In today’s fast-paced business world, no one is going to give you “permission” to engage in continuous learning. In fact, the busier our lives become, the less likely we are to carve out time to engage in learning new ideas or concepts. However, Continual Learning Is Essential, both to you and to your law firm’s future success! To make this happen, YOU must take the initiative.
Ultimately, we all make or carve out time for the things that are most important to us. Most lawyers fail to see the importance of pushing themselves to acquire fresh information and new ideas. Instead, the temptation for many lawyers is to subscribe to the inoculation theory of education; “I have my law degree, and now I don’t need to learn anymore.” Not only is this attitude completely out of step with successful living but these days it may be downright dangerous.
Accelerated change is going on at a record pace in virtually every area of human existence and endeavor. Current knowledge can become obsolete almost overnight. Gone are the days of the Artisan who learns a craft and utilizes it for a lifetime, with little to no change. In short: The Only Constant These Days Is Change Itself.
To stay relevant, and most importantly, to grow as individuals and as law firm owners, we must engage in self-learning, with a commitment to growing and increasing our knowledge base long after our formal schooling days are over. We should strive for an upward spiral of growth as we increase our knowledge and skill-set. This enriches us as individuals and as professionals; it makes us better people, better citizens, better family members to those we love and better firm owners.
Well-known business author and change agent, Tom Peters, calls this process cultivating “towering confidence.” As we continually acquire new knowledge in our business areas, for example, we become better at what we do. By continuing to learn and hone our skills, capabilities, and understanding, we will eventually become more highly regarded and sought after by clients and our professional peers.
Continuous learning means we are continually keeping the “raw material power” of our brains freshly stocked, which in turn, enables us to come up with more and better ideas and innovations. New ideas and solutions are a primary way that you can add significant value to your law firm and thereby increase your firm’s success.
This flood of fresh water propels us forward in life to experience greater achievement, greater understanding, and greater successes, both interpersonally and professionally.
Multi-millionaire businessman and philanthropist W. Clement Stone has said: “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” He advocated spending .5 to 2.0 hours each day in study and thought. This dedication, in combination with insatiable curiosity, will propel you forward steadily, in both good times and bad. It broadens your scope and your opportunities to achieve. As you begin to seek out fresh ideas and to build upon your knowledge base, with committed study and thought, you will discover that it is an exciting journey.
So where do you begin? If you are reading this month’s Insider Journal, then you already have a zeal for knowledge! You already understand its importance and its potential. So, build upon this base. I suggest you read at least one to two books each month on management and marketing. Make a conscious choice to build your vocabulary, as this will help you present your ideas more persuasively, whether in a courtroom, a conference room, or at the dinner table.
And, of course, I highly recommend you mark your calendars and sign up to attend this year’s 10th Anniversary Super Summit being held June 25-28 in New Orleans, at the Ritz Carlton. We have 3 ½ days and over 26 lawyers sharing strategies and secrets of their success in growing and managing their law firms, as well as industry leaders in the latest digital marketing. It will be a rapid-fire time for acquiring fresh ideas and insights that will be directly transferable to your law practice. We have even added a bonus day focusing exclusively on the latest in the world of Mass Torts. Just go to www.pilmma.org/SuperSummit to find out more and to register before the Ritz Carlton room block sells out.
When you stop learning, you stop growing. This stagnation can be a death sentence for you and your law firm. So recommit today to becoming a continual leaner. It is an exciting journey you will not regret!
