AttorneySync Blog

The little man

Anyone who is a parent will appreciate this. I was awake last night, around 3:30 am, rocking my swaddled, newborn back and forth while “shushing” in his ear.  He is about 9 weeks old now, hates sleeping, and needs constant movement to be calmed down.  In my sleep deprived state it hit me that starting a law practice, or any new business, has some real similarities with taking care of a newborn.

The truth is that although some of these reasons may sound negative or daunting, I don’t look at them that way. They are simply the realities of the situation. Anything as worthwhile and remarkable as raising a child or owning your own successful law practice is going to have some hurdles to get through….or else everyone would do it.

Here are 4 reasons why starting a law practice is like having a newborn:

1. It is ever-present. It’s not just the long hours. It’s that it never really stops or leaves your consciousness. The thing you don’t realize before you have a little one is that every little thing needs to be thought of and orchestrated before you take action. In order to get a drink of water or run to the restroom, you need to be sure the little guy or gal is secure, sleeping, laying down, out of trouble, whatever. The same goes for your new firm. When you work for a firm that is not your own, where a check is picked up every two weeks regardless of the circumstances, it’s difficult to understand the mindset of running your own practice until you do it. Since you are accountable for every detail, every client, all the marketing, etc. it becomes ever-present. It’s a part of your consciousness and never really leaves.

2. Everything, even the simplest of tasks, need to be learned. It goes without saying that a newborn is pretty helpless on their own. There are basic reflexes and survival instincts in place, like breathing, gripping, and eating. However, they can’t sit-up, they can’t use the bathroom, they can’t get dressed, they can’t feed themselves, the list goes on and on. Without you there to help, frankly they wouldn’t make it. Well, starting a new practice has many similarities. Your ability to practice law is the basic skill set that is in place. It is a pre-requisite, like breathing and eating, for anyone looking to start a law practice. However, all other aspects of running your firm need to be learned and created. Until you create them, the systems and inner workings of your firm don’t exist yet. Even the simplest of tasks, such how your phone is answered, what your logo looks like, etc. need to be put into place. These are things we take for granted when someone else takes care of them.

3. You need to be open to change and thinking on the fly. It’s great to have a plan mapped out ahead of time, but as anyone with a newborn can attest to, you need to be flexible with those plans. At some point you will need to try something new on the fly to get your baby to stop crying. There is no one-size fits all. Whatever works for your kid, go for it. Also, whatever sleep pattern existed last week might be completely new today. You’re dealing with a moving target. Your new practice is similar. The ability to adjust and change is crucial for the well being of the practice. You need to be able to adapt to changing climates, competitors, new ways of marketing, building relationships, etc. The ability to think and change on the fly is a critical skill for the success of a new practice.

4. There is no “manual” or “right way” to achieve success. Many people can weigh in with opinions on how best to handle situations with your child, but no one has the “right” answers for you. It’s up to you how you want to approach the situation and handle it to the best of your ability. It’s great to have a circle of people you trust that can offer advice. It’s even better if they can be a mentor, because they’ve been there before. Your practice holds the same truths. There is nothing better than having a mentor who can give advice and guide you in the right direction. However, your firm is unique to itself. The relationships you build, the marketing you do, the positioning you take, and the quality of service you provide all contribute the fibers of your practice. It’s important to remember that the path you take will be unique to your firm and there is no “right way” to achieve success.

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