Success is not something that happens to you; it is something that happens because of you, the game of success or life. Here are some of the most common excuses I hear from lawyers as to why they are not successful.
Excuse: I don’t have enough money to compete in my market.
Answer: I started my first law firm with only $2,500.
Excuse: I’m not as smart as my competitors.
Answer: Studies have shown that grit and perseverance are much more important to achieving success than intellect. To do well in school, I always had to study while my friends partied or watched TV. At the end of the day, some of them may have had more “natural” ability, but I ended up with scholarships in college and law school.
Let’s peel back the layers of Excuses and look at why lawyers make excuses in the first place. The common reasons people make excuses are:
1. FEAR of Failure or the Unknown
2. BELIEF that Life is Unfair
3. Lack of Fire in the Belly or Motivation
4. Lack of Confidence
Let me say this: My parents had a 4th and 8th-grade education, respectively. I was on my own and supporting myself at 17 and worked my way through undergraduate and law school. When I graduated, my total student loan debt was only approximately 18K. I was never in the top 10% of my class, and I had to work to achieve the grades I did. What I’m trying to get you to understand is that if I was able to build and sell two multi-million-dollar law firms, then YOU can too!
The only thing holding you back is yourself! The key to experiencing Success in Your Life and Your Law firm is to stop making excuses. Let me share 9 steps that you can take to Stop Making Excuses and Start Experiencing Greater Success.
1. Stop comparing yourself to others. The truth is they are probably comparing themselves to you anyway.
2. Stop fearing the unknown. Sure, things go awry; that’s life. These glitches are not failures, but opportunities for learning and growth. (Think Thomas Edison, and you get the picture.)
3. Stop blaming others for your misfortunes.
4. Take Action! Nothing happens, and nothing changes until you take action. You must propel yourself forward rather than treading water.
Claim your Free Law Firm Growth Strategy Session
5. Leverage your Strengths and Delegate Your Weaknesses. We all have strengths, and we all have weaknesses. To maximize your effectiveness, you should do more of what you are naturally good at and do not hesitate to delegate or outsource the tasks that you hate, that you struggle with, or that could be performed just as well or almost as well by someone else.
6. Change your habits and get rid of negativity in your thought processes and your environment. Look for the ways to accomplish the task at hand rather than the reasons why it can’t be done.
7. Visualize your success. We cannot change our DNA, but we CAN change our mindsets. Envision the success you want to achieve and set about creating the road map that will get you there.
8. Start out by setting small and attainable goals to help boost your confidence as you work towards the larger goals.
9. Never think small; The only limits we have are those we place on ourselves.
Claim your Free Law Firm Strategy Session
Read the 9 steps above again and commit to Taking Action and Responsibility for your Own Success. Start by identifying just 1 or 2 of these steps, and once they are mastered, add 2 more, etc. Set deadlines for yourself and hold yourself accountable, without wimpy excuses. Seek out a Coach or Mentor for motivation, insights and accountability assistance. Join a Mastermind Group so that you are surrounded by other motivated and like-minded attorneys seeking to propel their firms forward.
Remember, stop being a wimp and start challenging yourself to be more and accomplish your own success. People get so used to making excuses that it becomes their default answer to any challenge. Stop making excuses and start taking Action Today! If you do, Success will not be far from your grasp. That’s a promise.
