The Law Firm Owner Podcast

There are some simple but often overlooked things we need to discuss that everyone should be doing when it comes to hiring, as well as some things Melissa has come across that we should probably be avoiding.

Tune in this week to discover how to stand out from the crowd when you’re advertising for a position in your firm. Melissa shares how to appeal to your ideal candidates and draw in the high-quality talent without spending a fortune, and how to get your job listing in front of the people who need to see it.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/149

The procedure you have for closing cases really does matter. It’s impossible to get reliable data if one huge metric like closed cases isn’t adding up. So, in this episode, Melissa shows you how to come up with a company-wide procedure for closing files, so you can stay on top of your data and manage your cases efficiently.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/148

Discover some of the most unhelpful thoughts we have about our role as a steward of our firm.

Melissa shares how we make decisions about our firm through a lens of being the life support our firm needs to survive, and instead how you can flip the script and see how looking towards delegation is not a symbol of failure, but a foundation for future success.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/147

Springs Law Group is a firm reaching new heights all the time. We had the founders on a few weeks ago, Chris and Jake. And in this episode, my guest is the person pulling the strings: Gretchen Nicolaysen. 

Gretchen does a ton of work and she has all kinds of responsibilities throughout different areas of the business, and she’s here to share how she juggles all of it. We’re talking conflict, managing people, implementing systems, goals and rocks, as well as dealing with mental drama around being the boss's wife.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/146

When you know that you need to get something done, but there are numerous steps involved, where should your focus be?

Tune in this week as we work to simplify your projects, making the path forward easier for you to see and walk. Understanding project deconstruction inside-out will drastically improve your productivity and you'll experience more ease and flow if you can follow the simple steps Melissa is discussing in today's episode.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/145

This week Melissa shares a tactical way to set yourself up so that it is easy to believe what you want to believe about yourself and the growth of your law firm. 

Velocity Work Podcast episode 142: Is Your Self-Image a Match for the Firm You're Building, spoke to evolving your self-image. And in this episode, #144 Use Your Calendar to Strengthen Self-Trust, Melissa reveals how setting-up and showing-up for your calendar is a valuable way to close the gap between where you are now and where you want to go. 

Use your calendar. It sounds too simple, but you can change how you view yourself as a firm owner by using your calendar as a barometer. Imagine choosing to use time finding a solution to the administrative time-suck instead of feeling like you can't help but be mired in it

Evaluate how you use your time honestly, and you see opportunities to take ownership of your time and to use it for solutions and growth.  When you take control of your time, you create new beliefs, you strengthen the way that you see yourself. That becomes the new foundation for what's next. 

Show Notes:

(00m 37s) This week on the Velocity Work Podcast

(00m 52s) A look back at #142 Is Your Self-Image a Match for the Firm You're Building

(01m 49s) Using your calendar to improve your relationship with yourself

(04m 04s) Do you like what your calendar says about you and your beliefs

(07m 10s) Up-levelling your mindset and strengthen self-trust

(08m 07s) Build the identity that you want by using your calendar effectively

(10m 20s) Creating integrity by doing what you said you we're going to do

(12m 17s) Shaping your narrative requires honesty, discipline, focus and commitment

Create space, mindset, and concrete plans for growth. Start here: Velocity Work Monday Map https://www.velocitywork.com/mondaymap 

Is it possible you are missing something remarkable right in front of you? There is likely something worthy of your focused appreciation right now that you are totally forgetting about.

In this episode of The Velocity Work Podcast #143: Active Appreciation, Melissa offers advice on using active appreciation as a way to experience richness in your own life - right now and on purpose.

Mentions: Ernie Svenson, Joey C. Vitale, Chelsea Williams, Chis White, John Strohmeyer, Louis CK

Show Notes:

(00m 37s) This week on the Velocity Work Podcast
(01m 05s) March 4, doors to Mastery Group will be closed, go to https://www.velocitywork.com/join
(02m 43s) Actively appreciating your life and the things in it
(06m 17s) Louis CK Everything is amazing & Nobody is happy
(07m 50s) Where am I being jaded right now
(09m 07s) Discussion about prompting yourself to actively appreciate
(11m 57s) Taking delight in what has been created and where you are right now
(13m 35s) Practicing active appreciation in your work life AND personal life
(16m 05s) A story about my husband's accidents this past fall
(19m 47s) Choosing to practice active appreciation during tough times
(23m 55s) Active appreciation as a secret sauce to richness in life
(26m 02s) Using those in-between moments

This Friday, March 4th the registration for Mastery Group closes. Don't miss this opportunity to join: https://www.velocitywork.com/join

In light of recent world events, business-as-usual seems a bit tone-deaf. We're taking a pause for space.

How do you see yourself as the owner of this firm? 

Self Image is not what you want others to believe about you. It is not what you want to believe about you, but what you actually and honestly think about yourself when it is just you and the mirror. 

What comes up? 

