The 80/20 Principle
289 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 80 ratingsExceptional advice for using technology to streamline operations, improve marketing, gain financial security, and enjoy greater freedom.
Increasingly solo lawyers can be more efficient and cost-effective than larger firms. That's because of modern technology. But you have to use it better than most lawyers do. And that's what this podcast will help you do.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Episode 38: Story-Based Marketing & Communications
March 19, 2019 08:00 - 38 minutes - 36.3 MBThe human brain is hard-wired to process information in story form. Knowing this helps us see the massive opportunity for better communicating ideas, and better motivating or persuading people to act on those ideas. Obviously, our marketing is one place to use story-based communication. Which is why a clever fellow named Don Miller created his StoryBrand framework. In this episode, I talk to my good friend Megan Hargroder about her experience in learning to become a StoryBrand certified gu...
Episode 37: Visual Persuasion
March 12, 2019 08:00 - 34 minutes - 33 MBToday's episode is about a very important topic: namely, how you persuade jurors, judges, and others more quickly and more effectively. Scientific studies establish that visual information is easier for the human brain to process and is remembered for longer periods of time. So we'll be talking about how to create "brain-friendly" presentations. And at the end of the episode, I'll show you a magic trick that will amaze you and demonstrate in a powerful way how you can use brain-friendly vi...
Episode 36: New Orleans & Mardi Gras
March 05, 2019 09:00 - 19 minutes - 19.3 MBToday is Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday") in New Orleans so I thought I'd share my thoughts on what living in this great city is really like. If you want to learn more about New Orleans (or plan a trip here), I highly recommend Mark Bologna's excellent podcast: Beyond Bourbon Street. New Orleans is so much more than the superficial notions that many people have, mostly based on facile assumptions populated by the sensationalist-driven media reports. If you come to visit shoot me an email and...
Episode 35: The Easy Fast Action Way to Get New Clients
February 26, 2019 09:00 - 10 minutes - 10.7 MBMost lawyers rely on so-called word-of-mouth marketing. Essentially, this means they have no strategy or system for generating referrals in a way that leads to predictable income. What you want is a strategy that produces a great return on the investment of your time, energy and money. That's what this episode is about. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for m...
Episode 34: Interview with Diana Stepleton
February 19, 2019 09:00 - 35 minutes - 34.1 MBHow can solo and small firm lawyers most effectively leverage outsourcing, in particular, the job of answering phone calls? I interview Diana Stepleton, the VP of Partner Engagement at Ruby Receptionists, about the service that Ruby actually provides to its customers. (Hint it goes far beyond the obvious aspect of answering phones in a professional way). General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on...
Episode 33: Keys to Effective Outsourcing
February 12, 2019 09:00 - 12 minutes - 12.6 MBThe best success with outsourcing comes when you hire people to do specialized tasks, that are important and recurring. And if those tasks only require part-time work then they're ideal for outsourcing. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses....
Episode 32: The 5 Levels of Delegation
February 05, 2019 09:00 - 13 minutes - 14.2 MBTo succeed in delegating work you need to be realistic about the challenges you’ll face, and how to overcome those challenges. One of the most common misjudgments we tend to make is assuming that other people are like we are and know what we know. Understanding the 5 levels of delegation will help you overcome harmful assumptions, and help identify what kinds of tasks can be delegated to different kinds of people. For more information about delegation, read this article. General Resou...
Episode 31: The Hidden Logic of Human Nature
January 29, 2019 09:00 - 8 minutes - 9.1 MBFew people are aware of the powerful (but hidden) subconscious forces that guide our decisions and shape our motivations. Understanding this is key if you want to succeed in pretty much every area of your life. And it's especially true when you're trying to succeed in harnessing technology. You need to be realistic about what motivates people and what causes them to resist change. People don’t like change, and they don’t like feeling uncomfortable or awkward. Adopting new technology tr...
Episode 30: Automation - Keeping It In Perspective
January 22, 2019 09:00 - 10 minutes - 10.7 MBAutomation has great promise for making your law practice run smoother with less overhead. But it has to be approached with the proper perspective. And you need to thoughtfully prioritize your automation initiatives. In this episode, we talk about the five categories of automation, which will help you effectively prioritize those initiatives. To learn more about automation, check out this article I wrote recently. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain free...
Episode 29: The Power of Systems
January 15, 2019 09:00 - 10 minutes - 11 MBIn this episode, I discuss the reasons why systems are so powerful, and why you need to work to define and document systems in your practice. Technology, in particular, requires a systematic approach. Too many lawyers find technology more frustrating than beneficial—and the reason is almost always that they are haphazard in dealing with it. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essen...
