What's the best way to attract clients and build relationships with them that will last for the long term? Be passionate and committed to what you do and who you do it for.
This morning I read a fabulous post by lawyer Bob Kraft on a lawyer marketing list-serve, and right away, I knew it would be the subject of today's blog post. Bob is a fantastic lawyer and one of the most genuine people I know. I am happy to share his marketing wisdom with you (the emphasis is mine):
Remember that slick ads or a polished elevator speech can't take the place of a genuine love of your job and of your clients. Potential clients will be impressed with your attitude, no matter how rough your presentation might be. Don't spend all your time worrying about your marketing. Spend some time thinking about whether you really care about the work you do and the clients you represent. If the answer is no, find a different practice area.
It isn't often that you hear lawyers talk about how they feel about their clients, their practice, or the services they provide. But if you're not inspired, it's difficult to be committed to doing your best work, finding new solutions for your clients, and developing innovative ways to deliver your services.
Bob says that if you don't really care about the work you do, you should find a different practice area. But your practice area may not be the problem (or the only problem). Perhaps it is the clients you work with or the way you deliver your services that wears you down.
Three steps to putting the passion back in your practice:
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To get started on finding your inspiration again, revisit the reasons you decided to become a lawyer. Are you helping the people you wanted to help? Are you working toward the goals you wanted to accomplish?
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Focus on your strengths and ask yourself whether you use your strengths consistently in your practice. Are you able to use your skills and expertise to help others?
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If you're still stuck, ask yourself what you hate most about your practice now, and why. Examine those statements and see whether they provide any clues about how you can change what you're doing, how you're doing it, or who you're doing it for so that you can enjoy your work more and create a more successful practice.
Need help finding your inspiration or redesigning your practice? Contact me to find out how I can help.
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