If you want to turbocharge your text output, and triple your typing speed, you need to know about a powerful tool called TextExpander. This is the key to text automation on steroids. Show Notes TextExpander free trial Brett Burney's TextExpander courses for lawyers YouTube video demonstration of TextExpander General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsor Smit...
Feb 08, 2022•15 min•Ep. 190
If you're looking to save money, increase revenue, attract better clients, and gain more freedom in the long run, then offering flat fee pricing is one of the best things you can do for your practice. But how do you figure out the flat fee? And how do you market your flat fee offer in a way that gets more clients to sign up, especially the higher quality ones? That's what this episode will help you understand. General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Po...
Feb 01, 2022•17 min•Ep. 189
As knowledge workers, we need to think well to solve important problems. Asking the right questions is how we find root causes for problems versus superficial ones. The "5 Whys" is a powerful interrogative process for asking better questions. What is the 5 Whys process? That's a great question! Show Notes Overview article on The 5 Why's (blog post) Mental Models explained (blog post) Lawyers As Knowledge Workers (blog post) The Power of A System , by John Fisher Email Newsletter Marketing course...
Jan 25, 2022•20 min•Ep. 188
Working out the best time to talk or zoom with someone is annoying, but not if you automate the process. Lawyers who do this are flabbergasted at how amazing it is. In this episode, you'll learn about the two best software options for automating your scheduling. And you'll have a clearer idea of why scheduling automation is so powerful. Show Notes Calendly (best scheduling system for most people) Acuity (if you want to collect money for appointments) Book a free call to chat with me in person Ge...
Jan 18, 2022•35 min•Ep. 187
How do you create a rewarding law practice that earns you a good living, and is also enjoyable? And what's the role of technology in trying to do that? Well, the key is to start with the right frame of mind. If you see this goal as monumental then you'll probably be intimidated. But if you believe that you can figure it out then you'll find the challenge less monumental. Show Notes Everything is Figureoutable , by Marie Forleo Working Smarter (The foundational program for using technology effect...
Jan 11, 2022•17 min•Ep. 186
Most lawyers do things that decrease the likelihood of getting good clients. Some even spend money on ads that are counter-productive. Don't do that. Instead, do what I'll explain in this episode. It's easy to do the more effective thing once you understand what not to do )and why the more effective method is better). Show Notes Dean Jackson's Nine Word Email (this is but one example of his uncommonly effective approach to communicating well by email) Ernie's 4-month special Co-Pilot program (wh...
Jan 04, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 185
In this episode, Ernie is interviewed about a longstanding, well-kept secret that finally emerged to the public during a recent episode of NPR's This American Life. Megan probes Ernie in an interview designed to show you how being vulnerable (in some cases because of public revelations) can help people know you in ways that allow them to trust you more. Show Notes The Importance of Meeting Earnest (This American Life segment by Jeanne Darst) Jeanne Darst online videos General Resources The 80/20...
Dec 28, 2021•39 min•Ep. 184
If you want to get better clients, consistently, and cost-effectively, you need to focus on this one thing above all else in the coming year. Megan Hargroder joins Ernie to delve into the thing that will make the best impact on your marketing efforts if you focus on it, and do so consistently. Show Notes The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results , by Gary Keller (book about the power of hyperfocus) Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Liste...
Dec 21, 2021•31 min•Ep. 183
Transforming your practice means focusing on what's most important and consistently improving in that area. Next year I recommend you focus on this one thing above all else. If you're realistic about what it takes to make big improvements you can make them. You also need to proceed strategically, using your critical thinking skills. Show Notes Systems Workshop details General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an onl...
Dec 14, 2021•28 min•Ep. 182
Joel Oster is a comedian who practices law, and he puts on highly entertaining CLE programs that you can access online. Plus he just wrote a funny book. In this episode, Joel explains how he started using comedy to get speaking gigs. His thesis is that "the true role of the law can best be understood with a dose of humor." We discuss that and reveal the best place for getting charbroiled oysters in New Orleans. Show Notes Comedian of Law website (humorous online CLE programs) Debriefing the Law ...
Dec 07, 2021•45 min•Ep. 181
St. Louis estate planning attorney Joe O'Keefe had some questions about optimizing his practice to be more paperless. In listening to this discussion, you'll learn about why you might want to use a digital document management system, and which one is best for lawyers. And many other aspects of being paperless are discussed as well. Show Notes Okeefe Law website (Joe's biography page) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inne...
