Feature Article: Improve Your Performance by Celebrating Your Successes
by Allison Shields
Lawyers have a penchant for perfectionism. They have a tendency to focus on the things that they haven't done, that they just can't get to (like marketing, or client calls 'just because'), or that aren't being done as well as they would like to do them.
Get out of the overwhelm rut
Too often, lawyers get mired in the piles of work that never seems to end (which is a good thing - a steady stream of work means a steady stream of cash, too) and they become discouraged looking at their ever-growing ‘to-do’ list. It’s not surprising that this can be overwhelming. As a result, lawyers forget to take the time out to acknowledge what they have done and all of the great things they are already doing for their clients or their practice. This applies to lawyers in all situations, but can be a particular problem for solo lawyers or for young lawyers who are striving to succeed.
If you are feeling overwhelmed or if you simply want to create new energy in your practice, stop, take a breath and start a new habit: take stock of and celebrate your successes.
Form a New Habit: Celebrate Your Successes
Sometimes you can only see your accomplishments by looking back at where you’ve been and how far you have come.
Sometimes lawyers become discouraged and want to give up before they have a chance to achieve something big simply because they've set their sights so high and have such overwhelming expectations that success seems so far away as to appear unachievable. That's one of the reasons why I am such a big fan of David Allen’s "next actions."
I often encourage clients to focus on David Allen's concept of next actions—breaking down any goal or task into the very next action that must be taken to make progress toward that goal. This is effective because it reduces overwhelm. To make it even more effective, acknowledge and celebrate those actions as they are completed.
Regularly Acknowledge Accomplishments
Remember: "inch by inch, life's a cinch; yard by yard life is hard." When you celebrate the daily small accomplishments and the larger milestones, you help build up momentum that keeps you moving toward the larger goal and completion of the project. Acknowledging and celebrating achievements helps you bounce back from failures or mistakes and overcome setbacks; you won’t get so discouraged when things don't go your way.
Author and motivational speaker Jon Gordon encourages people to make yourself a success every day of your life by celebrating successes daily.The "Law of Attraction" states that what you focus on grows—when you focus on success, your success grows; when you focus only on failures and shortcomings, you experience more failures and shortcomings. If you can't take time to consider your accomplishments on a daily basis, at least take stock weekly or monthly and celebrate your successes. Reviewing your successes regularly inspires you and increases your confidence level by providing 'proof' that you can do what you set out to do.
Create a success file. One way to acknowledge your successes and combat those discouraging feelings is to create a "success file" as tangible evidence of your achievements. Include thank you notes and emails from clients and colleagues. File a copy of testimonials in your success file. Got a recommendation from a client or colleague on LinkedIn? Save a copy to your success file.
Track positive client outcomes. Keep a log of successful outcomes achieved for clients, and add that info to your success file. Create a timeline and put visual reminders of your successes on it so that you can see it at a glance. (This can be helpful for marketing purposes, when it is time to raise a client's fee or to obtain additional work from an existing or former client, too.)
Share your good news with others. In my old firm, we would announce favorable verdicts over the office intercom as soon as a case was over so that the whole office could feel a part of the success—and could congratulate the trial lawyer. If you work alone, share your successes on social media, with family and friends or with your mastermind group.
Acknowledge the success of others. Celebrating success shouldn't be limited to yourself—look for ways to celebrate the successes of others both inside and outside of your firm as well. Even acknowledging the success of others can help build your own success. Create a 'success circle' with supportive and like-minded friends or colleagues where you each agree to share and celebrate successes regularly.
Our special guest columnist this month is Allison Shields of Legal Ease Consulting. Allison works with successful solo practitioners and law firms to establish higher value practices by developing strategies to increase growth and profitability. Her services include individual coaching; assessments and surveys; procedure and systems analysis and creation; and business planning and business development. She also does workshops for law firms, bar associations and other lawyer's groups on topics including time management, legal marketing basics, law firm operations, billing practices and billing alternatives, targeting your ideal clients, and other practice management and business development issues. She shares her valuable advice at the Legal Ease Blog.
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Cartoon: Courtoons
by David Mills
Courtoons are the creation of David Mills, an Ohio appellate lawyer who works with litigants and law firms involved in civil and criminal cases in federal courts across the country. Visit David's law firm website at www.MillsFederalAppeals.com
Video of the Month: Whose Line: Greatest Hits Songs of the Attorney
To watch more hilarious law-related videos from around the web, join us at The Video Venue!
Suzan Charlton is a professional cartoonist who is rumored to practice insurance coverage law as a hobby for a major Washington D.C. law firm. Her cartoons cover a wide range of law-related topics, from law school grades to law firm romance.
Song of the Month: I'm Too Busy
by Bob Noone & the Well Hung Jury
Hello, law office. . . um. . . um hum. . . and you are? And this would be regarding? Please hold.
Mr. Noone, lines two, four and five are still holding for you; what do you want me to tell them?
I’m on level two; I’m busy!
I’m too busy for your call
Too busy for your call
No time at all
I’m too busy for your letter
I got something better
I’ll get to it . . . whenever
I’m too busy for your fax
I’m at the max
Why don’t you relax
I’m a lawyer if you know what I mean
And I do my little thing in the courtroom
In the courtroom, in the courtroom
I’ll sue your little tush
In the courtroom
Mr. Noone, the warden is still holding on line five.
What’s that? I forgot to file the stay
Hey it’s Friday
And with what I’m getting paid
He is going to get the chair
And you think I care?
It’s five, I’m outta here!
I’m a lawyer if you know what I mean
And I do my little thing in the courtroom
In the courtroom, in the courtroom
Yes I’ll sue your little tush
In the courtroom
Mr. Noone, all six lines are still waiting for you.
You know not to interrupt me when I, I . . . level four, level five!! Die, die, yah!!!!
Just one of the hilarious songs on
Cartoon: Law and Disorder
by Paul Brennan
Cartoon: Jonny Hawkins Collection
by Jonny Hawkins
Did you know that Jonny licenses his artwork for use in newsletters, presentations, print publications and on websites? He even offers special rates for student and teacher use.
You can also purchase original artwork and custom prints (framed or unframed) from Jonny.
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Take a close look!The dials of our watches and clocks are marked in tenths of an hour—the same way many lawyers, paralegals and law clerks bill for their time.
