires, and inspires. Connect with Ross Albers:  Website: https://www.rossalbers.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-albers-a7b2b183/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-law-office-of-ross-w--albers-llc/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosswalbersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RossAlbersLaw/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Ken Crutchfield discuss:Limitations of traditional market research in uncharted territory. How VUCA is affecting the legal industry. AI, ChatGPT, and how the future of the world is changing. Technologies lawyers should have or should be considering.  Key Takeaways:You cannot do market research on a market that doesn’t exist. You can use ChatGPT as a starting point, but you need to be extra diligent about reviewing and validating the information that comes out of the technology like this. With the increase in AI technology, there will be a change in the user experience and in the current advertising model. Utilize the tech you have to do the mundane things that can be automated so you can focus on what you do best.  "There's a term called VUCA, volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity that really pervades everything. That's kind of the backdrop that I look at with all of this. And when you see that, there's pressure on firms, and on individual attorneys to perform, to think, to do differently, to be better in how they operate." —  Ken Crutchfield Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. ChristensenAbove the Law: https://abovethelaw.com/author/kcrutchfield/About Ken Crutchfield: With more than three decades of experience, Ken Crutchfield leads the Legal Markets Group within Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., providing legal professionals across a wide range of markets with expert content and analysis and leading workflow solutions. Throughout his career, he has successfully led the growth of multiple businesses in varying industries, including tax & accounting and legal. Connect with Ken Crutchfield:  Website: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/legal-regulatoryEmail: ken.crutchfield@wolterskluwer.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-crutchfield-95b79/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolterskluwerlr/Future Ready Lawyer Survey: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/future-ready-lawyer-2022 Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Steve Seckler discuss:Steve’s professional journey from law school to coaching. Why Steve is well-suited to coaching lawyers, and how to know if a coach is right for you. Challenges lawyers face in their own personal development. Results that happen when coaches coach and the players play. Investing in coaching and changing the way you think about money.  Key Takeaways:Hiring a coach can help you to fill in the skill gaps that you might have, and help you to identify where they are if you don’t think you have any. Working with a coach can help you to focus your messaging and better articulate what you do that nobody else does. Communicating outside of work-related tasks only is key to understanding how the firm works and building your relationship skills. Your greatest insights will come when you work one-on-one with someone. There is a level of safety that allows for greater vulnerability.  "Not everybody is coachable, they have to be willing to be coached. And, as you and I know, the best people to coach are actually the superstars." —  Steve Seckler Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Larry Richards: https://www.lawyerbrain.com/Book: What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith About Steve Seckler: Stephen E. Seckler, Esq. (steve@seckler.com), is the President of Seckler Attorney Coaching. He is an award-winning coach who helps lawyers looking to build more satisfying careers. As Counsel to Counsel, he has coached hundreds of attorneys through career transitions and helped hundreds of lawyers to grow their income and become better leaders. You can listen to his podcast Counsel to Counsel wherever you get your podcasts or follow the link on his website. Connect with Steve Seckler:  Website: https://www.seckler.com/Email: steve@seckler.comPodcast: https://counseltocounsel.libsyn.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenseckler/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Steve Gordon discuss:Why you should write a book (and how it can help your law firm grow). Changing your introduction and cementing your place as the expert. What it takes to write a book today. Using your book to get the right kind of clients.  Key Takeaways:You can build your network and get referrals by sharing information. Writing a book allows you to disseminate that information more widely and effectively.Be a part of an organization that works to lift one another, not just lift yourself. The perceived hardest part of writing a book is actually the easiest part of it - writing it. There is a pattern and a structure that works well to reach audiences. You know your content and you are the expert. Your client doesn’t want a textbook, they want a transformation. Show them the transformation and the process. That makes a great lead-generating book.  "There is no way to contain all of your expertise and give it all away in a 100 to 150 page book. That's not the purpose of a book." —  Steve Gordon Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy - https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Sales-Letter-4Th-Customers-ebook/dp/B004J35JFU/ Connect with Steve Gordon:  Website: https://milliondollarauthor.io/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonsteve/Twitter: https://twitter.com/steve_gordonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevegordononlineGet Steve Gordon’s Latest Book, Jumpstart Your Own, and More Here: https://milliondollarauthor.io/bethatlawyer Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jesse Frye discuss:Why Jesse started ScaleLegal.Most common gaps in the client experience. Utilizing your tech stack appropriately and effectively. 