Nov 30, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 180
In the last episode, we talked about how mental models are helpful for simplifying our complex world to make it more understandable. Now let's delve deeper. We'll discuss different types of mental models, focusing on ones that attorney/businessman Charlie Munger believes are the most important for achieving the highest level of success. Show Notes The Psychology of Human Misjudgment , (a YouTube recording of a 1995 speech given by Charlie Munger at Harvard University) The Revised Psychology of H...
Nov 23, 2021•26 min•Ep. 179
It's often hard to understand our complex tech-driven world. That's why we need "mental models" to simplify the complex and make it more understandable. Charlie Munger is a famously successful lawyer who popularized the idea of using mental models. In this episode, Ernie explores how lawyers can use this tool to "make their thinking visible" as they do their knowledge work. Show Notes The Psychology of Human Misjudgment , (a YouTube recording of a 1995 speech given by Charlie Munger at Harvard U...
Nov 16, 2021•20 min•Ep. 178
To attract better clients you need to give greater assurance that you're someone they'd feel comfortable working with. Or even better that they yearn to work with. The best tool for doing this is your biography, but not via the usual "obituary style" litany of accomplishments. Rather, you need to tell the story of who you really are, and why you really care about helping people. Of course, it's hard to tell your own story. In this episode, Megan Hargroder shares the insights about doing this eff...
Nov 09, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 177
We need to be constantly mindful of what we're working on because it's easy for important work to slip through the cracks, figuratively speaking . The best way to do this is to make our work visible. Not literally, but figuratively. The thing to keep in mind is that our knowledge work is mostly mental and therefore not visible. And when information is intangible or invisible it's easy to forget about it or misplace it. That's why we need to use every means possible to keep it from slipping away—...
Nov 02, 2021•21 min•Ep. 176
If you're willing to go beyond the superficial and get more personal, you'll attract much better clients. It feels awkward at first, but it's vital. In this episode, I'll share some really personal things that I don't normally share. Not as a "marketing ploy," but to demonstrate that deeper connections come from going beyond the supposedly "safe zone" of superficiality. I'll share the true reason why I became a lawyer. It's not anything that anyone would ever guess. But once you know that true r...
Oct 26, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 175
The modern world places even greater strain on our mental well-being. How can we become more resilient, strong, and balanced? Sometimes it's not easy to understand. But we can gain useful perspective that helps us stay calm, and make better decisions under pressure. Or just in the everyday stress moments that routinely present themselves to us. Show Notes The Four Agreements , by Don Miguel Ruiz (concise guide to putting everything important into helpful perspective) The Power of Now , by Eckhar...
Oct 19, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 174
Jury consultants assemble focus groups and then use psychology-based interview strategies to help lawyers get in the minds of jurors. Now they can do it virtually. Elizabeth Larrick is an attorney who also does focus group consulting, and in this episode she shares insights into how this is now done virtually, using Zoom. Show Notes Elizabeth Larrick's website Elizabeth Larrick's PDF Guide checklist for doing your own focus groups Judge Emily Miskel's Twitter General Resources The 80/20 Principl...
Oct 12, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 173
California attorney Denise Howell reflects on the many changes that technology has brought to the practice of law over the past two decades. Denise Howell was working in a large L.A. firm when started the fourth lawyer weblog. Five years later she went out on her own, and also was the host of probably the first legal podcast. In this episode, she and Ernie examine some of the tech-driven changes that have taken place in the practice of law and society in general. Show Notes Denise Howell's Twitt...
Oct 05, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 172
A virtual executive assistant can be a boon to your productivity. But how can you get a good EA and what is it like to work with one? One person who knows is Valerie Trapunsky, the founder of a virtual assistance company called ChatterBoss. Her company pairs virtual executive assistants with entrepreneurs, even some lawyers. ChatterBoss is not like most virtual assistance services, because they go beyond just VA match-making. They are also outsourcing coaches, which means they're fully invested ...
Sep 28, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 171
How can we make better, more effective decisions? It's important to find out because the quality of our lives is determined by the quality of our decisions. Many of our decisions are impaired even before we start to make them because of cognitive blind spots. So what are some examples of these cognitive glitches, and how can we overcome them? That's what you'll discover in this episode. Show Notes Read Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo (will help you develop your “figure it out” muscle...
