How to Insure Job Security
The attorneys I coach have one common problem. They don't have enough hours in the day to do everything they need to do. Most are working long hours and that "To do" list keeps growing not shrinking. So it is no wonder that when I suggest that they find time to market their practice they think I am just plain daffy!
If you are working in a successful law firm with plenty of business, why bother to market yourself? When clients are flowing in it is hard to imagine that it will ever stop!
During the past few years here in Boston there have been law firms that closed down because they were no longer profitable, law firms that merged with other law firms, and lawyers who were asked to leave their firm because they weren't covering their overhead. What used to feel like a stable environment now feels very unstable. What can an individual lawyer do?
Nothing is constant in the work world today. Everything changes very quickly. To be really nibble attorneys need to be flexible so that they can make a move when circumstances change and their job is threatened.
If you are absorbed in your work, it is sometimes difficult to even notice that the environment is changing. Michael Gerber in his book The E Myth Revisited talks about the three roles a business owner must take: entrepreneur, manager and technician.
The entrepreneur sets the strategy of the business and has the vision, the manager watches over the processes of the business and the technician does the work of the business. If you work in a firm, you have been hired to do the work of the technician (the legal matters you are working on). There are others who look at strategy and manage the work.
I've suggested before that everyone manage his/her own career as though it were a business. Have the attitude of what Daniel Pink calls a "free agent". Not only do you need a career strategy but you need to manage that strategy and your work as a technician. This is really a balancing act ? difficult but not impossible.
For starters in order to be ready for whatever comes up, having a good solid book of business (client relationships that you own) can help you no matter what happens in your firm or in the environment. Good relationships mean that the clients will move with you to another firm or your own practice.
Ok so how do you find the time to create and maintain those relationships? It doesn't have to take a huge amount of time. Make a list of the clients and potential clients that you enjoy working with and who are or would make good clients for you.
Telephone calls, notes, breakfasts, or lunches are all good ways to stay in touch. Marketing can be fun not a burden so find your own way. It can also be done quickly between tasks or at a meal that you would be having anyway.
Take Action:
1. Read The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
2. Read Free Agent Nation by Daniel Pink.
3. Read Ten Ways to Market Your Business Doing What You Love To Do http://www.asparker.com/ppts0305.html
4. Read Ten Ways to Develop A Free Agent Attitude http://www.asparker.com/ppts0103.html
5. Make a lunch date with one of the clients or potential clients on your list. Enjoy the connection!!
About Alvah Parker
Alvah Parker is a Career Coach and Practice Advisor as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine. Parker's Value Program© enables her clients to find their own way to work that is more fulfilling and profitable. Her clients are managers, business owners, sole practioners, attorneys and people in transition. Alvah is found on the web at http://www.asparker.com. She may also be reached at 781-598-0388.
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:07:34 GMT European space probe completes asteroid fly by - Reuters
Reuters - BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Space Agency obtained on Saturday the first images of an asteroid 360 million km (224 million miles) from earth, part of a space mission which scientists hope will help them understand the origins of the planets. Rosetta spacecraft takes asteroid photos Spacecraft flies by remote asteroid, camera stops Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:13:31 GMT Report: Samsung working to acquire SanDisk - San Jose Mercury News San Jose Mercury News - AP Samsung was reported Friday to be considering buying Milpitas-based SanDisk, whose revenue has diminished and stock has plummeted in recent months due to the saturated flash-memory market. SanDisk Shares Soar on Samsung Interest SanDisk Shares Surge as Samsung Considers Acquisition (Update3) Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:19:13 GMT Movies opening this week - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Mercury News "Burn After Reading" (R): The Coen brothers follow "No Country for Old Men" with a dark comedy about two inept gym employees who get hold of a CD-ROM containing a CIA operative's memoirs. Toronto Review: The Coen Brother's Burn After Reading Pitt Rocks to Madonna Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:56:32 GMT Dodgers overtake first place - MLB.com
MLB.com - By Michael Schwartz / MLB.com LOS ANGELES -- Manny Ramirez's five RBIs propelled the Dodgers into first place in the National League West for only the second day all season Saturday after a 7-2 win over the D-backs at Dodger Stadium. Ramirez, Billingsley lead streaking Dodgers into first place Dodgers move into first place Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:14:26 GMT Jenkins: Murray willing to play the spoiler - San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle - (09-06) 18:24 PDT New York -- Andy Murray must feel very alone just now. He's a long way from his native Scotland. He's carrying the hopes of British tennis, but the London press would really prefer him to be English. Federer beats Djokovic to reach US Open final Split stadiums for US Open semis ruffles crowd Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:44:27 GMT Gates outacts Seinfeld in Back To The Future - CNET News
CNET News - Which is why Crispin Porter Bogusky, the agency responsible for the otherworldly new Microsoft TV spot featuring the clowning Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, is already happy. Microsoft's Renewed Vista Strategy You Thought Vista Was Bad? Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:01:52 GMT Palin and McCain’s Shotgun Marriage - New York Times