Episode 28: The Importance of Vision and Goals
January 08, 2019 09:00 - 15 minutes - 16.1 MB(This recording was made with a lesser quality mic, so forgive the atypical quality) The key to a successful practice starts with creating your ideal vision of what you want your firm to be like. As Steven Covey said in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Begin with the end in mind. Defining your vision takes time and thoughtful reflection. And you should keep working to refine it. Because once you have your vision set, it's a lot easier to describe the important goals that need to be r...
Episode 27: Online Reputation & Review Services
December 18, 2018 09:00 - 17 minutes - 17.5 MBThe best way to market yourself is to build trust and prove that you’re trustworthy. Review & Reputation services can help you do that easily. Online services like Birdeye or Podium aren’t inexpensive, but neither is paid advertising (or other ineffective means of marketing your practice). If you look at the reviews you’re collecting as an investment that pays ongoing dividends you’ll appreciate why online reviews are better than the ongoing expense of advertising. General Resources Le...
Episode 26: Collecting Client Feedback
December 11, 2018 09:00 - 20 minutes - 20 MBLawyers need to be better attuned to what their clients think and feel about their experiences dealing with their lawyers and the legal system as a whole. If you collect feedback with the right process you can easily gather testimonials from your clients as well. And those will be valuable in marketing your practice to get more good clients in the future. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus...
Episode 25: Effective Goal Setting
December 04, 2018 09:00 - 13 minutes - 14.2 MBWhen you commit your goals to writing you'll automatically clarify them and drastically increase your odds of achieving them. Defining your goals by using S.M.A.R.T. attributes is also very beneficial. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. ...
Episode 24: The Power of Meditation
November 27, 2018 09:00 - 19 minutes - 19.3 MBTraining your mind is one way to boost your chances of success in any endeavor, including running your law practice. Meditation is a learnable skill that can help you improve focus and clarity, as well as increase the number of practical insights you have. I've blogged about the origins and development of my meditation practice. I started out by using a free iPhone app called Headspace, and that helped me gain momentum and stay on track for over 4 years. More recently, after listening to...
Episode 23: Starting a New Law Firm
November 20, 2018 09:00 - 12 minutes - 13.2 MBStarting a new firm is exciting and daunting. Many lawyers get overwhelmed by the decisions and deadlines they face. But you don’t have to worry if you work from a well-thought-out checklist used by other lawyers in your position. This episode covers lawyers' common questions when starting a new firm. I’ve helped dozens of lawyers over the past decades, so I know the most common concerns. Check out my Starting a New Firm course (a complete blueprint for all the important decisions and co...
Episode 22: Sensible Social Media
November 13, 2018 08:00 - 11 minutes - 12.4 MBSocial media is helpful when you use it to complement your strategic referral marketing efforts. Mostly, it's a way to remind potential referral sources that you are a good lawyer, and remind them what kind of law you practice. In this episode, I talk about the perils of automating your social media posting and the proper ratio of promotional to non-promotional posts. And I talk about which social media services are best for your law practice. Remember: Getting new clients coming in the ...
Episode 21: How to Improve Your Reputation
November 06, 2018 08:00 - 8 minutes - 8.98 MBThe public's perception is that most lawyers care more about making money than helping their clients. Instead of trying to argue against this, realize that: perception = truth. For prospective clients, their truth is all that matters. To help reorient their perceptions we need to first listen to their concerns. This is called "empathy," and most lawyers are not good at it. We tend to focus too much on proving that we're skilled, knowledgeable and zealous advocates. But the public cares...
Episode 20: Perhaps My Competitors Can Help Your Practice
October 30, 2018 07:00 - 19 minutes - 19.2 MBMost lawyers are burned out juggling both the intense demands of a practicing law AND the administrative details in managing their business. Mostly, they want help streamlining their operations and getting better clients to come through their door in a predictably steady flow. I've created several programs that help attorneys improve their practices so they can work less, earn more, and spend more time relaxing away from the office. But, if my programs don't appeal to you, then check o...
Episode 19: Embrace Sensible Business Management, Not Artificial Intelligence
October 23, 2018 07:00 - 13 minutes - 14.1 MBArtificial intelligence and the rise of robot lawyers are interesting topics to talk about. But they're not helpful if you are looking for ways to improve your practice. Trying to "innovate" for the sake of innovation is dangerous at worst. And at best it's a waste of time. You should focus on the nuts and bolts of managing your practice better. Using systems is crucial. After you've created good systems, and documented them, then you can focus on automation and outsourcing. You need to ma...
