Aimee B. Davis Law P.C.

Do You Engage in Good Business Habits?

{4:24 minutes to read}

Although Q1 2017 is in the history books, it’s never too late to re-evaluate your business habits and consider how they may be improved.

 

Transitioning from an employee of BIG LAW to a solo practitioner was challenging, but figuring out how to organize my time has always come easy to me. When I launched Aimee B. Davis Law P.C., people who knew I worked from home commended my self-discipline and ability to stay motivated.

I’ve been my own boss for seven years. I appreciate and enjoy working with my clients and achieve high levels of self-satisfaction from my work. Opening my own legal practice renewed my passion for the practice of transactional law. However, like most people, I suffer “burn out” from time to time.

 

At a recent biz dev meeting of solo attorneys, the group was asked to identify our respective business habits. I felt validated to realize I face the same challenges (some of which have been the subject of my prior blog posts) as similarly situated solos. I was also excited to be introduced to some new business habits.

The following highlights the top ideas discussed at that meeting:

  • “If you are not winning at the nutrition game, you are not winning the day.” Thanks, Jessie Langel!
  • Force yourself to NOT look at your emails during the first hour of each day. This allows you to decompress and start the day with a calm state of mind.
  • Accomplish your most difficult task within the first 90 minutes of your working day. We’re freshest in the morning, and this is the most efficient way to face your highest leveraged tasks.
  • Create accountability reports. Plan your week, and at the end of each week track your efforts against your weekly planner.
  • Create lists of people to whom you want to reach out, then follow-up with them!
  • Be more nosy! Ask questions about other people. Learn about their needs, issues and concerns.
  • Reach out to a wide net of people. People often surprise us, i.e. who shows up, who has work for us, who is a good source of referrals. (Are You Leveraging Your Network?)

The following list provides other helpful tips for achieving sustainable success as a solo, courtesy of Thomson Reuters’ marketing specialist, Jonathan Chasen:

  1. Follow up is key. Most people don’t.
  2. Have a routine. Plan your week and your day. Have lists, prioritize your lists, give yourself a deadline even if there’s no perceived deadline.
  3. Get out of your comfort zone. (FEAR! — How To Face It Head-On and Turn It Into a Positive)
  4. Get a goal, write it down. If you visualize it, you’re more likely to achieve it.
  5. Delegate as much as possible.
  6. Invest back in yourself. There are endless ways to grow your business.
  7. Set up face-to-face meetings with potential clients. It helps lock in the business.
  8. Everyone wants to do business with people they like, trust, and who give. So, be a giver.
  9. Send out timely invoices.
  10. Give consideration to how you differentiate yourself and how people perceive you. Your business is your brand. Are you putting forth your best self? (Are Your Marketing Efforts Visible?)
  11. According to Thomson Reuters, people hire the first attorney they speak with nearly 72% of the time. Don’t leave money on the table. Call leads and potential clients back ASAP.

Hearing these business habits reminded me to reevaluate and not be afraid to change. I hope my readers feel the same. If you are regularly engaged in several of these practices, don’t doubt yourself. It means you’re on the right track.

Aimee B. Davis Law P.C. is committed to advising its clients and resolving issues relating to the legal and business matters that are important to them. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (917) 617-2243 or email aimee@aimeebdavis.com.

Aimee B. Davis

Aimee B. Davis Law P.C.

917-617-2243
122 Ashland Place
Brooklyn, NY 11201

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