Archives

Balance of Life

Today is the first full day of a journey/vacation. We may be gone for 3 weeks+, depending on how we feel as we travel through Central and Northern California on to Northern Oregon, and then returning by way of the Pacific Coast … My wife is a bit anxious and I’m a bit eager. For cross country purposes, this trip will be our "dry run." If we do well, next year we’ll go across the country from L.A. to N.Y.

If you want to follow our trail, tune in to Facebook.

I’ve always believed that over a life time, there is a balance of life. But, at any one time, there is a focus on that which you’re doing, not a balance. Today, and for the next few weeks, I’m going to test out whether I can focus on relaxing, "smelling the roses," and appreciating the beauty of our surroundings. Being me, of course, it’s not likely that I will do no work. In fact, I’ve brought material with me. But I hope to do a fair amount of reading and learning en route. To me, that’s balance. In fact, that’s the basis of our trailer license, STESPOT.


View page

Customer priority

As quoted by Alan Weiss, citing an IBM survey, CEO’s focus on three elements:

1. Embody creative leadership (take prudent risk, invite disruptive innovation)
2. Reinvent customer relationships (set priority of customer intimacy)
3. Operating dexterity (flexible cost structures and opportunistic capabilities)

Shouldn’t this be what law firms do? Take prudent risk to grow the practice and enhance the well-being of its members and staff; focus their energies outward, to benefit their clients, which would include both pricing and costing flexibility.

Too often, law firms are all about their lawyers, and they forget the well-being (intimacy) of their customers/clients.


View page

Lateral hires are in a seller’s market!

I’ve just talked with two legal industry "executive search" recruiters. They have never been busier in the last 5 years! And quality laterals are being sought!

That tells me that the economy is in recovery mode; that lateral partners are still being pruned from large law firms; that partners are getting tired of the politics in larger law firms where they see no rational basis for decisions being made that may very well impact their economic future; and that most law firms have yet to act as enterprises rather than as hotels for sole practitioners. Laterals with good books of business can just as easily move to another firm that will provide them with a larger umbrella and greater opportunity … or even start their own boutique law firm.

This further suggests that while the economy has forced changes in law firms, the sea change some discuss hasn’t yet taken place … and may never. As I’ve said before, we’re in an evolutionary, not revolutionary, mode. Write me with your thoughts and experiences on this.


View page

Law Firm Management

Save the date!  The Midwestern Law Firm Management Conference will be held in Chicago on September 21st and sponsored by West … Save the date! And plan to attend at the Chicago Bar offices.


View page

Las Vegas rocks

I’m in Las Vegas on assignment. The heat index is down, making it more comfortable to walk … The last time I was here, the city felt depressed, I think reflecting the economy. Today, the spirits of the people seem to be "up," the money flowing more loosely and the people again seeking a good time. This, too, seems to be reflecting the spirit of the country. While the feeling seems to be more subdued than before, I sense a degree of optimism not present during my last assignment here.

Since the economics of law firms follows the economics of clients, I suspect that our legal community will reflect more positive results this year, though not yet a break-through. The question becomes whether it will take another decade for the Great Recession to be only a bad memory or whether we will see a real sea change.


View page

John Wooden & Leadership

With John Wooden’s passing, we have lost a true friend. While countless accolades have been heaped on him for his basketball genius, Coach Wooden was, in essence, a teacher, revered for his refreshingly pure and simple principles. These values guided everything he did, from developing young players into contributing and principled adults, to motivating executive teams to work together toward a higher purpose.

Coach’s Pyramid of Success is a foundation for a balanced and generous life in full, and his passion in later life was to help educate people in these principles. We are blessed that Coach Wooden’s commitment to developing and nurturing the next generation of leaders continues through the John Wooden Global Leadership Program, which he chose to locate at UCLA Anderson. A hallmark of the program is the annual John Wooden Global Leadership Award bestowed on an inspiring CEO who embodies Coach’s values.

The UCLA Anderson website now features a compilation of videos of Coach’s discussions on leadership at the John Wooden Global Leadership Awards, and with students and alumni, as well as an opportunity to express your thoughts about Coach Wooden and his leadership teachings. UCLA has also created a website in tribute to Coach Wooden, with an extensive collection of video and commentaries from players and many others who knew him.


View page