Ed Interviews Russ Ruffolo, Asset Recovery and Recycling Coordinator of MRK Group LTD in Elgin, Illinois. Though based in Elgin, his company’s focus is national. Russ will talk about recycling electronic equipment. In California alone, 6,000 computers become obsolete daily! And 680 million computers will become obsolete within the next few years! What happens to them? Russ will discuss the importance of recycling, the methods of recycling and what to look for.
Wesst LegalEdcenter will be presenting a teleseminar on the topic of financial planning and metrics for reviewing profitability. Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Unless there is a specific goal, one usually expressed in a number, there can be no goal. It’s been said that unless something can be measured, it has no value. Yet, when talking about creating a financial plan or a budget or, sometimes, even a strategic plan, there frequently comes a glaze over lawyers’ eyes. “That’s something for someone else to do, not me.” Yet, it’s this financial component that let’s us know whether we’re successful. How else could we tell? By the amount of money in our bank account? Yes, but how do we know whether that amount shouldn’t or couldn’t have been more? What is our benchmark?
Buying legal services is generally compensated, still, by the hour. But, according to Wall Street Journal writer, Ashby Jones, on May 2, 2007 (Marketplace Section) says that technology now permits law firms to gather cost information in greater detail than ever … and thus permits them to determine what it cost to deliver those services. With this, law firms are more willing to enter into fixed fee arrangements.
Some General Counsel, responsible for their company’s legal expenses, are interested in fixing the fees in order to be able to budget for their department’s expenses. Cisco, for example, has more than 70% of its annual $125 million legal budget under fixed fee arrangements.
Today, I had the pleasure of listening to Fred Lederer, Professor and Director of the Center for Legal & Court Technology and the Courtroom 21 Project.
I had heard of this project for many years but this is the first time I’ve been in it … a marvelous example of future thinking, applied to today’s world. Prof. Lederer made some very interesting observations: (more…)
Donna Payne is president and founder of Payne Consulting Group, a training and development company headquartered in Seattle, WA. She and the company have authored 12 books on Microsoft Office including the best-selling series: Word for Law Firms and Excel for Law Firms. She was an original member of the Microsoft Legal Advisory Counsel and is a frequent speaker at legal and technical conferences.
Donna discusses with Ed the new Microsoft Office 2007 and the dramatic differences between this edition and all of Microsoft’s previous formats.
This edition is truly a remarkable switch in format that will require users to pay attention.
I wrote about Lee Iacocca’s new book on leadership. (See my last blog.)
Serendipity how some things come together. Just after writing that blog post, I was asked to read John Gardner’s book, On Leadership. He wrote the book in 1990 with a paperback edition in 1993. I recommend this book very highly – especially the paperback version with his new preface.
Iacocca created his list of 9 C’s. Gardner’s list consists of the following:
1. Physical vitality and stamina
2. Intelligence and judgment-in-action
3. Eagerness to accept responsibilities
4. Competence
5. Understanding of followers’ and their needs
6. Skill in dealing with people
7. Need to achieve
8. Capacity to motivate
9. Courage, resolution, steadiness
10. Capacity to win and hold trust
11. Capacity to manage, decide, set priorities
12. Confidence
13.Assertiveness
14. Flexibility of approach
Gardner suggests that not all leaders have all these qualities. But, the better leaders will have many of them. Another point he makes that resonated well for me is that "leaders" is not defined solely as our politicians, but rather "ordinary folks placed in extraordianry circumstances."
Another aspect of his writing concerned "power." We all have it … dependent on the circumstances. And how we use that power is a significant element of great leadership.
This is a classic work in the leadership field and I highly recommnd it to you.
Lee Iacocca suggests in his new book, Where Have All the Leaders Gone? that there are factors that can be used to predict whether someone will be a good leader. After chastising both the President of the United States and presidents of many American companies, he sets forth his list of 9 C’s: (more…)
LawBiz Management’s new Special Report, Disaster Preparedness & Recovery Planning for Law Firms is en route to the printer.
Michael Hirsch, former FEMA Deputy General Counsel, said: "I highly recommend it for attorneys and law firms as a basic document on how to be prepared to respond to and recover from disasters."
Tom Edwards, Executive Director of Munger, Tolles & Olson, said: "… Ed deserves much of the credit for the plan you’ll read about. Ed is the primary architect for my colleagues’ and my firm’s disaster recovery plans … For that, we are deeply indebted."
Pre-publication discount of 20% is available to all who contact our office, (800) 837-5880 or edpoll@lawbiz.com, to place a "hold" on the new book. This special offer will remain in effect until May 31, 2007.
In today’s Los Angeles Times, front page, there is an article ostensibly about the House of Representatives enactment to require public companies to put executive pay packages before shareholders for an advisory vote. The enactment faces an uncertain future in the Senate and a certain veto by President Bush. (more…)
