

BE THAT LAWYER
Steve Fretzin
BE THAT LAWYER is for attorneys who want more freedom, enjoyment and most importantly, control in their career. Topics will include business development, marketing, branding, technology, and law firm growth. The goal is to educate, entertain and share best practices related to these topics, so that you, the listener can get real value. This is primarily an interview show with great guests (attorneys and legal marketing professionals), sharing stories and analogies, as well as engaging in personal discussions that will keep you entertained and coming back week after week.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 12, 2020 • 34min
Gary Johnson: Profitable Marketing Strategies to Build Your Book of Business
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Gary Johnson discuss:Building networking and marketing strategies based on your strengths and your target market, not just what everyone else is doing. Tangible tactics to marketing your business. Writing a strategic business development plan and tweaking it as needed. Making connections and networking with TALENT. Getting the most out of networking on Zoom and taking advantage of the technology we all have. Key Takeaways:A plan is great, but without action isn’t worth anything more than the paper and ink. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. LinkedIn is a great platform to build new connections is a place where I find a lot of people are really messing things up because they're soliciting business from people they don't even have relationships with yetSet a goal - it gets the mind completely focused on that. Stories are very powerful ways of people remembering you, remembering what do you do, and, more importantly, how you helped that person out. "Look at LinkedIn like you're at a networking event where you're shaking somebody's hand. It's the same thing." — Gary Johnson Connect with Gary Johnson: Website: j2marketingconsultants.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/j2marketingconsultantsTwitter: twitter.com/j2consultants Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.

Oct 5, 2020 • 32min
Roy Sexton: Signal Boosting, Reciprocation, and Acknowledging Your Social Media Community
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Roy Sexton discuss:Defining business development and marketing, the relationship is between the two, and how best to integrate them. Listening to the coaches you bring in until it is built and hardwired into your DNA. Getting the full value out of your content and of social media. Being engaged in the social media community. Key Takeaways:Marketing shows you where the door is, business development helps you walk through it.The business development technique you hold near and dear is not a silver bullet. It's what you do with it. It's how you develop relationships and how you build a book of business. With commitment, there is growth. Business development is a learned thing - you just have to stick to the regiment. The days of being able to avoid social media are over. "We call it a rule of three. If you're speaking somewhere or you've written something, you've three bites at the apple on social media to promote that, at minimum. There's the time leading up to the webinar you're about to promote and promote that more than once." — Roy Sexton Connect with Roy Sexton: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/royesexton/Website: ClarkHill.comTwitter: twitter.com/roysextonFacebook: facebook.com/roy.sextonBlog: ReelRoyReviews.comBooks:Reel Roy Reviews: Vol. 1: Keepin’ It Real - amazon.com/Reel-Roy-Reviews-Keepin-Real/dp/0615964907Reel Roy Reviews: Vol. 2: Keep ‘Em Coming - amazon.com/gp/product/0692360433/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0YouTube: youtube.com/roysexton Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.

Sep 28, 2020 • 36min
Jon Vegosen: Client-Centric Business Development
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jon Vegosen discuss:How Jon learned about the importance of relationships early in life and how it has affected his career.The benefits of being on one or multiple boards for both the lawyer as well as the board itself.Nothing ventured, nothing gained - keeping your higher purpose in mind will strengthen your position and your will.Building relationships that go above and beyond the legal work. Making everything about those relationships. Key Takeaways:You don’t always have to agree, but it is how you disagree - with respect.Be responsive, provide first rate service, bring joy and always follow up.Develop your confidence so you can gain the confidence of clients and provide wise counsel.Always, always, always be there for your clients. "I take a genuine interest in others, I befriend them, and they see that I care. I listen to them. With a high mission of service, I try to help them with things in their personal and business lives that may have nothing to do with legal issues." — Jon Vegosen Connect with Jon Vegosen: Website: FVLDLaw.comEmail: JVegosen@FVLDLaw.comCall Jon directly: 312-701-6860LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/Jon-Vegosen-06b155/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.

Sep 21, 2020 • 30min
Justin Breen: Investing in a Vision with PR
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Justin Breen discuss:Looking for visionaries and seeing the ROI in PR. Creating real value and relationships. Tips and tools for lawyers to get ahead and build a better business. Key Takeaways:Investments are investments, they aren’t a cost. The most important thing about being in media is to get validity and credibility both short term and long term.Raising your rates earns you respect for the people and clients that matter the most. "I think of it as direct and I know who my tribe is, and it just weeds out all the nonsense, all the noise. And that's how I built this global successful company in three years." — Justin Breen Connect with Justin Breen: LinkedIn: Justin BreenWebsite: BrEpicBusiness.comBook: Epic Business: 30 Secrets to Build Your Business Exponentially and Give You the Freedom to Live the Life You Want!Twitter: @BrEpicCommFacebook: BrEpic Business Book Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.

