In addition to his blog posts about career development, business development and law firm leadership, Cordell Parvin’s books offer career coaching and rainmaking tips in printed form. They’re available for purchase from Life Career Publishing.

Say Ciao to Chow Mein: Conquering Career Burnout

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Say Ciao to Chow Mein: Conquering Career Burnout is a parable-style account of a frustrated, nearly defeated first-year associate and the mentor who coaches him to partner-level success. It’s a light, humorous read with an important, serious message that Cordell Parvin delivers in sought-after seminars and standing-room-only speeches: lawyers must take responsibility for their own careers and set goals that align with their values and purpose.

Say Ciao to Chow Mein is a fast-paced, laugh out-loud read that sends a powerful message without lecturing. It shows, rather than tells, young lawyers that they have far more control than they (and their firm’s partners) realize and that the choice between misery and happiness is theirs to make. And its feel-good message is not mere mind pabulum. Ciao provides practical, solution-oriented information in a storybook package.

Rising Star

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Gina is her law firm’s “rising star” due to her success in acquiring a big client and generating over $1 million dollars in revenue as an associate.  But, Gina feels more like a one-hit-wonder than a success and is on the verge of resigning from the firm.  Her perception that she has failed at client development is only fueled by her belief that firm management hired a client development coach to work with her and other young partners at the firm who are not performing.

Convinced by her husband Tony to hold off on tendering her resignation and give coaching a try, Gina meets with Jim Hardy, the coach hired by her firm–the same Jim Hardy that mentored Tony in Say Ciao to Chow Mein: Conquering Career Burnout.  Following Jim’s advice, Gina learns to set goals and develop a business plan based on her professional and personal roles. By executing her plan, building her reputation, and building relationships, Gina achieves success in her career and client development, while finding greater fulfillment in her personal and family life.

The second in a series, Rising Star provides lawyers and professionals practical step-by-step advice to becoming a successful rainmaker, developing a successful career, and having a fulfilling life.

Prepare to Win

3_sm.jpgIn Prepare to Win, Cordell Parvin teaches young lawyers in small and large firms how to become rainmakers by taking responsibility for their careers. Often, lawyers are so overwhelmed with the pressures to meet billable hour quotas that they are as frazzled as Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory. The famous redhead and her landlord neighbor lasted less than a day under their high-stress work conditions. Many lawyers leave their firms—or the law profession— as soon as they pay off their student loans. Prepare to Win endeavors to reverse this unfortunate trend by teaching lawyers how to become the architects of their careers, and it gives them a blueprint to successful achievement of their aspirations.

It Takes a Team

It Takes a Team is about David Coleman, a hard charging partner in a large Houston firm. David has become a top rainmaker bringing in big clients, but associates hate to work for him. They call him the “career killer.” Many strong associates thought to have a future with his firm leave and join other firms. David feels little responsibility for attrition. David is a composite of partners the authors encountered during their careers and have met in other firms. Your firm might have a lawyer that reminds you of David. You might be a lawyer like David and not even realize it.

David has a fixed mindset. He is bright, hard working and has developed a big ego. He acts as if he has never made a mistake. He is sure that successful partners are born not made. His superior attitude is insufferable because he projects that everyone else is out of step. Behind their backs, he describes lawyers others think are very talented, as dumb or lazy. Senior management of his firm is becoming frustrated with David because, despite his ability to attract business, he is hurting the morale of associates. His stated attitude is that “if I make my numbers, I don’t have to worry about bringing younger lawyers along. I don’t have time for the ‘touchy-feely’ stuff.”

David knows that something is wrong. He is not really happy with his life as a partner, but he doesn’t know what to do and the idea of seeking help is terrifying to him. He is afraid it will show weakness. Does David remind you of any lawyers in your firm? Does he remind you of any public figures?

It Takes a Team is a parable about what would realistically cause David to change. More importantly, it is an illustration of why You Can’t Make Rain by Yourself.

eBooks

Cordell has also written the following eBooks, available for download in PDF format:

Client Service

 

 

Blogging and Social Media

 

 

Client Development Coaching Program

 

 

CD_Position_Yourself_for_Success_Final.jpgPosition Yourself for Success

 

 

Client_Development_nutshell_cover.jpgClient Development in a Nutshell
 

 

ebook_Strategy_for.jpgStrategy for Your Career and Your Life