The Law Firm Owner Podcast

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to effortlessly handle difficult conversations while others shy away from confrontation? As Melissa shares this week, some people are “high confront”, meaning they tackle challenges head on, which can be an incredibly useful trait to have when owning and running a firm.

If the idea of confrontation currently makes you want to run and hide, you need to listen in to this episode. Melissa shares the importance of being clear and kind, and how you can work on being more high confront in a way that suits you.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/228

However big or small your team is, and whether they’re virtual or in person, what does your firm’s team dynamic currently look like? The truth is, it’s your job as owner to provide a container for deep connection with and amongst your team, and Melissa is here today to illuminate how paying attention to connection goes a long way.

Listen in this week to discover the value of consistently showing up for your people by prioritizing team connection. You’ll hear strategies for both work and play that foster innovation, creativity, and collaboration, the ripple effect of having a healthy team that experiences joy and fulfilment, and what’s required of you to foster deep team connection.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/227

As a lawyer, working hard, constantly increasing your workload, and operating from a hustle mentality has most likely served you extremely well. It’s a winning strategy that has rewarded you for the work you put out in the world, and you probably associate your worth and value as a human with working hard.

However, if you are trying to grow in a way that gives you time and money freedom, there is an identity shift that needs to happen. It’s a transition that many people dream of, and yet, it often feels like an identity crisis. Creating more freedom in your world means getting comfortable with the kind of landscape that gives you space, and Melissa is showing you how to adapt to your new reality on this episode.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/226

There are lots of different tools out there for automating the intake process, but have you found one that works end-to-end seamlessly? This week, Melissa is speaking to the founder and CEO of DecisionVault, Wouter IJgosse. DecisionVault is the intake portal for estate planning practices that helps firms gather information from clients and integrate it with as many tools as possible in the legal tech space.

Tune in today to hear how Wouter got DecisionVault off the ground, and who this portal would be a great fit for. He’s sharing how DecisionVault can save you on average of 15 hours a month, why it creates efficiency and ease both for your clients and your internal staff, and how it enables adding automation to your practice. 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/225

If you want to take your firm from successful to a perfectly well-oiled machined that is in alignment with your core values and creates fulfillment and freedom, there are only three things that matter. Winging the next few months can create some pretty remarkable results, but if you want to create velocity towards where you want to go, listen in.

Join Melissa this week to discover the only three things that matter when it comes to planning and executing your goals. You’ll hear the difference between simple and easy, what happens if you wing it, and how these three core ideas will keep you focused and help you experience less friction along the way.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/224

This episode is for those days when you’re frustrated and the whole world seems stacked against you. Even if these types of days are rare, it can throw a wrench in the game when they creep up on you. One thing after another gets under your skin, and it becomes near impossible to stay clear-headed when things are going wrong.

Listen in to hear 8 strategies you can try when you’re in a funk. Melissa is showing you why shifting from reactive to intentional in these moments is vital, an exercise that will help you identify what’s really bothering you, and why intentionality is key for staying on track when it feels like the world wants to push you off course. ‍

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/223

Melissa joins Tara Gronhovd and Pamela Nelson on the Grounding and Growing Leadership Podcast again this week to dive into the work of intentionality and implementation.

They’re discussing what it means to shape a strong team dynamic and the reality of what the work of becoming a better leader truly looks like. The work of leadership is humbling and hard, and it has been the steepest learning curve Melissa has experienced in business. There is no one-size-fits-all handbook for leadership that works for everyone. It’s a realm of constant learning and growing, and Melissa is letting you in on her journey of becoming a better leader.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/222

This week, you’re hearing a conversation Melissa had with Tara Gronhovd and Pamela Nelson on the Grounding and Growing Leadership Podcast. They discuss the crux of Melissa’s work with her clients, which is centered around quarterly strategic planning, and why a framework for intentionality and implementation is key for flying further faster.

Tune in to discover how Melissa helps owners and leaders stop getting in their own way, and why aligned execution is the secret to getting results. You’ll hear how the quarterly strategic planning framework offers the opportunity to make better plans over time, the difference between passive and active learning, and the power of showing up for the wee things consistently.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/221

There are going to be times, no matter where you are on the spectrum of entrepreneurship or timeline of your company, where you are going to be required to step up in ways other people just wouldn’t. Melissa calls this the storm before the calm, and if you currently feel like you’re in the eye of the storm, you’re in the right place.

Tune in this week to discover what is required of you to speed up the storm to get to the calm on the other side. You’ll learn a few questions that, if answered honestly, will illuminate how you might be complicit in creating the conditions you don’t want, and where you can take control.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/220

There tends to be a lack of confidence around the finance side of running a law firm, and many lawyers often find themselves floundering when it comes to their books. Whether you feel like you “should” know certain things about your numbers, find yourself spinning in emotional baggage around money, or have just never found the right fit when it comes to your accountant, listen in.