New York Times - By FRANK RICH SARAH PALIN makes John McCain look even older than he is. And he seemed more than willing to play that part on Thursday night. An Apostle of Alaska 'Sarah Palin Is Wasilla': Town Stands Behind VP Pick Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:18:29 GMT Amazon RSS Feed Generator |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... When you go in for a job interview, you're not... Read More A friend was just promoted to a position of vice-president... Read More Difficult Relationships at Work - How to Influence the UncooperativeWe... Read More Will cubicles be a distant memory for today's workforce? Will... Read More HOW TO WRITE A RESUME-MISTAKE #1NEVER USE THE WRONG PAPER!... Read More Over the years, I have identified two kinds of midlife... Read More I've watched a few episodes of Nanny 911 and with... Read More Many people today have lost jobs after decades of service;... Read More Determine your ideal career--one that's in alignment with your values,... Read More Do you want to double, or increase significantly you're income... Read More The mortgage industry accounted for $1,815,949,279,000 in loan transactions in... Read More When looking for a telecommuting position, it is very important... Read More Disadvantages of Resume SoftwareFormat A large majority of software requires... Read More Anyone who is a jobseeker knows that looking for a... Read More Preparing your resume can often seem like a daunting task.... Read More A study conducted by the Journal of Consumer Research in... Read More Chances are if you're reading this you've thought about becoming... Read More Cover letters are an essential ingredient to your complete résumé... Read More During a job interview, a potential employer asks, "Can you... Read More 1. You dread getting out of bed and going to... Read More Salary negotiating is an important topic that must be addressed... Read More Before you go into the interview, it is important to... Read More A very effective and persuasive tactic when selling something is... Read More Employer and interviewers expect you to answer tough question during... Read More "Know your Ruling Star. One man is better received by... Read More
Adsense
websites
Job Interviews -- What Your Pre-Interview Research Should Cover
Update Your Resume Today
Difficult Relationships at Work - Dealing with Workplace Conflict
The Global Work Marketplace - The Revolution Of How Work Gets Done
How To Write A Resume, Avoid These Resume Mistakes
During Midlife Change: Are You a Jumper or a Clinger?
Workplace 911
Acceptance is the Answer to All Our Problems
Career Discovery - Pinpoint Your Ideal Career
A Concept That Could Double Youre Income in Mystery Shopping
How To Become a Mortgage Broker
Resume Tips To Take You From SAHM to WAHM
Resume Software ? The Hidden Pitfalls
5 Interviewing Tips To Get That Job!
Creating a Winning Resume
Job Interviews: Use the Personal Touch to Get a Job
Becoming A Home Inspector: What the Home Inspection Schools Dont Want You To Know
Writing Great Cover Letters
Active Listening Skill Tips for Interviews
10 Warning Signs That You?re Ready for a Career Transition
Negotiating Skills: How to Obtain the Salary You Want
Salary Negotiation Secrets Revealed
Job Interviews and The Secret of Selling Yourself
3 Questions No Job Seeker Ever Wants To Be Asked?
Business & Career: Know Your Ruling Star!
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Your Value Proposition: A Critical Component To Having A Successful Job Search
Your value proposition is a series of statements defining your... Read More
10 Key Career Success Questions
At some point in every professional or managerial career, there... Read More
Choose Your References Wisely!
So, you need to submit employment references. A simple task,... Read More
Petite Modeling: What Should You Wear to Your First modeling Photo Shoot?
If you're looking into making the petite modeling industry your... Read More
Surprise! Accounting is the Hot New Major
There was a time when accounting was the boring college... Read More
Relocation Issues...Who Will Pay?
In light of recent unemployment figures, and a continual downturn... Read More
7 Steps to Effective Communication
The success of any business or organization depends largely on... Read More
Six Sure-Fire Ways to Get Yourself a Pay Rise
Many employees do not care too much for their bosses... Read More
Federal Job Search Strategies: 7 Tips to Help You Succeed
Despite constant calls by politicians and policy makers to reign... Read More
Dazzle Interviewers With Your Achievements
Attention Job Seekers: Tasks and Responsibilities are BoooringHo hum. The... Read More
How to Write a Better CV (UK), or Resume (USA and elsewhere)
The first point to make is that the terms "CV"... Read More
Career Change Is Not For Wimps! 3 Powerful Steps to Do Work You Love
Tough words... but I truly believe that folks who make... Read More
What is My Calling?
"What is my calling?" Do any of us really have... Read More
Dont Stop! Your Transition is Still Moving!
Q. I'm looking for a new job and plan to... Read More
The Perfect Fit: Women & Franchising
An interesting combination of factors at this time in history... Read More
Finding Success In Todays Job Market
This year we are experiencing the most dynamic and rapidly... Read More
F-E-A-R in the Job Search!
Fear in starting a job search is a four letter... Read More
Students Discover Your Niche By Using Career Assessment
In our ever changing world where job competition is rampant... Read More
Overcoming Inertia in Job Change
If you can hold on to an optimistic belief in... Read More
10 Tips to Help You Ace the Interview and Get the Job
The interview is the "beauty contest" part of the job... Read More
Goal Setting - Road Map To Achieving Your Career Goals
Goal Setting & ResearchYou can only set informed career goals... Read More
Rich Career, Poor Career
What makes for a rich career? It is more than... Read More
Four Important Questions to Ask Your Interviewer; Do You Really Want to Work for This Person?
Many job seekers miss a golden opportunity when they are... Read More
Layoff Survival Guide - Do You Have The Career Management Horsepower It Will Take To Survive?
In a recent survey of over 662 career seekers, some... Read More
Nonverbal Interview Behavior
Non-verbal interview behavior can drown out your verbal self-presentation.Practice interviewing... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |