We "Get To" Think About a Mindset Shift

06/13/22 • 10 min

When you are looking at your task list at work, or your pile of files, or your ever growing inbox of unread emails you may feel like groaning. But if we tried reframing our daily attorney work, our continuing education, and our networking from “have to” to “get to.”

This is not a magic fix-all solution and we certainly are not telling you that you should be happy all of the time. We all have hard days and serious challenges. The world is a hard place sometimes. However, we all get into the rut of everyday life that can make everything feel like we have lost choice over our lives and we are just run by expectations of others and never ending to do lists. This mindset shift attempts to help you take back some of the control over your day.

Starting with our daily law practice tasks. Look to the deeper meaning of your practice. How are you serving your clients? Instead of saying I have to draft this brief, reframe it as, I get to draft this brief and advocate for my client. I get to seek justice. I don’t have to draft a will. I get to give my client’s peace of mind. I get to use my mind to craft creative solutions.

Thinking about getting to do something rather than having to do something inherently implies a choice that was not there before. It does not mean that it isn’t hard or challenging. But that affirmative choice is powerful. It also acknowledges the privilege that you get to do something not everyone gets to do.

Practical Exercise

Grab a piece of paper or open a document on your computer. Write down five things on your work task list. Now change them into “get to” sentences. Give it a little context.

How does that feel?

It probably isn’t life changing, but does it move the needle even a little bit?

Now You Get to Network

Networking is not natural for most of us. Whether you are applying to law school, have been in practice for 20 years, or are somewhere in between, chances are you have at least internally groaned at the thought of networking at some point. It is so easy to push networking off to the side because it is not something that we actually have to do. No one is going to give you a grade on networking or take you license for failing to network.

So if you do not have to network, why are we talking about networking?

That is because networking is a gift we give our professional selves and our practices. We get to network. We get to put ourselves out there and share our expertise with potential clients, referral sources, and colleagues.

Effective networking will allow you to expand your practice and your career. It is something you get to do in order to boost your success. You should be excited about networking because it is networking that will ultimately save you time and energy as you move along in your career.

We are sharing the strategies and tips that we actually use in our practices. We use these strategies to expand Lawyers Who Launch to reach more of you. Once you have a plan, networking is not hard, but it does take time to building those mutually beneficial networking relationships that we talk so much about. So stop wasting time on ineffective networking and start using your time to actually build your network, because you get to network.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Practical Exercise

Grab a piece of paper or open a document on your computer. Write down five things on your work task list. Now change them into “get to” sentences. Give it a little context.

How does that feel?

It probably isn’t life changing, but does it move the needle even a little bit?

Now You Get to Network

So if you do not have to network, why are we talking about networking?

Previous Episode

Summer Networking Refresh

Whether you have a plan that just needs a bit of a recharge or you have no plan at all - this refresh is for you.

Step 1 - Evaluate your networking goals.

Networking is about relationships. Strong networking relationships are mutually beneficial professional relationships. As you start to develop a plan that works for you and your practice area, keep the goal of developing connections into mutually beneficial networking relationships at the forefront.

Step 2 - With whom are you looking to connect?

When you think about networking within your law practice, you will typically come across three types of people - colleagues, referral sources, and potential clients. A colleague is someone in the same field as you that you can share and bounce ideas off of. A referral source is someone that is in an industry or field of law that could be a great referral for you. A potential client is, of course, someone who is in need of your services.

The reason for making this determination is to help you focus your networking time so you spend your time most efficiently to accomplish your goals. You won’t meet colleagues in the same way you would meet prospective clients. Focusing your attention on your goals and then developing a plan for how you will reach that goal will save you time and energy because you will be able focus on actions that will serve you rather than simply trying to cast a wide net and see what happens.

Step 3 - Where will you find your ideal connection?

Depending on the type of people you are looking to network with you will look to attend different events and engage in different types of activities. Once you’ve determined the types of contacts you are trying to meet, now look to where those types of people are so that you can connect with them.

Now is the time to start brainstorming about where you will find the people you want to connect with. Start a master list of ideas that you can break out from there. Spend a little time searching for events that attract your future networking contacts.

Step 4 - Make connections.

Once you have identified where you can meet your ideal connections, now it is time to make those connections. Attend events to meet and connect with these people. Maybe you book a speaking engagement to attract potential clients. Perhaps you connect with colleagues at a local bar association function. Because you have followed the first three steps, you can maximize your time by attending events that are suited to your goals and the people you most want to connect with.

Step 5 - Follow up and follow through.

Networking without follow up and follow through is inefficient and a waste of time. Networking is not just about how many people you meet or how many business cards you collect. The key to successful networking is the development of your connections into mutually beneficial networking relationships. This does not happen overnight and it requires your time and attention.

The good news is that with your refreshed networking plan you can execute the follow up and follow through you need. There are so many easy ways you can follow through for your networking contacts and provide value. If you see an interesting article, pass it along to a colleague.

Next Episode

Lawyer Wellness Tips

We are now officially in summer mode. While that means the days are longer and the weather is warm, our calendars and to do lists are busting with new projects and obligations. This week we are sharing five wellness tips to help you avoid burnout and enjoy all of the fun that this time of year has to offer.

Wellness Tip 1

Schedule breaks.

Then actually take those breaks.

Scheduling a few short breaks throughout your day can help you refresh and recharge in order to tackle that ever growing to do list. Set your tech aside. Do not read or respond to emails. Do not do something for someone else. Our favorite thing to do during these breaks is to simply go outside and breathe.

Wellness Tip 2

Avoid multitasking.

Multitasking is often not as effective or efficient as we would like to believe. Try to do one thing at a time. Our best tip for actually accomplishing this is to keep a pad close by. When you think of something else that needs to be done or something to talk about with someone else you can easily write it down. Now you won’t forget and you are not allowing yourself to be distracted into another task.

Wellness Tip 3

Move your body.

We all know the health and wellness benefits of regular exercise. Find something that you actually enjoy doing and get that blood moving through your body. Between online offerings, in person options, and the simple act of walk down your own street there is something for everyone.

Wellness Tip 4

Shut off your phone.

Again, we all know that our phones keep us awake and interrupt our sleep. But...it is SO HARD to actually do! Set a reminder on your phone right now for a time that you will silence your phone and put it away tonight. You might be wondering what you will do after that. Check out Wellness Tip 5 for the answer.

Wellness Tip 5

Replace screen time with a book.

We both love reading and have made a habit of reading at night before we go to sleep. Just like with the exercise, find something that you actually enjoy. It can be as serious or as silly as you want. But reading at night is a great way to unwind from the day and get yourself out of that endless scroll.

Let us know which tips you try!

Have a great day!

Haley & Amy
P.S. - Haley mentioned her love of Elin Hilderbrand at the end of the episode. Here are some links to a few of her favorite beach reads.

The Paradise Trilogy

The Rumor

The Identicals
Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Please keep in mind that your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.