I want to help you become a more successful lawyer. If you think, you can only be successful if you sacrifice a good family life, I disagree. But, you have to make success happen. You can’t expect success by waiting for it to happen.
A few years ago I read Jack Canfield’s book: The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
. In the book he reports that psychologists tell us that 90% of our behavior is habitual. I agree.
If that is true, what are your habits? What client development habits do you have? What career development habits do you have? Are they contributing to your success?
Canfield begins Principle 35 with a quote from Ken Blanchard:
There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.
That is a powerful stuff. For years I was committed to my personal fitness. I woke up the same time every morning and went to the fitness club.
A few years ago I was only interested in my physical fitness, but not committed. I made excuses for not working out. Needless to say, working out was no longer part of my daily habits and I was not feeling as well as when it was. I also gained weight.
Now, I am in my 70s. I read how important it is to getting vigorous exercise each week. I struggle because I lost the habit a few years ago.
Here are some questions for you on commitment:
- What are you committed to do?
- Are you committed to becoming a better lawyer?
- Are you committed to learning more about your client’s business?
- Are you committed to providing extraordinary service to your clients?
- Are you committed to making client development efforts part of your every day habits?
- Are you committed to helping other lawyers in your firm succeed?
- Are you committed to working collaboratively with other lawyers in your firm?
- Are you committed to making time to be with your family and friends?