Let me tell you something straight – mediocrity is a choice, and excellence is a habit. I’ve spent my career watching companies rise and fall, and the one constant separator between success and failure is the relentless...more
2/20/2025
/ Best Practices ,
Business Development ,
Business Strategies ,
Career Development ,
Corporate Culture ,
Firm Leadership ,
Innovation ,
Law Practice Management ,
Leadership ,
Management ,
Professional Development ,
Strategic Planning ,
Thought Leadership
In the demanding worlds in which we all work, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by ambitious goals and high-stakes outcomes. Many professionals fixate on major victories—landing the prestigious customer, client, or sale;...more
At the start of a new calendar or fiscal year, business leaders and professionals face a critical opportunity to evaluate which practices, policies, and procedures drive value for their organizations. This is important to...more
1/15/2025
/ Audits ,
Best Practices ,
Business Development ,
Business Operations ,
Business Strategies ,
Client Services ,
Corporate Culture ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Restructuring ,
Employees ,
Firm Leadership ,
Labor Relations ,
Leadership ,
Performance Reviews ,
Performance Standards ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Risk Management ,
Strategic Planning
The power of lifting up others cannot be overstated. Mentoring and supporting colleagues or subordinates fosters an environment of growth and productivity. This practice not only benefits the individual being supported, but...more
In the context of work and your career, the phrase “every adventure requires a first step” takes on profound significance. Just as in any grand expedition or personal endeavor, professional growth and success requires an...more
Recently, a client told me about an employee who not only quit, but burned bridges with the company, its management, and many co-workers on his way out the door. This accomplished nothing. Even worse, before the bridge was...more
It's a skill to fully listen to one or more people in a conversation. If you want to test how people are listening, ask them to repeat back to you the message or direction you were trying to convey. You will be surprised at...more
A few years ago, I read a quote that resonated with me. I happened upon the quote this week and had the same reaction. The quote is “Everyone is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them.” This insightful...more
Organization is more important than ever. Many of us are working remotely. Even if you aren’t, being organized makes a difference. If you have children, school is about to start around the country with remote learning,...more
Have you ever trained or practiced something with a goal in mind, such as improving your time on your daily run, memorizing your lines for your role at the local theater, or something similar? When you do, you have to make...more
During this social distancing and quarantine limbo we currently find ourselves in, I have found myself taking time to think about my career, the road to where I am, and the road forward. Through doing so, I had some random...more
You probably saw the title and thought “what is he writing about?” It could about the great Talking Heads song of the same name, but it’s not. It’s about living in circumstances that changed on a dime forcing most to work...more
Intention figures into everything you do. Intention is your aim or plan. If you approach something with no intention it will be more difficult to complete your plan or reach your goal. Intention can relate to long- term or...more
What constitutes a win depends on you and what you value. It could be your kid making the sports team or you landing a big client. Either way, what do you do to acknowledge these types of victories? Do you take your kid out...more
This is part of my firm's culture. We have a fundamental that says: Be a lifetime learner and continually invest in your own education, both formally and informally. Be curious and never stop improving your legal, technical,...more
We all make mistakes. Sometimes others notice, sometimes not. When you do, find a way to learn from it and laugh it off. If you do so, it will pass faster and you can move forward instead of looking backwards....more
Proofreading is important. We all know we should proofread everything we write, but we all are busy.
I remembered this last week when I posted a blog that was repeated. Yes, you read what I wrote, and then you could...more
When I was younger, clichés such as “The days are long, but the years are short” kind of bugged me. As I aged, I learned that clichés are clichés because they generally are true for most people. I am reminded of how quickly...more
Being a lifetime learner is important. Curious minds need new information like your body needs food and water. Similar to your body needing different types of nourishment, there is so much to learn, whether it is related to...more
My wife’s friend was lucky enough to go to Italy for a few weeks with some of her close friends. When they caught up recently, this woman told my wife that she was so glad she went. Even though her family vacations every...more
JW Way Fundamental #11: Demonstrate Respect -
"Treat others with courtesy and dignity. Show respect by listening fully and actively, paying attention to your words and attitude. Give your undivided attention without...more
Blog As the week of July 4th is near, a huge number of Americans will take the roads and even the air to get out of town. Whether you are doing so or not, make sure to plan time away from your work....more
I had a conversation this week that reminded me of a post I wrote years ago about the importance of preparation. I went back and looked at it. The post was spot on regarding the conversation between my client and me. I...more
Picture this, you are working on an important project with a fast approaching deadline when suddenly an email comes into your inbox and your computer makes a sound alerting you to this new email. What do you do? You know the...more
It’s the third full week of a new year. I hadn’t decided what to write about when I saw a great quote from Anthony Bourdain. The last part of the quote caught my attention. He said “Open your mind. Get up off the couch....more