In Velocity Work Podcast episode #142: Is Your Self-Image a Match for the Firm You're Building, Melissa shares a common thread she is seeing in firm owners. Velocity Work engages clients growing their firms, and owners like you set goals for the firm and for their team. 

Some owners face a discrepancy between what they want and what they actually believe they can accomplish. And it creates a lot of discomfort and pain because it can feel almost like you are not a match for the next level of the firm. 

Unless you gain some awareness and close that gap in your self-image, you may be inadvertently creating drag on forward momentum for the firm. 

Listen to learn what steps you can take to close the self-image gap. 

Show Notes:
(00m 37s) This week on the Velocity Work Podcast
(02m 03s) Life is 50 / 50
(03m 24s) When your self image hasn't caught up to the new level reached by your firm
(05m 56s) Discussion about incongruency between you, your self image, and having something
(06m 56s) Actively cultivating your self image along the way
(08m 14s) Being honest in how you see yourself as a business owner
(11m 20s) Getting something is very different than having something
(13m 02s) The School of Self Image - Your behavior will always be in harmony with your self image
(16m 09s) Look back at #140 High or Low Results Cycle - It's Your Choice
(18m 01s) What are bridge thoughts?
(22m 03s) What it's like dealing with cognitive dissonance?
(24m 30s) Closing exercise, getting it out of your head

Mentions: School of Self Image

Get direction and create a plan based on facts by joining Mastery Group at www.velocitywork.com/join 

You can train your brain to look at things more objectively, and in this episode, Melissa gives you ample reasons why exercising this muscle makes you a better firm owner.   Last week in episode#140: High or Low Results Cycles - It's Your Choice, she defined high and low results cycles and a firm owner's leverage points to navigate towards one or the other. This week, she shares where the numbers fit into this model and how you can take action from there.  

Velocity Work clients regularly reveal some anxiety, mental drama, and avoidance when it comes to numbers. Some firm owners worry their numbers may not be where they hoped, some are concerned with ambitions they have not started, and others really feel as if they do not have the time to gather this information. 

If you can push yourself through avoidance and mental drama and create an objective relationship to the numbers that drive your firm's success, you will find calm confidence. The numbers give you so much information about your firm and you can use them to move the dial. 

Tracking data does not have to be hard. Don not make it hard; in fact you can start small. Face the facts that are right in front of you. Use the numbers not hunches and from there, make decisions. Learn how in this episode.

Show Notes:

(00m 36s) This week on the Velocity Work Podcast

(01m 11s) February, chapter 2 of 12, let's talk numbers

(02m 30s) Take control where YOU have control

(03m 16s) How it affects your business if you don't look at the numbers

(05m 59s) Knowing about the health of your business and making decisions efficiently

(07m 01s) Having a visual report where you can look at your numbers at least monthly

(08m 50s) From Panic to Profit a book by Brooke Lively

(11m 12s) Take care of your business by being aware of the numbers

(12m 12s) Coaching call midway through this episode

(14m 44s) Look back at last week's episode, High or Low Results Cycle - It's Your Choice

(19m 39s) Train your brain to be more objective, your perspective matters

(22m 38s) Be in the calm, center, confidence state

(26m 27s) Wrapping up this week's episode

Mentions: Brooke Lively 

Don't miss your opportunity to explore this content further and create a plan for action at the February 18th masterclass: How to Trade Being Busy For Actual Results. Register now at www.velocitywork.com/results.

Create a sustainable path to growth by joining Mastery Group at www.velocitywork.com/join 

If you feel busy or overwhelmed but you are still producing adequate results, you may believe this is just the way it feels to grow your law firm.  It does not have to feel this way. 

On this special Velocity Work Podcast episode, Melissa introduces the concepts behind her newest masterclass: How to Trade Being Busy for Actual Results. 

This episode offers a high level overview of:
- What a High Result Cycle is and how to stay in one
- What a Low Result Cycle is and how to avoid getting stuck here, and
- The 3 things you DO have control over (you're likely only taking the reigns on one)

Don't miss your opportunity to explore this content further and create a plan for action at the February 18th masterclass: Register now at www.velocitywork.com/results.

Fast track the trajectory of your firm by joining Mastery Group at www.velocitywork.com/join.




Show Notes:

(00m 36s) Join Melissa on February 18th, 12 noon ET | velocitywork.com/results

(01m 57s) What is the results cycle concept

(03m 22s) If you love learning about habits OR if you are shooting for a specific goal, this is for you

(04m 17s) Developing a habit and how it affects (or doesn't) your success

(07m 07s) The definition of a high result and low result cycle

(08m 48s) The difference between being committed to the goal vs attached to the goal

(10m 34s) If you are in a high result cycle, you don't flake out on yourself

(12m 31s) The 3 control factors you can use to determine which results cycle you will be in

(15m 32s) Discussion about why willpower doesn't last long

(18m 12s) What actions look like in a low results cycle

(19m 51s) YOU are the determinant factor on which cycle you are going to be in

(25m 34s) Check out velocitywork.com/join

Can you imagine 100% growth?