Sep 21, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 170
The less you need to rely on other people the greater your flexibility and resilience. The same goes for relying on resources. Keep your needs to a minimum to survive and thrive. In this episode, Ernie focuses on several key principles to help you be as self-sufficient as possible. Show Notes Episode 167 - Crisis Management OODA Loop , cited in Episode 167 John Boyd , cited in Episode 167 Uncluttered.com Tim Ferriss , Author of Four Hour Workweek Heat , movie with Robert DeNiro & Al Pacino T...
Sep 14, 2021•42 min•Ep. 169
A new law business model is vital now. Ali Katz’s book explains exactly how lawyers should revamp their practices to make them more enjoyable and more profitable. Ali's NLBM is most beneficial to lawyers with estate planning or business law practices that use flat-fee pricing, but the principles and tactics she teaches can help any lawyer in any kind of practice area. In this episode, you’ll learn about the 5 critical shifts solo and small firm lawyers need to make to revitalize their law busine...
Sep 07, 2021•54 min•Ep. 168
Learning how to manage a catastrophic crisis like the hurricane that just hit New Orleans (or fires, earthquakes, and pandemics) will help you in everyday life for reasons that are surprising. Even "smart people" wind up making bad decisions in a crisis. But a prepared person who isn't that "smart" can do surprisingly well. In this episode, we examine exactly why that's true. And Ernie's examination takes place in the aftermath of an actual crisis: i.e. Hurricane Ida, a category 4 storm that rav...
Aug 31, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 167
When starting a new firm, what types of things are important to get right in the beginning to scale later? That's the question I was asked recently by a new lawyer. The answer is applicable or at least helpful to any lawyer thinking about how to improve their practice. Show Notes Advice to a New Lawyer - blog post that inspired this episode Vision & Traction - blog post about the importance of creating a solid vision for your law practice Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business , book by Gino ...
Aug 24, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 166
Historically, the flat fee was the only "ethical fee" for lawyers. Now, it's more often the most sensible type of fee—both for clients and lawyers. The question is: what kind of flat fees are most successful and profitable for lawyers? In this episode, Kristin Tyler shares insights gleaned from her own practice and from helping other lawyers understand the ins and outs of flat fee billing (and eight other alternative billing methods). Show Notes How to Flat Fee Bill As a Lawyer , Kristin Tyler's...
Aug 17, 2021•46 min•Ep. 165
Kim Felton had her first child in law school, then figured out how to be a lawyer and build an online Immigration practice, using technology as much as possible. In this episode, she shares her challenges and how she met them using exceptional wile and grit, and by discovering how best to leverage the power of technology. Show Notes Innovation Litigation (Kim's website) Onward Immigration (Kim's other website) A Better Way: How Motherhood Changed My Perspective Of The Legal Field & What I’m ...
Aug 10, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 164
Making your work visible is vital for knowledge workers (like lawyers), and the best way of doing that is by using a Kanban Board. Task managers just can't cut it. In this episode, Ernie talks with John Grant a consultant who helps fellow lawyers fix their legal workflows using Kanban Boards to help them manage tasks more effectively and collaborate better. Show Notes Agile Attorney (John Grant's website) The Voice of The Client (John's podcast where he interviews lawyer clients) Thinking Fast &...
Aug 03, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 163
You are a brand. The only question is whether you want to understand it and improve so your reputation is enhanced? Or do you prefer to leave things to chance? If you prefer the former, then reading Mike Kim's new book "You Are The Brand," is your starting point. In this episode Mike shares some of the key lessons from his book, but in a way that relates to lawyers with solo or small firm practices. Show Notes You Are The Brand , by Mike Kim General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsle...
Jul 27, 2021•45 min•Ep. 162
Clients are the lifeblood of your business, but they can also be frustrating and annoying. You must manage clients very well if you want a happy law practice . The simplest, most important business goal you can have is to optimize for happy clients. But you must understand what that actually means in practice. I learned a lot about what this means as a waiter at a prestigious New Orleans restaurant. The principles for effectively managing your law clients are the same as those for managing any k...
Jul 20, 2021•47 min•Ep. 161