Episode 18: Achieving Success Deliberately
October 16, 2018 07:00 - 10 minutes - 10.6 MBThe key to improving your law practice is to proceed deliberately. The tendency to rush is strong but must be suppressed. Technology initiatives are particularly challenging because of the complexity and rapid change inherent in digital tools. But all the more reason to be deliberate and patient. In all aspects of developing your law practice, you should seek constant, steady improvement—as opposed to rapid, sudden change, which is stressful and disruptive. The Japanese word “kaizen” cap...
Episode 17: The Brutal Truth About Building Trust Online
October 09, 2018 07:00 - 20 minutes - 20.2 MBLawyers must be trustworthy to succeed. And they must prove they're trustworthy because most people are wary of lawyers. Proving this online is hard, but not impossible. It helps to understand the brutal truths about establishing trust—whether doing it online or in person. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this sh...
Episode 16: Creating Systems in a Law Firm
October 02, 2018 19:00 - 13 minutes - 13.8 MBWe talked generally about systems in episode 8. This episode goes deeper into the types of systems law firms use, and how to document systems. In law firms, there are two categories of systems: process systems and record-keeping systems. Processes are the most valuable law firm systems because that's how the work gets done. If you want a smooth-running firm, you have to document (i.e. "map") those processes systematically. And you do that by asking 5 key questions. Lawyers are pretty g...
Episode 15: Tech Advice You Should Avoid
September 25, 2018 07:00 - 8 minutes - 9.16 MBIn episode 4 we talked about how to find good technology consultants. Here I'll tell you about seemingly helpful technology advice that you should avoid like the plague. It comes from well-intentioned people that are sincerely trying to help you. How could that be a problem? Listen and find out. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your ...
Episode 14: Securing Your Law Firm Data
September 18, 2018 07:00 - 16 minutes - 16.4 MBKeeping your firm's digital data secure from hackers is absolutely crucial (and not only because of breach notification laws and ethical obligations to preserve client confidentiality). Having your data compromised (or ransomed) will seriously disrupt your operations and throw you into a panic. The most common data breaches are the easiest to avoid, once you understand how the attacks work. In this episode, you'll learn how to avoid data attacks by becoming aware of the #1 psychological ...
Episode 13: Digital File Organization
September 11, 2018 07:00 - 15 minutes - 16 MBWhen you first start to create a paperless practice you can get by with using the file-organization system built into your computer. You can use a simple file-naming system to automatically organize documents. But as you progress you should invest in document management software. The cloud-based versions are your best option, and they are very affordable now (with prices dropping steadily). If you want to learn more about creating a paperless law practice, click this link for a special ...
Episode 12: Paperless Lawyering: Equipment & Software
September 04, 2018 07:00 - 17 minutes - 17.2 MBIn the last episode, I gave you a general overview of how to create a paperless practice. In this one, we'll cover the best equipment and software. Specifically, I'll tell you about the best scanner for a law office, and the best PDF software options. If you want to learn more about creating a paperless law practice, click this link for a special discount on my online course: Paperless Lawyering. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resour...
Episode 11: Paperless Practice
August 28, 2018 07:00 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBA paperless law practice is exponentially easier to manage and affords much more freedom and flexibility. The odds are you're already fairly adept at working with less paper. The key is to keep transitioning in the smoothest possible manner. In this episode, we'll tackle the common questions that lawyers have about switching to a paperless practice. And in future episodes, we'll address questions about what scanner to use, and what software is best for managing PDFs. If you want to learn...
Episode 10 - Delegation
August 21, 2018 07:00 - 10 minutes - 9.59 MBThe only tasks you should do in your practice are (1) things that require a law license to do, and (2) things you enjoy doing. Everything else should be delegated. Finding good people to delegate work to is easier because of the Internet, and the availability of outsourcing. But finding qualified assistance is still hard because you have to properly vet candidates. It's better to work with VA companies that are adept at pairing you up with people that are qualified AND compatible with your...
Episode 9 - Automation
August 14, 2018 07:00 - 7 minutes - 6.59 MBAutomation is the key to exponential efficiency, but you need to approach it systematically. Simple automation is easy to set up and fine-tune. But complex automation will require the help of a trustworthy consultant. Document creation is the most useful area for lawyers to automate, but there are other areas ripe for automation as well: scheduling, client-intake, initial client communications, and online marketing are all good examples. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduc...