3 Tips for improving your client experience.  Key Takeaways:Communication is often one of the largest gaps in the client experience. Consistency in communication is key. Most tech isn’t customized for lawyers. There are ways to customize (and be properly trained in) your technology for the best use in your firm. Map out your client journey. You need to understand your current state before you can plan for what you want in the future of your firm. Understand the journey, fill the gaps, and clear the friction points.  "You can remove a lot of the issues that you have with your client’s experience just by being very clear and upfront with their pricing." —  Jesse Frye Thank you to our Sponsors!Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin - https://www.amazon.com/Dichotomy-Leadership-Balancing-Challenges-Ownership/dp/1250195772Law Firm Mentor: https://www.lawfirmmentor.net/Steve Seckler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenseckler/David Ackert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidackert/Allison Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisoncwilliams/ About Jesse Frye: Jesse Frye is the CEO and Co-Founder of ScaleLegal. Jesse is a Certified Business Coach & Productivity coach with more than 25 years of experience improving the efficiency of businesses, including hundreds of small law firms. Additionally, Jesse has experience running Client Experience departments for small and medium size businesses, taking poorly performing brands and turning them into successful, thriving businesses. He has an MBA from Norwich Military University and is a United States Coast Guard Veteran. Connect with Jesse Frye:  Website: https://www.scalelegal.com/Email: jessejfrye@scalelegal.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessejohnathanfrye/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scalelegal/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scalelegalusa Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Charles Gillis discuss:The two things that make lawyers most successful. The single biggest trap lawyers face on their path to being an equity partner. Challenges on the path to promotion. Advice to mid-level attorneys looking to build their business.  Key Takeaways:Lawyers need to focus on their higher purposes. If they are taking time to do the time-taking activities, the firm is probably losing unnecessary money. You need to keep building higher and higher. Look at your career development path and don’t confuse the rewards you get for productivity for validation of career progress. Put more and more time into your business development plan each year once you’ve reached your production goals. Business development doesn’t get easier the longer you wait. Start small, start now, and be consistent.  "You have to recognize the end goal is to have clients, but you will not secure that day one, you'll plant seeds on day one." —  Charles Gillis Thank you to our Sponsors!Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt About Charles Gillis: Charles Gillis is a seasoned business executive who has over thirty years of law firm administration experience. At Platt Cheema Richmond, Mr. Gillis oversees all strategic and operational matters for the firm, including finances, human resources, and administration. He is the author of The Seven Year Trap: Back Office Observations of the Business of Law & the Path to Partnership.Charles received an undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin, an executive MBA from The University of Texas at Dallas, and a Graduate Finance Certificate from Southern Methodist University. He holds an SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) designation. Connect with Charles Gillis:  Website: https://pcrfirm.com/Book: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Year-Trap-Observations-Partnership/dp/0692195661LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillis/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pcrfirm/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Stuart TenHoor discuss:Engaging in the news and media. The intersection of legal and business. Marketing yourself in your specialty.Leaving space to receive.  Key Takeaways:Being known in a space is critical. You want to be the name that comes to mind in your industry when a specific situation comes up for someone else. Sales is not manipulation, it’s persuasion. You are helping people to figure out what they want.Becoming the go-to person in a subject area does not happen overnight. It takes consistency and effort. While you need to get things done and generate great ideas, you also want to leave space for the good things that will come your way as you are building relationships and your business.  "Having a good LinkedIn profile and having a good website profile, those are all important. But you’ve got to put your niches out there." —  Stuart TenHoor Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: Get Sh*t Done by Jeffrey GitomerAbout Stuart TenHoor: STUART TENHOOR, President of Stuart TenHoor Legal Search, is in his 35th year as a legal search consultant in the Greater Washington, DC area. TenHoor is also a career coach for food and drug lawyers (www.stuarttenhoor.com)  and consults with law firms, corporations, and other private employers, and to federal agencies on their lateral hiring goals and helps them find FDA and other types of legal talent. TenHoor’s specialty is working with food and drug lawyers as they seek the best employment fit for their evolving professional goals. Connect with Stuart TenHoor:  Website: https://www.stuarttenhoor.