Focus and Discipline are the two major factors that determine success. Over the years, I have seen many bright, highly intelligent lawyers who consistently lag behind their competitors- Competitors who may not be as smart, but who know how to “get things done.” These successful lawyers have learned the secret to rapid Implementation.
Do you know what this secret is? Actually, it is two things: 1) Successful lawyers are laser-focused, and 2) they have the inner strength and self-discipline to consistently stay the course and not allow themselves to become sidetracked.
Focus always precedes success. Both Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, when interviewed, attributed a large part of their success to focus. Growing your law firm is no different; If you want to achieve the success you desire, there is no substitute for both focus and discipline—it’s what allows you to set your goals with clarity and then IMPLEMENT them. You must “Starve your distractions and feed your focus.” Unfortunately, for most busy lawyers remaining focused is a major challenge, and consistent discipline is often elusive. So how can you become more focused and disciplined?
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Claim your Free Law Firm Growth Strategy Session
Great athletes and Olympian medalists are focused and disciplined, and most of them hire a coach or personal trainer, even when they “know” what they need to do to hone their skills. They rely on a personal coach to help them raise the bar, increase their focus, and make sure they continue making progress. Let’s face it, all of us can become sidetracked from time to time, even all-star athletes. Coaches add support, mentoring, strategy, and accountability to the process.
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Claim your Free Law Firm Strategy Session
I feel that I am as focused as most anyone, but I still pay a trainer to help me work out three times a week. Why? I have the weights at my house. I could do it alone, right? The reality is that when it comes to weight training alone at home, I’m much more likely to be sidetracked. I have great intentions, but it’s easy for something or someone to get in my way. By hiring a trainer and paying them each week, I have skin in the game. I don’t like to waste money. The trainer is my reinforcement to make sure I don’t lose my focus and discipline. Since I’m paying him to help me, I’m much less likely to let excuses get in my way. He coaches, encourages, and helps me set goals. He also provides accountability that helps me make progress.
The same principle applies to achieve professional goals as it does personal fitness goals. Several years ago, I spent two years in a Professional Coaching program, and the experience proved invaluable to me. I had skin in the game and accountability. The Coaching program with its built- in mentoring helped me create a clearer vision for my business; The experience improved my ability to focus and to consistently maintain the discipline I needed to propel my firm forward. Since the program wasn’t tailored specifically to lawyers, it was on me to place the coaching principles into a legal context. Even so, it was worth my time and expense.
As a result of my Professional Coaching experience, I began thinking about how I could take what I’ve learned and share it with other lawyers. As a result, I have spent the last three years developing a strategic coaching program designed specifically for lawyers.
The knowledge we provide our GOLD members is great content—but I want to see more lawyers maintain the focus and discipline to implement that Content—to be able to create a Vision for where they want to take their firm, the short-term and long-term goals needed and then to conceptualize the steps necessary to reach their goals- Most importantly, I want to see more members maintain the focus and discipline they need to implement their goals for success. I want to see our members grow the kind of law firms they desire.
I urge you to find a coach, mentor or give PILMMA’s new Strategic Attorney Coach program a try. Things don’t change until you take action, and a coaching program can jump start implementation like nothing else! Whether you hire a personal Coach, mentor, or give our new Attorney Coaching program a try, the key is to make a change that ensures you stay focused and disciplined so you can implement the goals you set for your firm’s success.
One last piece of advice: Try to break your goals down into segments. It’s important to think long term, setting one-year goals, and long range three-year and five-year goals. But, to really make things happen, you should shift your mindset to think quarterly, breaking down those one-year goals into quarters, and then identifying the specific steps and short-range quarterly goals needed to achieve your results. You will accomplish far more and be less likely to lose momentum if you can make this important mindset shift.
To implement big goals, you break them into small goals- It’s like eating an elephant; you do it one bite at a time. When you approach your strategic marketing and management goals and growth trajectory in this way, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. And remember, nothing happens until you take action, so start today!
**Our first Strategic Attorney Coach workshop begins April 24, 2020, in Myrtle Beach, so if you are serious about giving our Strategic Attorney Coach Program a try, now is a great time to sign up! ◆