Episode 8: Use Systems To Make Your Practice Run Smoothly
August 07, 2018 07:00 - 5 minutes - 6.31 MBSystems are the key to a smooth-running law practice. You need to develop systems with ruthless discipline, and you'll find it's well worth the effort. Your work (and the work of others in your firm) will be better and more consistent. And you'll be able to delegate work more easily—even to people who aren't exceptionally skilled. Read the book E-Myth Revisited, by Michael Gerber, to learn more about why system are so powerful. Also, check out attorney John Fisher's book The Power of a...
Episode 7: Direct Response Marketing
July 31, 2018 07:00 - 9 minutes - 9.17 MBBuilding trust with people that have never met you (or who barely know you) is excruciatingly difficult. But it can be done using a time-tested method called Direct Response Marketing. Most lawyers have never heard of DRM, and some have heard of it but reflexively dismissed it without bothering to find out why it's so effective. Plus It's not expensive to do. But best of all? Direct response marketing can be automated. Also important: direct response is data-driven, based on conversion t...
Episode 6: Referral Marketing is the Most Powerful Kind
July 24, 2018 07:00 - 9 minutes - 8.65 MBReferral marketing is the most powerful kind of marketing. Some people call it "networking," or "word-of-mouth" marketing. The reason it's powerful is that it works with the trust you've already cultivated. Even though it works well without much effort, it will work much better if you do it strategically. That means using basic psychology. People need to be reminded of what kind of work you do, and what kind of clients you most want to serve. And they need to be reminded regularly throug...
Episode 5: How to Market Your Practice (Basic Principles of Trust-Building)
July 17, 2018 07:30 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBIf you want to attract a steady stream of great clients you absolutely must understand how to establish trust and then build it up. Most lawyers do not understand this, which is why they fail in marketing their practices. Trust is not based on logic or reason. It’s based on emotion and empathy. There are deep-seated psychological principles you need to grasp in order to build trust effectively, and tastefully. But the good news is, the principles are easy to grasp. And this episode will...
Episode 5: How to Market Your Practice (Basic Principles of Trust-Building)
July 17, 2018 07:30 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBIf you want to attract a steady stream of great clients you absolutely must understand how to establish trust and then build it up. Most lawyers do not understand this, which is why they fail in marketing their practices. Trust is not based on logic or reason. It’s based on emotion and empathy. There are deep-seated psychological principles you need to grasp in order to build trust effectively, and tastefully. But the good news is, the principles are easy to grasp. And this episode will...
Episode 4: Finding Top-Notch Consultants
July 17, 2018 07:00 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBTo build a successful practice you’ll need outside guidance from consultants who can you help you with business strategy, technology and marketing. But finding the best people is challenging. In this episode, we break down the 5 qualities you should look for in every outside consultant that you hire. Marketing consultants are notoriously difficult to find, unless you are looking for opportunistic charlatans and well-meaning fools. Trustworthiness is the most important quality. But findi...
Episode 3: Your Unique Vision of Success
July 17, 2018 06:30 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBLast episode we provided an overview of the Success Blueprint for creating a thriving law practice. Here we drill into the foundational aspects of creating that blueprint, one tailored to your unique goals. You need to envision as precisely as possible what kind of law practice you want to have. And you need to be realistic about the time frame it will take to achieve your ultimate goals. Nothing is more important than cultivating the right kind of mindset. Even with the best plan, and...
Episode 2: Your Law Firm “Success Plan”
July 17, 2018 06:00 - 10 minutes - 9.65 MBThe key to creating a successful law practice is having a clear plan. Creating that plan is crucial, and yet too many lawyers don’t take the time to do it. There are three pillars to a Law Firm Success Plan. But you have to fill in the gaps, which starts with you envisioning what “success” means to you. How many hours do you want to work per week? Do you want to have a traditional office, with employees? Or do you want something different? You can create any kind of law practice you wan...
Episode 1: Building Your Dream Practice
June 19, 2018 15:51 - 9 minutes - 9.15 MBToo many lawyers struggle with the business side of their practices. And that’s without considering the ever-increasing dependence on technology. As you probably realize, many lawyers find technology frustrating and counter-productive. But, if you approach it sensibly, technology will make your practice much more profitable and easier to manage. Best of all? You don’t need to be a tech-wizard to harness its power. Anyone can use technology to radically improve their law practice—even so-c...