As many of you know, I’m a big believer in continual learning. Even after 38 years of building numerous million-dollar law firms for myself and my law firm clients, I still find that I learn something new every month.
I see learning taking place at three separate levels:
1. What you know you know;
2. What you know you don’t know; and
3. What you don’t know you don’t know.
These three levels of learning fit together to create knowledge, perception, and vision.
Level 1: What You Know You Know:
In this first level of learning, you have a strong knowledge base and know exactly what you or your firm need to be doing in order to grow your law firm in the direction you desire. You can lead confidently with processes and procedures and the necessary steps nailed down. As a result, you can do a great job. You’re empowered and confident, and all that’s left is to fill in a few bits of information or knowledge here and there. For most of us, this level of learning and expertise can only come about after having done the homework of learning, over time. It is here that we hit our stride and propel our firm forward. (No one stays at Level 1, of course. There is ebb and flow in learning levels as you face a variety of challenges and circumstances in your life and firm.)
Level 2: What You Know You Don’t Know:
In the second level of learning, you have a significant knowledge base that is moving you and your firm forward, but you also appreciate or recognize that you have a deficit in a particular area, and recognize the need for additional learning and know-how in order to propel your firm forward. At this point, you are aware of what you don’t know and are able to hone in on the measures necessary to fill that void. You are aware that you are missing something, and you know it hinders you from being as effective as you can be. You have some work to do to get your practice where it needs to be, but you are able to identify the problem areas and the resources needed to solve the issue(s). Because you are committed to growth and appreciate the need for continual learning, you are undaunted by the momentary challenges; You are confident you can and will obtain that missing link.
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Level 3: What You Don’t Know You Don’t Know
In this third level of learning, you are keenly aware that to grow your law firm, you need to move beyond what you’ve always done, but you are clueless as to what needs to be done to change things. The only way forward is through uncharted waters.
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While learning and growth occur at all three of these levels, the largest growth occurs when we are willing to take the plunge, and break out into uncharted waters. It is in this third stage, of “uncomfortableness,” where you Don’t Know What You Don’t Know, that dramatic change can happen. This level of dramatic change can only occur when you are willing to critically admit that you don’t know the question, much less the answer. Believe it or not, at this stage, you are struggling with the same challenges, frustrations, and setbacks that others are also struggling with. It is at this point that we need to be willing to seek out opportunities that guide us toward a new vision and new realities. There are other successful attorneys that can light your way, providing that needed inspiration, and the winning strategies for success.
This is why PILMMA membership and the Mastermind meetings are such great learning experiences for ALL lawyers. These memberships can help you make the breakthroughs necessary to propel you to the next level. They can move your thinking forward and help your firm reach that next level of growth and success that you’ve always wanted but haven’t been able to obtain for yourself and your firm until now. It’s why I’m still attending Mastermind groups myself, and striving to stay abreast of the latest in new technologies, new trends, new social media platforms, etc.
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Embrace the fact that you Don’t Know What You Don’t Know. Do not give up. Instead, always seek opportunities for continual learning rather than swimming only in the chartered, safe water of what you know. You must dip your toes into the uncharted water, even if or when it is uncomfortable. If you always stay in your comfort zone, you will miss out on breakthroughs, strategies, and ideas which could catapult your firm forward, and without which you remain stagnant.
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It is the wise man or woman that recognizes that there is much he or she does not know. By failing to seek more knowledge from others, you will remain stuck and miss out on the opportunity of achieving your and your firm’s full potential. Here’s to a month of renewed Continual Learning. Tune in for this months’ webinars, teleseminar, Q&A with me, and the Touchstone and Opus Sessions, as well as taking a look at all the learning resources available to you in our ever-updating PILMMA Members Toolkit!
