How to Start a Law Firm | That's What Pros Do

Starting a successful law firm and running a successful law firm takes a lot of work and a lot of effort. There are a ton of things to do that you won't even have thought about as you get to work. But, if you are in determined to be successful, you'll get everything done that needs to get done and everything done that you want to get done. I saw a blog post today that reminded me of that and I wanted to share.

The author of the blog is a guy named Jonathan Fields. It's an entrepreneurship blog more than anything else. He's not a lawyer (though I think he maybe was in a former life). Now he just talks about what has to be done to be successful in work and in life. I highly recommend you read it.

The post I read today is titled "That's What Pros Do." The post begins with a rundown of what he did last month. Here's what he wrote:

1. Published 17 blog posts

2. Organized, promoted and conducted four conference calls

3. Processed more than 6,000 emails

4. Updated my Facebook status dozens of times

5. Tweeted hundreds of times

6. Read hundreds of posts, articles, and a few books

7. Had 14 skype/phone meetings and interviews

8. Attended 5 face-to-face meetings and events

9. Meditated, moved my body and played guitar every day

10. Ate breakfast and dinner with my family nearly every day

11. Wrote 25,000 words and completed the manuscript for my next book

That's a lot of stuff. But that's what it takes if you want to be successful at what you do. It's probably a bit cliche, but you get out what you put in. Nobody gives you anything for free. Put in a little sweat equity, though, and the returns can be limitless.

Here's how Jonathan answered the question "How do you get so much done?"

Because that's what pros do.

There's no magic to it.

There's nothing superhuman or even exceptional about it.

Being prolific is how I earn my living.

Being ubiquitous is how I earn my living.

Building relationships, online and offline, is how I earn my living.

Helping people with whatever time I have is how I earn my living.

Listening and devouring knowledge is how I earn my living.

Solving problems and adding value is how I earn my living.

I get so much done BECAUSE IT'S MY JOB and I LOVE IT!

Tools, strategies, tactics, apps and vehicles are all great.

But, it starts with being willing to hunker down.

Day in, day out, regardless of the weather.

Show up. Dig in. Own the work.

Because that's what pros do.

I loved this post because I think it really speaks to what it takes to be successful at anything you're going to do in life, even starting a law firm. And, by the way, if you think you make your living by applying the law to a set of facts, no matter what area of law you practice, you're destined for failure. What you and I do is in many ways exactly what Jonathan does.

We are constantly producing.

We are building long lasting relationships.

We are helping people with whatever time we have.

We are listening and devouring knowledge on a daily basis.

We are solving problems and adding value to our clients.

When you own your own law firm you aren't just another cog in a wheel. You aren't even the manufacturer of a "well oiled machine." In today's day and age you are the inventor of the machine. You are creating something from nothing in whatever way you see fit.

That takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of time. But that's what pros do.