Sep 14, 2020 • 31min
Kait LeDonne: Aligning Your Brand Authentically
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Kait LeDonne discuss:Branding, marketing, and sales - how are they different and how do they work together for you and your company. The top mistakes companies and individuals make before going to market. Narrowing your niche to become the expert in that specific area. Keeping authentic with your branding. Key Takeaways:People want to feel seen, heard, and understood. If you can tackle that in branding, you will have a step up for other aspects of your client relationship. NIche down your audience down to the details - if you’re not talking to somebody, you’re talking to nobody. FOCUS - Follow One Course Until Successful. Refine and perfect one marketing channel and dominate that before rolling it into another channel. "Right now, social media attention is an all-time high. You need to be out there providing those comforting statements of what people don't know they don't know about how COVID is impacting them, and you need to be doing it on a platform where your audience is most likely spending time." — Kait LeDonne Connect with Kait LeDonne: Website: LeDonneBrands.comLinkedIn: Kait LeDonneTwitter: @kaitledonneFacebook: Kait LeDonneInstagram: @kaitledonneBook: The Attraction Magnet Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.

Sep 7, 2020 • 39min
The Dueling Banjos of Legal Business Development
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jay Harrington discuss:Seeing opportunity even in the time of COVID-19.Prioritizing business development.Networking efficiently and effectively with a plan. Investing in a coach and the benefits of doing so. Key Takeaways:Don't assume that the opportunities aren't there, you've got to become more proactive.Prioritizing that one hour a day to work on business development is the most important thing you probably do all day.Business development is the key to financial freedom and security. There is value in making an investment. We take things more seriously if we invest dollars into something. "You need to position yourself to be more visible and relevant in places where people are now searching for solutions - which is online." — Jay Harrington Connect with Jay Harrington: Twitter: @harringj75Facebook: HarringtonWebsite: HCommunications.bizBook: The Productivity Pivot & More!Show: The Thought Leadership ProjectLinkedIn: Jay Harrington Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.

Aug 31, 2020 • 28min
Duc Trang: Being a Top Law Firm Partner
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Duc Trang discuss:Engaging with companies about their business specifically. How to get in the door with a high-level GC. The value of different billing models. Trends in the law field as a result of COVID-19. Key Takeaways:It’s a lot cheaper to create additional revenue streams from your current client base. You want to have the headspace of your current clients so that they will have conversations about you when you're not in the room or when you're not askingWe will all have our successes and our lack of successes. Take a clientcentric approach - stay curious and look outside of yourself and your career. "In fact, [General Counsel are] probably talking to the firm because they've already been vetted that you have technical expertise, what they want to understand are two things: Do you understand my business and my business problem of which legal is only apart? And how would you marshall the resources at the firm to try to help you solve this business problems?" — Duc Trang Connect with Duc Trang: Website: MLAGlobal.comLinkedIn: Duc V. Trang Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.

Aug 24, 2020 • 23min
Jim Lundy: Embracing the New Reality
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jim Lundy discuss:Why you want to grow your own book of business. Balancing business development, marketing, client service, and the billable hour. Changes to the legal community because of the current pandemic. Giving and assisting with sincerity. Key Takeaways:The best way for a lawyer to be their own boss was to develop their own practiceTreat your business development as important as the billable hour. View other lawyers as collaborators and as potential referral sources, not as competitors. We need to embrace the new reality and use the virtual opportunities that we have to continue to interact with our clients and potential clients. "Whether you're on your own as a solo, whether you're in a small firm, or whether you're in a large firm, I think you do have to view yourself as your own businessman." — Jim Lundy Connect with Jim Lundy: Email: James.Lundy@FaegreDrinker.comCell Phone: 708-557-9656LinkedIn: Jim LundyWebsite: FaegreDrinker.com Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.

Aug 17, 2020 • 27min
Steve Seckler: Coaching to the Next Level
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Steve Seckler discuss:Getting to know others as a way to sell professional services. Challenges and issues facing lawyers in career transitions and building a law practice.Ways to start building your book of business. Transitioning out to potential retirement or out of the law. Key Takeaways:Selling legal services is not about a hard sell. It’s learning about people's concerns and getting to know them over time. Lawyers, as a group, tend to be more conservative, which can make it difficult for them to make lateral moves or move to an equity role. Coaching is a strength, not a weakness. People have succeeded in every field at every level because of a coach. When you are thinking about transitioning, you want to have a plan in place. You won’t want to make the decisions on the doorstep out. You want to make the decisions long before you get out. "The best subjects for coaching are the people that have the most potential." — Steve Seckler Connect with Steve Seckler: Twitter: @stephensecklerWebsite: CounselToCounsel.comShow: Counsel to Counsel with Stephen Seckler, Esq.LinkedIn: Stephen Seckler Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.

Aug 10, 2020 • 23min
Brad Barkin: Having the Right Insurance Broker for Your Law Firm
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Brad Barkin discuss:Reasons for having insurance and challenges that lawyers face in making those choices. Networking to identify new business and new strategic partners. Being a better provider by going beyond the transaction. The changing landscape of the insurance industry. Key Takeaways:Always be offering. What goes around comes around. Embracing technology and adapting that technology to your company can be massively helpful for you and your company. Being selfless goes a long way. If you’re helping someone, in more ways than standard, you will be a better advocate for your client. Insurance is not going anywhere, but there is more technology being inserted into the space which will only benefit the consumer. "If you can be a provider or a source of expertise on something to the industry beyond simply insurance, then you're instantly a better advocate or a better provider then the next guy." — Brad Barkin Connect with Brad Barkin: Website: Embroker.comLinkedIn: Brad Barkin Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business 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.


