Fill In The Blank: In 2015, I Resolve To __________

Still struggling with your resolutions for the coming year? Matt Homann's latest post on the [non]billable hour has for all the "resolution inspiration" you'll ever need.

Homann has compiled ten of his favorite posts (from the more than 100 he has written) for lawyers and firms on setting - and achieving - the right kind of goals, those that will make you and your clients happier and calmer and better. And they're all worth reading. Our favorite? "Resolve to get less business:"

If too much income comes from clients you hate serving, find a different practice area or a different job.

Read the post. Resolve to change for the better this year.

Sometimes the best professional development tool is a library card.

Frank Kimball's "A Book Shelf For Professional Success and Development: The First 34 You Should Read" at Ms. JD. Your summer reading list just got longer. In a good way. Kimball's list is a comprehensive guide to the things that a lawyer needs to know, whether she's a first-year BigLaw associate looking for guidance or a twenty-year veteran solo looking for inspiration. So dig out that library card, head to your local library, and get reading. You might not get through the whole list this summer (Kimball's suggestion, more modest, is one book per month), but you'll learn something while you try.

Today's Law Marketing Resource

Joe Kelly's "The 53 Runner’s Commandments" on the Pine Belt Racers Club website. Every runner knows that running is a philosophy, not an activity. Like being a lawyer. Today's post hammers that home. Read these 53 commandments, and ask yourself where you might be able to slip in "lawyer" or "client service" or maybe even "value" to make them relevant to you. Yeah, not all of them apply to lawyering, but if you read closely and think about how some of these commandments might help you be a better lawyer, they will.

Today's law marketing resource

Michael Chang's essay on "Managing Change," from ACC Docket, in which Chang recounts what his life experience has taught him about being a better lawyer. 

From Law Consulting Blog: "My Top 10 Tips for Young Lawyers"

"My Top 10 Tips for Young Lawyers" from Law Consulting Blog. Cordell Parvin's blog is full of practical advice, and this post is no exception. Don't let the title fool you though: lawyers at all stages of their career can benefit from these tips. So can everybody else. My favorite? Number 1: "Seek to become a better lawyer every single day." Shouldn't we all strive to that goal, no matter what we do?

From Alan's Blog: "How to Think Like a (Successful) Consultant"

"How to Think Like a (Successful) Consultant" from Alan's Blog at Contrarian Consulting. We could all benefit from thinking more like consultants and less like technicians. This post sets out 12 solid ideas that will help you do just that. My favorite? The first one, because it's all about value. Read them and then add Alan Weiss' blog to your RSS feed. You'll be glad you did.

From Leading Blog: "12 Leadership Guidelines for Leading through Learning in Turbulent Times"

"12 Leadership Guidelines for Leading through Learning in Turbulent Times" from Leading Blog. You probably won't ever need to rebuild a 53,000-employee, embroiled-in-chaos-after-its-founder-and-chair-resigns-amidst-massive-accounting-fraud company. But Priscilla Nelson and Ed Cohen did. This post captures 12 guidelines they followed as they turned Satyam Computer Services around. Powerful advice for any leader. Want more? Check out their book Riding the Tiger: Leading through Learning in Turbulent Times.

From a public defender: The presumption of guilt

"The presumption of guilt" from a public defender. I could recommend this post because my Blawg Review #257 question led to it. But that's not why you should read it. You should read it because it's full of passion, full of truth, full of candor. Because it makes you think. Because it articulates, in one of the best posts I've read all year, the most difficult aspect of being a public defender. Read it and you'll surely agree.

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and relevant posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Why In the World Would You Give Away Your Expertise For Free?” from The Greatest American Lawyer. Why would lawyers want to blog, and give away their work? This post explains why one lawyer does it. And it makes a pretty good argument for all lawyers blogging. You’ve probably been doing it all along, in other contexts (speeches, articles, conversations, etc.). This post reminds you that demonstrating your expertise and your understanding of the complex legal issues that affect the business decisions of your clients is a pretty good way to market your practice.
  
  
• “Bar exam advice from a simple minded lawyer” from Real Lawyers Have Blogs. When you’re faced with a test, perhaps the hardest, most significant, biggest stakes test of your life, step back, breathe, and remember that you are ready, that you’ve prepared, that nothing you will do at the last minute will change your preparedness. This post is about taking the bar exam, but it applies to every trial and tribulation of life (thesis defense, job interview, sales pitch, etc.). Read it before every test in your life.
  
  
• “Overcome Insecurity and Bring In More Business” from lawjobs.com Career Center. For most lawyers, business development and marketing – selling their services – is difficult. But you can make it less so. This post addresses two of the hurdles that are most likely holding back your business development efforts: the negative internal dialogue, and the lack of experience. You’ll need to read the post to see their solutions, but you’ll be glad you did.
  
  
• “Ask Good Questions” from Leader Talk. Why do you need to ask good questions? Because good questions lead to engaged conversations, which lead to stronger relationships, which lead to increased influence. Not the “force your ideas on others” kind, but the “have a positive impact on others” kind of influence. And influence is a key component of leadership. So asking good questions can improve your leadership skills. But don’t just take my word for it. Read this post too.
  