Jessica Gonifas, the owner of Silver Peaks Accounting Services, shares insights on finding the right partner for your firm, and why acknowledging the uniqueness of each business is a critical piece of her work. You’ll hear how too many lawyers stay stuck around their numbers, why you might be in a rut with your books, and her advice for taking small steps toward clarity and finding a trusted person for your team.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/219

Friday Wrap is the most critical component of The Playbook for your growth and development as a law firm owner. It’s what offers you the opportunity to evaluate your progress, hold yourself accountable, and learn from the experiences you’ve had.

This week, hear why Friday Wrap is a rich process that should never be skipped. You’ll hear Melissa’s tips for setting yourself up to win at this game, the immeasurable benefits of practicing Friday Wrap, and how this reflection will allow you to carry forward lessons you’ve learned from week to week.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/218

The Playbook is set up to help you stay intentional so you don’t fall into the trap of wishful thinking about how you spend your time. On this episode, Melissa is walking you through the brain dump process that makes your schedule work effectively and brings the Monday Map tool to life.

Discover how to discern where your tasks and projects should fall on your calendar, and where to start as you execute Monday Map. And, make sure you tune back in next week as Melissa concludes this series with the Friday Wrap process and her tips for setting yourself up for success.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/217

There are four preparation steps involved in the Monday Map process that will tee you up to have a more seamless experience. These activities were born out of questions people had as they were implementing Monday Map, so if you’re unsure about specifics as they relate to your calendar, Melissa’s got you covered. 

Discover the four activities you need to consider before starting the Monday Map process. Melissa is outlining the steps inside the Playbook that will streamline your planning experience, and she’s also getting into the first couple of stages of actually using Monday Map. If you’re interested in diving into the rest of the implementation process, make sure to tune back in next week! 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/216

When you consistently honor your plan, momentum builds and you make steady progress towards your goals. On the other hand, when you fail to honor your plan, you risk losing momentum and miss out on valuable opportunities for growth and success. And the key factor at play here? Your brain.

Discover how your brain is the ultimate productivity tool when it comes to honoring your plan. You’ll learn about your brain’s natural desires and how to override them, the skills you’ll have to master to reap insane rewards, and how doing this work will completely transform the way you operate.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/215

The Monday Map/Friday Wrap process is one of the most fruitful pieces of work Melissa does with her members and clients. It’s what gets them dialed in with intention and discipline to make their plans come to life. 

Listen in this week as Melissa gives you a rundown of the Monday Map/Friday Wrap process and what is required to utilize this tool effectively. She’s showing you what it means to strategically plan your time and the importance of a comprehensive plan. And make sure to tune in next week to hear the other side of the coin when it comes to using this process: honoring your plan.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/214

Are you clear on what you are going to get accomplished this quarter? If you don’t, this episode is a must-listen. And if you do, but find yourself starting out strong and then flaming out in busyness, this is for you too.

Monday Map/Friday Wrap is a weekly process that Melissa and her clients use to take action every single week with intention and purpose. To fly further faster, you need to know exactly what you’re aiming for, plan it, and then honor your commitments. As always, this is about progress, not perfection, and Melissa is here to offer food for thought around increasing your intentionality behind your strategic planning.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/213

How do you rate yourself when it comes to the results you’re trying to create? You might rate how well you did something or the level of success you managed to achieve. There’s absolutely a time and place for that, however, there’s also a more fruitful way to get better results.

This week, Melissa introduces you to a concept she uses called the Engagement Scale. Discover what the engagement scale exercise looks like in action, and how it helps you take sustainable action and make progress. You’ll hear why shooting for a 10 on the engagement scale isn’t an effective strategy, and powerful questions to ask yourself that will force your brain to serve up the next right steps.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/212

Average revenue per case is an equation that’s used often in Mastery Group. It’s a fulcrum number that is vital in strategic planning because it allows you to project forward the number of cases or matters that need to come through the door in order for you to hit the revenue goal you’ve set for your firm.

However, too many owners aren’t factoring in the discrepancy that often happens between what’s billed and what’s actually collected. If these numbers are far apart, cleaning them up needs to be a Rock or key quarterly priority. Making headway on the money that should be collected per case is an essential piece of getting your house in order and building a solid foundation, and Melissa is showing you how in this episode.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/211

As an owner, you’ve probably felt as if you’re the only one catching problems in your company. You might approach your team and ask them what went wrong or how to avoid similar obstacles in the future. Sometimes they have an answer, sometimes they don’t, but they’ve likely left the conversation feeling personally attacked, even if that wasn’t your intention.

Melissa offers prompts for identifying problems and solutions through answer meetings. You’ll hear the positive byproducts that have resulted both for herself and her team through this practice, and why it’s the secret to creating win-win-win results for your clients, your team, and your organization as a whole. 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/210

If you value your company and those under your leadership, cultivating trust and emotional maturity are non-negotiable.

Melissa is back this week with CEO of Align, Tara Gronhovd and her Align leadership coach and counsellor, Pamela Nelson. They’re here to share how emotional maturity plays a part in deepening trust within your team, and the opportunity it provides you as a leader to enhance their lives.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/209