Springs Law Group nearly doubled their business last year. This type of growth takes aim, follow-through, consistent evaluation, and the right team.

In episode #139: A Candid Conversation About Remarkable Growth with Chris Nicolaysen and Jake Kimball of Springs Law Group, Melissa speaks to the two firm owners about holding the entire team accountable to the firms' values, making tough decisions about right-fit team members, and going back to the numbers time and again.

Five years into building Springs Law Group, the owners reveal how their distinct personalities both balance each other out and push the other to grow professionally. Unguarded and a bit vulnerable, this conversation delivers value from beginning to end.

Make this year the year your firm reaches record growth, join Mastery Group at www.velocitywork.com/join

Show Notes:

Why are you still doing the things that you don't need to be doing?

It is worth asking yourself this question because your firm can not grow if you will not let go. For many firm owners, the feeling of acceleration that comes with growth and delegation can be a little scary. When there are more people to do the work, more work gets done in a shorter amount of time. That is growth, but the feeling of new talent and efficiency can be mistaken as a reason to hit the brakes. Do not hit the brakes. Breathe, stand tall and move forward.

In this episode, Melissa confronts an issue every firm owner faces, delegation. She explains how letting go of what you are currently doing to make room for what you must do moving forward is a shift in firm operations and in your identify as the firm owner. And like any change, it can be unsettling, uncomfortable, and downright scary.

Connect with and learn from other firm owners while being held accountable for your firm's goals, join Mastery Group at www.velocitywork.com/join.

Michael Urbina of Urbina Immigration Law is "just one person trying to learn how to get better at this particular field - all day, every day."

As one of Velocity Work's Private Clients, Urbina Law Firm knows how to aim, plan, and honor their plan. Consistently meeting their quarterly and annual goals, the team is thoughtfully put together based on individual strengths and motivations.

Listen as Michael and Melissa discuss the power of people, the urgency of creating and committing to Rocks, and what it means to have an efficiency mindset when running a firm.

Connect with and learn from other firm owners. Join Mastery Group at www.velocitywork.com/join.

There is a predictable cycle where firm and business owners set ambitious goals at the start of a new year, and then find it difficult to follow through. Velocity Work Podcast episode #136: Don't Flake Out On Yourself reminds firm owners the real impact of thinking big and the importance of showing up to fulfill that vision.

This week Melissa identifies common reasons why follow-through can feel so difficult. If you start with vague goals, no map to reach them, and no accountability on the way, falling into old routines and excuses is easy. This year, ask a better question: who benefits when the firm reaches its goals?

When you reach your personal and business goals, you improve your corner of the world and well beyond.

Prioritize big goals this year, join Mastery Group at www.velocitywork.com/join.

On this special episode, Melissa and her husband Derek take a look back at the origin story of Velocity Work and how it intertwined with major events in their personal lives.

Melissa reflects on what it looked like to leave the security of a job with benefits in order to move Velocity Work forward and how the questions, what can I do, and how I provide value now changed the trajectory of the company.

Derek offers insight all his own. With a career spent working in start-ups, business growth and marketing, he knows first hand the difference between having an idea for a business and dialing that dream into reality.

Make 2022 the year your firm thrives, join Mastery Group at www.velocitywork.com/join.

We're back for part 2 of Velocity Work LIVE with Jay Ruane! In this episode Jay and Melissa continue their conversation about how to approach your firm or business when you've reached the vision you aimed for. As the owner of multiple business and a law firm, Jay has insight to share. The two touch on the importance of authenticity, building ethical systems in your office, and how to filter all of your ideas.

As a criminal defense attorney for decades, Jay's perspective is human centered and focused on the clients' experience at a difficult and stressful time in their lives.

Ready to move past that hustle and grind into a space where you can be the visionary your firm needs? Join Mastery Group at www.velocitywork.com/join

It is time to rethink your idea of a personal or executive assistant. Valerie Trapunky, founder and CEO of Chatterboss, talks with Melissa about her business and why it works for so many entrepreneurs.

After working as a personal assistant to A-list celebrities and high net worth individuals, Valerie took a new approach to personal assisting. Chatterboss uses a network of on-demand professionals to fill the holes in your team and cross it ALL off your to-do list. From personal tasks to marketing campaigns, to thought partners and team leads, the concept of a personal assistant has evolved and it is worth considering how one might free up your mind and your time.

Looking to optimize your firm and really feel progress? Join Mastery Group at www.velocitywork.com/join

Guest Jay Ruane followed in his father's professional footsteps, but carved his own path.

In this episode, he reveals how he took a different approach to building his firm by recognizing how he wanted lifestyle to play a role in the businesses he built.

Owner of Ruane Attorneys at Law and FirmFlex, a social media marketing company for law firms, Jay holds nothing back. He and Melissa discuss the hustle and grind of the early years, the importance of maintaining relationships, and the patience required to build the firm you envisioned. The rewards are worth it!