  
• “The ABC's of Public Speaking - S is for Stage Time” from Some Assembly Required. You get better at doing by doing. There’s no other way. Want to be a better public speaker? Speak in public. But this logic extends far beyond public speaking, doesn’t it? Want to be a better runner? Run every day. Want to be a better lawyer? Make providing greater value to your clients your goal, not just a good contract or a great argument, but legal work that helps them be more successful in their businesses and life. And do it again and again, every day. You’ll get better at it. And your clients will be happier. What’s not to like?

Have you read these?

A smattering of relevant and interesting posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Law and Surgery” from Adam Smith, Esq. Because its focus is the economics of law firms, this blog is on my short list of must-reads. Whether he’s dissecting law firm layoffs or market economics or the GM bankruptcy, Bruce MacEwen always provides an invaluable perspective on the business of law. That said, this post rises to the top precisely because it is NOT about law firm economics. Why? Because it is about passion. Read it and see why this Adam Smith, Esq. should be on your short list, too.
  
  
• “Welcome to the Future: Morgan Lewis Signals Armageddon” from AmLaw Daily. Like everyone else in the legal profession, you’re probably following the growing trend of summer program cancellations at the AmLaw 200 with the same abject horror as you did the layoffs of the past 18 months. This stuff is big. Really really big. Paul Lippe calls it “Armageddon” in this piece, and I see no reason to disagree. Read it and you will agree. Pay special attention to the comments, where readers appear more interested in Lippe’s use of “syllogism” than the fact that the profession as we know it will never be the same.
  
  
• “More problems with gated online legal communities: Cannot link to profiles” from Real Lawyers have Blogs. More and more lawyers are exploring and adopting Web 2.0 tools to market their practices, share knowledge and experience, and develop relationships, sparking more and more debate on the right way to do it. Kevin O’Keefe is often at the center of those conversations, and this post is no exception. Read it to see what your peers think about closed online communities. And while you’re at it, read “The State of Legal Social Networking” from Compliance Building, in which Doug Cornelius gives his take on a handful of social networking sites for lawyers.
  
  
• “Winning on the uphills” from Seth Godin’s Blog. I’m a cyclist, so I know from personal experience that the payoff for my work in the saddle is in the climb, not the descent. But you probably know that too, if only because it is July, and Lance Armstrong is back in the Tour de France, and the riders are currently in the Alps. The Tour is won on the uphills, when the challenges are greatest, when the conditions are dismal, when the risks are highest. Kind of like the economic environment today, isn’t it? Well, get over it, get out there, and get climbing. And read this post for inspiration on your way out the door.
  
  
• “Strategic Marketing in Five Easy Leaps” from Virtual Marketing Officer. Lawyers and legal marketers: read this post, and ask yourself where your firm lands on the strategic marketing continuum. Then ask where you think it should be. If yours is like most firms, those two places are not the same. How can you close the gap? By reading this post, and applying some of its useful ideas to your business development and marketing efforts.

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and valuable posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Five Things Lawyers Should Know About Social Media” from Practicing Law in the 21^st Century. Lawyers: whether you’re just starting out in social media, a social media pro, or somewhere in-between, you need to read this post. I read a lot of posts about lawyers and social media, and this one sums up quite nicely the key themes that should guide you in your Web 2.0 activities. Don’t let the title fool you, though: you don’t have to be a lawyer to learn from it.
  
  
• “Overcoming Procrastination” from Jim Calloway’s Law Practice Tips Blog. Rather than crack “put off until tomorrow” jokes, I’ll go straight to the punchline. Everyone procrastinates. Some are better at it than others, and some of us have elevated it to an art form. But the cost of procrastination is high no matter how you slice it: added stress, missed deadlines, dissatisfied clients, etc. This post can help you, so read it. Today. Without delay.
  
  
• “Practice the 10/20/30 Rule for Presentations” from law.com. I’ve seen Guy Kawasaki make a presentation. I liked it. Whether you make presentations six times a day or six times a decade, yours will be significantly better if you follow his 10/20/30 rule. The bonus? Being able to quote a professional fisherman the next time you’re giving someone advice on their presentation.
  
  
• “Will alternative fee arrangements be profitable for lawyers?” from Legal Ease Blog. This post is a valuable addition to the ongoing “alternative fees v. hourly billing” debate, one of the key issues shaping the legal profession today. In it, Allison Shields takes a thoughtful look at some of the hurdles – perceived and real – that may be keeping lawyers from embracing alternative billing methods.
  
  
• “Dragons' Den” from The Adventure of Strategy. I really enjoy seeking out new blogs and posts that add to the legal business development and marketing conversation. Why? Because I find blogs like this one, and get to add them to my RSS feed. This post is about a possible future for selling in the legal profession. What if you had only three minutes to convince your clients to hire you? How would you articulate your difference? What would you have to do differently to show clients that you are indeed better than the competition? And what would the impact be on the way you run your firm?

Have you read these?

A smattering of insightful and useful posts from the blawgosphere and beyond.

