Chaos in life happens to lawyers like everyone else. Despite the demanding and stressful nature of practicing law, unhappy circumstances have occurred — the pandemic followed by racial unrest.
These situations don’t include other difficulties. There are still problems like sickness, family problems, financial difficulties, and loss. As if jumping hurdles, lawyers barely miss a beat in their law practices. To add to all of these challenging circumstances, most lawyers are perfectionists.
Perfectionism is a life of endless report cards. Accomplishments, appearances, and standing in the legal community are a duty. Perfection can threaten attorneys’ longevity, satisfaction, and lasting success in their careers.
The Merry-Go-Round
Perfection is a merry-go-round; many lawyers can’t get off. It keeps going faster and faster. Attorneys who get caught up in perfectionism have no idea how to get off.
The legal profession is a perfect breeding ground for perfectionists. It is a self-imposed pressure of being perfect that hovers over their head, as they try to reach the untenable. The perfectionist rarely smiles. Most of the time, these lawyers are impatient, tense, and in a hurry.
Lawyers who seek perfections have unrealistic goals. They set themselves up for burnout, depression, stress, and unhappiness.
Perfection and Lawyers
Of course, it is natural to aim to do better than they did last year. They want to have better billable hours, more clients, and a significant increase in legal fees collected.
Litigators are particularly vulnerable. They can’t give themselves the luxury of making even the smallest mistake.
The constant pressure of “what ifs” hovers over their heads. It eats away all joy demanding more and more excellence. The lawyer disappears in the illusion of this impossible standard.
Psychologists almost always consider perfectionism as a handicap. They note that perfectionists are prone to distress.
They are often haunted by a chronic sense of failure, indecisiveness. Attorneys who are perfectionists are always subject to procrastination and shame.
Meet Rick Who Was A Perfectionist
The other day I met the owner of a medium-sized firm whom I will call Rick. After looking at the website, I was quite impressed and congratulated him on his success.
Rick replied that his firm was no longer successful. He had such high expectations for himself. Then his brother, who was his partner in their law firm, had died, and the firm also lost a big client. He sounded like he felt it was all over. I told him I could help him turn this around. I am happy to say within eight months, we did!
My Stressful Year
I spend my life inspiring lawyers – helping them keep their law practices on track. The law practice must go on, and profits must increase. I am there for them on a daily and weekly basis.
But talking with Rick, made me think about my life a few years ago. One crisis after another occurred. First, my younger brother almost died from a stroke. In the aftermath, he was confined to a wheelchair. Shortly after that, my sweet dog, a Maltese we called Pooh, became ill. She died.
A young family member had a nervous breakdown. (He recovered thankfully) Then my best friend, who was like my sister, came down with cancer. I flew to Los Angeles, California, for two months to help her, and she also died.
Perfectionism cannot be present when loss or sickness happens back-to-back. It is easy to get discouraged. You may become despondent. You may want to give up. I felt like Rick. I felt my best days were over.
3 Ways To Make a Comeback
When I look back, three things helped me keep my business growing. They enabled me to continue my discipline during a difficult time in my life.
- Tell yourself this is only temporary. When devastating life events happen, it is easy to think that this is forever. But it is not. Hang in there. Give up the idea that life is perfect.
- Take care of yourself by eating healthy, and also include drinking water. Go for a walk, relax, and meditate to manage your physical health. Don’t use crutches like alcohol or compulsive overeating that only make matters worse.
- Don’t give up. Don’t allow yourself to become paralyzed. Get support. Talk with a friend; don’t try to do this alone. Getting helps you keep the proper perspective.
Life Happens for Lawyers Too
Yes, life happens to lawyers like everyone else. When one is a perfectionist, they are always beating themselves up. Criticizing oneself is counterproductive. It causes one to become discouraged. A discouraged lawyer is an ineffective one.
Why Most Law Practices Fail to Meet Goals When Things Are Tough
Any successful business makes corrections to their goals and plans as they go along, especially when facing hardships. They set aside time to see where things could have been better.
Review what worked and what did not work. Get excited and develop new strategies for 2020.
Revamp your goals. You were derailed; consider these trying circumstances as a growth opportunity.
Many law practices refuse to review and revamp goals regularly. They won’t ask themselves, “What do we need to change?”
Be Smart Yet Remain Teachable
Make a small beginning with easy actions. Here are three quick questions to begin:
- If I haven’t met my financial goals, what do I need to change?
- Do I care for my body like I am a Ferrari or a run-down jalopy?
- Do I feel invigorated and enthusiastic or run down and exhausted most days?
Spend 30 Minutes to Recover 2020
Schedule thirty minutes to review your year so that you can begin to make necessary changes. Here are the steps.
Step 1
REVIEW: Look at your overall law practice up until now with a critical eye. Inspect each detail. Have an honest review of where you are now. An investigation is imperative.
Consider all aspects of what has happened. How did the pandemic affect your practice, your bottom line? Make two columns on a sheet of paper. List on the left, what worked well. Where did you excel? What are the facts?
In the right column, list what needs to happen to recover the year. Make an honest assessment. What can you do better? Is cash flow a problem? How can I have a financially successful year? Do I need to add a practice area to my firm?
Step 2 RATE:
Using a system from one to ten determine how the items you listed affected your overall law practice last year.
Write down a number. “TEN” means it barely affected you, or your work “ONE” indicates that this item derailed you, your productivity, or success in a significant way.
Step 3 REVAMP:
Do I Need To Change:
- a) My Attitude?
- b) My Priorities?
- c) My Schedule for marketing and business development?
- d) My Personal or Professional Habits?
- e) My Organization and Strategies?
- f) My Relationships (at home and work)?
Step 4 Revitalize:
Claim your Free Law Firm Growth Strategy Session
Claim your Free Law Firm Growth Strategy Session
Write Down 3 Things You must Change in 2020. Use This 30-Minutes Exercise to save and improve your law practice. It is time to give yourself a break. It has not been easy. Let go of perfectionism. It will be worth investment to assess your firm and then to get the help you need to recover your practice in 2020.
Getting emotional and business support will make sure that 2020 is a successful year. Despite all the chaos this year, you can still have a successful year. ◆
