Are you paying attention to what (and whom) you are attracting?

I've been doing a lot of networking lately with all kinds of groups representing a wide variety of industries and disciplines in addition to law -- and yet the same themes keep emerging. I keep getting introduced to people with the same basic values and philosophies, and it's beginning to make me think - what is the message for me and my practice, and is that message sinking in?

Whether you believe in the "Law of Attraction" or subscribe to the theory that people and events are brought to you by the Universe for a specific purpose or to teach you a particular lesson, you do need to pay attention to what and whom you are attracting to your practice. What do those people say about you and about the image you portray to the world about yourself and your practice? How can you learn from them to maximize your opportunities and make changes where necessary?

Take notice of the kinds of people who are attracted to you - are the same kinds of clients being referred to you over and over? Are you beginning to meet people who fit a particular mold or share a similar world view? Are you confronting the same issues time and time again in your practice?

As you become more aware, you will start to see some patterns, as I have. What can you do with this information?

First, I would recommend that you look critically at those patterns. Do they represent something positive for your practice? Are you attracting what you want? Are these the kinds of people that you enjoy working with?

Next, consider whether what you are attracting is in line with how you see yourself and what you say about yourself and your practice.

If the answer to the above two questions is yes, that's great - you can continue doing what you're doing and look for additional connections, whether that is more work from the clients you're working with, new ways to work with your current referral sources, or additional services that you can provide. Look for ways to maximize your opportunities.

But what happens if what you are attracting is NOT what you want, or if you're attracting someone or something that interests or intrigues you, but it isn't the core of what you do currently? If either of these is the case, it's time to explore why and what you can do about it.

Some food for thought:

Is your message in line with the reality of who you are and what you provide for your clients? If not, you may be creating confusion in the marketplace about who you are and what you do. Believe it or not, sometimes the reality is very different from the message. When this is the case, exploring which one is the stronger attractor can be very telling, and can help you determine whether it's the message or your actions that need to change.

Are you unsure of yourself or not convinced that you can do what you say you can do? Are you practicing in an area that doesn't interest you? Again, your market may be picking up on these inconsistencies. Be clear about who you are, what you do, and the value that you provide to your clients. If you're not engaged and enthusiastic about what you do and who you do it for, your audience won't be engaged either.

Has there been a change over time in what and who you are attracting to your practice? If so, is some change that you would like to make, or a change that the market is demanding of you? Take note of these opportunities as they arise - if your audience is identifying a need, consider how you can be the one to fill it.

If you need help making sense of who and what you are attracting to your practice and what to do about it, contact me to see how I can help.