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TenHoor/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/tenhoor Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Luis Scott Jr. discuss:Leveraging others to help you focus and grow the business.Making the sale in a natural way.Distinguishing yourself from the pack.Delegating without exploiting. Key Takeaways:When you are engaged in too many things, it is hard to be excellent at any of those things.Niching down within a niche becomes a unique selling proposition. When it comes to sales, people want to know there is something unique, but they need to know the full value.Most people do not know how to delegate, and lawyers are not any different. Becoming the master delegator is the key to growing your business.You are in absolute control of your future. "There's a difference between a unique selling proposition and a value proposition. First of all, understanding what your value proposition is, and then, the second thing, learn how to deliver it with confidence." —  Luis Scott Jr. Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: Book: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319Email Luis at luis@8figurefirm.com and mention hearing him on Be That Lawyer to get a FREE copy of his book: The King of Growth: How to Dominate Your Market, Increase Predictability, and Unleash the Power of Your Law Firm for Personal and Financial Freedom!!! About Luis Scott Jr.: Luis Scott is a respected attorney ad consultant. He is the owner of Bader Scott Injury Lawyers and 8-Figure Firm Consulting and specializes in helping legal professionals optimize and grow their practices. He has been recognized by various legal organizations and has 20 years of experience, including as the owner and managing partner of a successful law firm with almost 200 employees. Connect with Luis Scott Jr.:  Website: https://luisscottjr.com/Website: https://baderscott.com/Website: https://www.8figurefirm.com/Books: https://luisscottjr.com/books/Show: https://luisscottjr.com/podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwpUZsAwYm3bff5HVJc3rEQLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-scott-bader-law/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/8figurefirm/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/8figurefirmInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/luisscottjr/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/8figurefirm/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Dorna Moini discuss:Automating for affordable options. Tapping into larger segments of the legal market. Adopting technology in your practice. Resources available for lawyers to start utilizing technology for little work and little money.  Key Takeaways:There is a cap to how much people will pay for a service, and you are also limited by time. Thinking of other billing models or automated services can help you to break out of the mold with something more lucrative. There is a place for the billable hour, but it doesn’t need to apply to all services. For cost and convenience, consumers like digital products and services. Younger attorneys have a leg up with technology and that is a strength on their resumes. "I hear this more from people outside of the legal field than the lawyers themselves about ‘jobs can be replaced, why would anyone want to use automation’, but I think at the end of the day, I see this, and a lot of our customers see this, as an opportunity. ." —  Dorna Moini Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Episode References: ABA TECHSHOW: https://www.techshow.com/Zapier: https://zapier.com/TextExpander: https://textexpander.com/Grammarly: https://app.grammarly.com/Lob: https://www.lob.com/Upwork: https://www.upwork.com/Book: Play Bigger by Al Ramadan: https://www.amazon.com/Play-Bigger-Dreamers-Innovators-Dominate/dp/0062407619 Connect with Dorna Moini:  Website: https://www.gavel.io/Email: dorna@gavel.ioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/documentautomation/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gavel_io Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin, Jocelyn Brumbaugh, Jared Correia, and Gyi Tsakalakis discuss:Appreciation marketing, email marketing, and newsletters. The incremental approach to social media and content marketing. The business of law and treating your firm like a business. Being involved in the marketing plan.  Key Takeaways:Send a handwritten note. People get stuff all the time, but a handwritten note is personalized and feels more intentional. Segment your list. Do as many thank you cards as you can, but don’t ignore everyone else. Utilize stats, don’t just list your credentials, in your marketing, content, and bio.You need to understand your goals and what needs to be done in marketing to make those goals happen.  "Business development is about process, it's about figuring out what works and takes the least amount of your time and doing it over and over again. And that's no fun. That's so boring. But it's always like losing weight and figuring out how to run a marathon and learning another language -  it's doing something incrementally every day. " —  Jocelyn Brumbaugh Thank you to our Sponsors!Legalese Marketing: https://legaleasemarketing.com/Moneypenny: https://www.moneypenny.com/us/Practice Panther: https://www.practicepanther.com/ Connect with Jocelyn Brumbaugh:  Website: https://www.buildenpartners.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynbrumbaugh/ Connect with Jared Correia:  Website: https://redcavelegal.com/Show: https://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/legal-toolkit/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal Connect with Gyi Tsakalakis:  Website: https://gyitsakalakis.com/Website: https://www.attorneysync.com/Website: https://epldigital.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gyitsakalakis/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gyitsakalakis Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.