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    November 27th, 2008

      If you got talent baby let it shine
    Give it to the world
    And let them see what’s inside
    You’re like a treasure and you have the key
    Every minute of the day is what it takes to be
    The best of the best
    So give it all you got

    It’s the passion inside
    And your dreams come alive…♫

    Words, music and recorded by: MC Magic (Marco Cardenas)

    My friend and colleague Steve Matthews just blogged about Jeff Richardson – The iPhone lawyer and turned it into a wonderful marketing blog post. His post resonated – deeply – with me (*thanks Steve!*).

    I have met with hundreds of lawyers who wanted to leave their present firm and go out on their own and who have come to me for advice on setting up their new office. Inevitably I sit them down and one of the first questions I ask them is: “What are you passionate about?”  They usually give me a strange look – they were expecting advice on technology and business systems (which I do get to!) but first I want to get them taking about what really drives them on the inside.

    Following the sage advice of the late Dr. Hans Selye, a notable Hungarian-Canadian researcher on stress, I try to encourage them to build a law practice around what they have a passion for  in their lives.  I have met and known lawyers who were passionate about horses (they launched a law practice with a focus on the needs of horse breeders and trainers), about the arts (they launched into entertainment law and the governance of non-profit arts organizations) and sports (they launched a practice on the needs of operators of ski hills, wilderness high-adventure sports and the like). Now they just didn’t have an instant practice in these areas..but they had a goal and a vision and they did what they had to do – every day – to take themselves closer to their goal.

    Dr. Selye’s advice was simple:  Make your avocation your vocation.  If you do what you love, then you will love what you do. Work will not be a chore or a rut (and how many lawyers are caught doing what they do only for the money and can’t seem to find a way out…).

    Steve said it best when talking about Jeff Richardson and his iPhone blog:

     “Think about that for a minute. His firm which has 10 offices and looks to have hundreds of lawyers, will be surpassed by the indirect efforts of just one single lawyer. All because Jeff took the time to blog about a topic he’s passionate about.

    A hobby? Sure. But his clients and potential clients also get to see his personality, his level-headed nature, and a love for the topic. That kind of insight does come into play when hiring a lawyer, and yes, personality counts.”

    It’s the passion inside that is coming forth – and Jeff is seeing his dreams come alive…

    This entry was posted on Thursday, November 27th, 2008 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Adding Value, Business Development, Change Management, Law Firm Strategy, Leadership and Strategic Planning, personal focus and renewal, Trends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

    4 Responses to “Be Passonate!”
    1. Kevin OKeefe Says:

      Wonderful post David. Following passion seems so obvious to folks like you and I, but is so so hard for lawyers to free themsleves from anxiety to give it a true. Those who do find reduced stress and more success.

    2. Jeff Richardson Says:

      David, thanks for the kind words. I will try to remain passionate!

    3. Connie Crosby Says:

      Some great advice, David.

      Today I finally met Paul Kuttner, whose name I’ve heard over the years. He was telling me about one of his biggest passions, helping lawyers set up boutique law firms. So, for those who want to have a hand with the practical side, they should check out innovate! inc. – http://www.innovatemarketing.ca/new_boutique_law_firms.html

      Cheers,
      Connie

    4. Passonate personales | UsGraphic Says:

      […] David Bilinsky – Thoughtful Legal ManagementYou can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. 3 Responses to “Be Passonate!”… […]

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