Category: Personal Thoughts
As a member of the National Speakers Association, I had the learning opportunity to participate with several of the great voices of our generation.
Marshall Goldsmith, who coaches more than 50 of the top 100 CEOs of corporate America, commented on several psychological observations that I found interesting:
- What we do at home, we do at the office, and vice versa. In other words, if we are unkind to our colleagues, our staff and our adversaries, we’re probably exhibiting to same behavior to our spouses and our children.
- Among the annoying habits that can hold successful people back is winning too much. Generally, we’re successful because we’re competitive. Being competitive, we win. But, we don’t know when to stop. We even compete on who is to select the restaurant to go to for dinner.
- Successful people often add too much value. In other words, we add something to another person’s idea. Instead of saying "thank you" and being quiet, we say that is a great idea, but it would be better if you add x, y, or z. He says that the quality of the idea may go up by 5%, but the participation will go way down … because it now is no longer the other person’s idea. We have stolen the other person’s investment in the process.
- Destructive comments prevents forward progress. Avoid the use of the words, "no," "but" and "however." These words discount the value of the other person and their ideas. By merely saying "thank you," we can create, maintain and retain our team with significantly greater results for all involved.
- Leadership is a contact sport! Studies show that where the leader followed-up, there was greatest improvement.
- What got you here, won’t get you there. Those competitive attributes that got you to the leader’s position are different than the attributes of a successful leader. You must alter your skill set in order to succeed in your new position.
Powerful thoughts, indeed. How can you apply these thoughts to your law practice. How can you coach your team to greater heights? Do you have a coach yourself? What do you want from your coach? Have you told him/her? How can a coach help you reach greater heights?
View page
9-11 has become a date fixed in infamy. Like December 7th (Pearl Harbor). Like many other dates.
The other day, I was listening to NPR; the topic under discussion was 1945 … another date of disaster. On that date, a B-25 plowed into the Empire State Building. Fourteen people died, but it was a tragedy nonetheless. It was an accident, not premeditated murder, not a political statement. Yet, it was a large plane colliding into a tall building in a densely populated area.
Funny how we forget history. I never learned of this. The people of the time suffered and experienced pain, but it did not become a cause celebre. But, also funny (in a sad way), how the politicians of our day used this event for their personal benefit. Sad that this one event spelled the historical demarcation for Pres. Bush’s presidency and how everything done after that was tied to this one event. Sad (not funny) that so many of our civil liberties have been peeled back after decades and centuries of fighting to attain them. Contrast that with 1945 when that event was the catalyst that created the Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946 that allowed citizens to sue the federal government for injuries visited on them by the government. One might say that the government did something to soothe us … rather than to rile us up as we have been in the last 7 years …
Just a personal observation on the importance of leadership … leadership that soothes us and that helps us recover, reassemble and build a better future. Lyndon Johnson failed to do this and it took us at least a generation to overcome his folly. George Bush failed to do this and I’m fearful it will take us more than a generation to recover, if ever. And here, I’m merely mentioning economics, not liberties which seem to be lost altogether.
Leadership is essential for the effective performance of a team … There are many examples in government and in industry. Law firms need to find leaders to better serve their clients as well as the members of the firm. Leadership skills can be taught … and law firms need to focus on this skill if they want to advance.
View page
Tonight, ABC did a program about Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon University computer professor who recently died of cancer. His “last lecture” has become famous, is a book and apparently will be a movie in the near future.
His story is inspiring. His last comment: When you walk off the field, can you say that you gave it your best shot, that you “left it on the field,” and that you have no regrets, even if the end result was not as you would have liked. One of his last comments was to say that he waited until the age of 39 to marry because it took him that long to find a woman whom he loved more than himself. The love and support between these two humans, and their children, also, was a joy to witness.
His comment is an outstanding rule for life, a mantra to live by … and it’s also a very good rule for your law practice. Are you truly committed to your and your law firm’s success? Are your clients the focus of your attention and your primary concern? Can the circle of your joy be extended to include your colleagues and staff? Do you have a toxic law firm environment? What can you do to eliminate this toxicity? What can you do to have a life and a law business you enjoy and value?
View page
We just experienced a major earthquake! One of the largest I’ve ever felt, with the house swaying back and forth. Also, this is the first one in the mid-day. The others I’ve experienced have been in the very early morning. Not sure whether this part of the earth warming or just Mother Nature speaking her piece again!
Hope y’all are o.k. wherever you may be.
View page
We’ve spoken about lawyer rating services before. In one such post, we even mentioned the opposition one State raised about one such service.
How would you like to be a doctor and rated by several such services? Check out www.RateMDs.com, www.DrScore.com, www.Healthgrades.com, www.vitals.com, www.angieslist.com. There’s a lot of “rating” going on these days.
Also, check out what your State Bar is doing about placing more, unwanted, information about you on their member websites. California Bar, for example, recently adopted a provision that will compel lawyers to notify clients if they (the lawyer) don’t carry malpractice insurance … and this information will be posted on the California Bar directory in the membership records segment that is open to the public. Other information, such as if there has been a complaint (not a conviction!)against the lawyer will also be posted. (Note that according to the Bar, about 8% of all complaints are dismissed or the lawyer is found to be innocent of the charge – but the posting will remain on the internet!) Big Brother may, in fact, be watching.
View page
Larry Bodine suggests that our economic doldrums may be over, that thee are signs of recovery. I wonder if Larry talked with former Senator Phil Gramm of Texas?
View page
Carolyn Elefant, proprietor of My Shingle, discussed marketing a solo and small firm by creating a network of professional colleagues. She attracted a standing room only crowd at the LegalTech show in Los Angeles and held the audience in the palms of her hands. Job well-done!
View page
We’re taught that "respect for the law" is an underlying foundation for our society.
In a recent case, the courts have denied a law license to a Michigan applicant because he said he has no respect for the Michigan court that fails to protect the civil liberties of plaintiffs.
"Lawrence says he holds the Michigan court system in low regard because a majority of Michigan Supreme Court justices have been hostile to civil rights plaintiffs. He says he doesn’t regret answering truthfully when the character and fitness committee asked about his political beliefs, and he would do it again." (ABA Journal)
Shouldn’t the justices have recused themselves in this matter, since their reputation was what they were deciding? Obviously, they didn’t think so. The question being asked now is what Mr. Lawrence thinks of the judicial system? Shouldn’t the question be: What happened to the First Amendment and the right to hold an unpopular opinion? Was this really moral turpitude?
How can others respect the law with decisions such as this?
View page
In a previous post, I talked about Lance Armstrong and his approach to success … and how he focuses on the positives in his life, even after a serious bout with cancer.
A new book, The Last Lecture, is written by someone not so lucky. He died at a young age. But before dying, his "last lecture" was videotaped; it inspired many people. They said that "they quit pitying themselves," "the lecture had persuaded them to embrace their own goodbyes," among other responses. The author said that he had "to keep having fun every day I have left, because there’s no other way to play it."
View page
The California State Bar Board of Governors last week adopted a new professional rule of conduct. Lawyers must now advise their clients in writing when they do not carry malpractice insurance, either in their engagement agreement or in a separate document.
The rule is flawed, as I’ve argued in more than one past post. Since lawyers are skilled in finding loopholes, I suspect that this new rule will be honored in its breach … and therefore not provide meaningful protection to clients.
There are creative alternatives the 30,000 sole and small firm lawyers impacted by this rule may take to avoid the intent of the Board and its new rule: (more…)
View page