• “Draft Horse” from Belgium Knee Warmers. I don’t often get the chance to recommending a cycling post in the context of legal business development and marketing. This is a great post about working hard, satisfying the needs of your client, and the satisfaction that comes from being a true team player. Lawyers: don’t make your clients tell you what they need. Know their business, know their industry, know their objectives and strategies and challenges, so that you can smell their need and satisfy it before they ask. Then you know you’re adding value.
  
  
• “You Need to Be Proactive to Sell” from Alan’s Blog at Contrarian Consulting. I’ve featured posts from Alan Weiss before. This one features stories about selling, value and how one vendor makes their client feel important, special and valued. Guess who’s going to get repeat business?
  
  
• “Decision making defines the leader” from Harvey MacKay. This article doesn’t need much in the way of introduction, because you already know who MacKay is and why you should be reading his weekly column. My favorite part of this one? The quote from Harry S. Truman: “Whenever I make a bum decision, I just go out and make another."
  
  
• “Tips for Pitching Your Firm to In-House Counsel Without Going Overboard” from Law.com. It may seem like you’ve heard these before. After all, you have a lot of experience on the buyer side making purchase decisions based on how people pitch their services. Then why do you need to read this post? Because you’re probably not using your “buyer” experience when wearing your “seller” hat. Read this post and put what you learn into action.
  
  
• “What do recruiters want from a resume?” from MN Headhunter. I feature a lot of posts for job seekers that offer valuable lessons for all who sell themselves (including the fortunate ones who currently have jobs). Don’t let the title of this post fool you: it too is for everyone. Yes, it is full of very practical advice for job seekers writing, updating, or merely circulating their resume. But there’s a broader lesson here: don’t deal in generalities. Find out precisely what your buyer is looking for, and tailor your materials to communicate your ability to meet those needs.
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of insightful and important posts from the blawgosphere and beyond.

• “How Essential is a CMO?” from AmLaw Daily. This is what I do, so it’s not surprising that I have a viewpoint on this question (first thought: this isn't the right question to ask). But that’s not why you need to read this article. You need to read it because your own answer to the question should provide the foundation for your marketing plan, for the initiatives, budget and scope of how you market your practice. You also need to read the responses it has sparked, including those from Heather Milligan in The Legal Watercooler, “How Essential is a CMO? Depends,” Mark Beese in Leadership for Lawyers, “How Essential is a CMO?,” and Tim Corcoran in Corcoran’s Business of Law Blog, “Law Firm Leaders and Law Firm CMOs: Stop Whining and Get On With It,” and Jordan Furlong in Law21.ca, "Trust and the marketing department."
  
  
• “Testing Marketing Competence” from Branding Strategy Insider. This post fits well with the ongoing discussion about the necessity of law firm CMOs. Why? Because these are the types of questions lawyers should be asking when talking to law firm marketers. And legal marketers should be articulating what they do, how they do it, and why it works or doesn’t work, in these terms. That’s how your clients do it.
  
  
• “Twitter – New Opportunities and Headaches for Companies” from Howard Rice. This is a client alert written by Howard Rice attorneys that takes a broad (and cursory) look at legal issues raised by blogs, Facebook and Twitter. Lawyers: whether or not you are directly involved in social media and social networking, your clients are. This isn’t going away, and the risks are only going to increase. You need to know this stuff. Really well.
  
  
• “Graduating into a recession” from Law21.ca. I ask lawyers what advice they have for law students when I interview them on 22 Tweets. So when I saw that Jordan Furlong had answered the same question, in a blog post, I had to read it. And recommend you read it too. It’s not by accident that I regularly feature his work on this blog: his analyses are thoughtful, comprehensive and insightful. And this one rises to the top: in the course of advising student, Furlong provides an in-depth examination of how the legal profession is evolving, and how lawyers must evolve to survive in the world. Read it.  
  
  
• “Tough times, tougher questions” from legalweek.com. Still trying to figure out what to do in today’s economic climate? You’re not the only one. This article captures a recent debate on the future of the legal profession (sponsored by Legal Week). In the process, it gives us valuable insight how this very diverse group of legal professionals see the profession and where it is going. The bonus? Reading what your peers and colleagues think the profession is doing right (and not so right).
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and insightful posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “The Great Newspaper Meltdown, and What It Means For Our Pricing” from Adam Smith, Esq. The dying newspaper industry provides the perfect backdrop for another thoughtful post from Bruce MacEwen on law firm economics and pricing in the face of increasing debate – from all sides – on how lawyers should bill for their work. Regular readers of this blog know that I am a big fan of MacEwen’s work. This post will make you one, too.
  
  
• “Great conversations build great relationships” from Building Enduring Client Relationships. You already know this, don’t you? So did the guy in this story. And yet he still couldn’t figure it out on his own. Conversations lead to relationships which, in the professional services business, lead to work. That’s one of the exciting things about social networking: it makes starting the conversations – traditionally the hardest part – simple and easy. But that doesn’t mean the hard part goes away…. 
  
  
• “First Signs of a New Equilibrium in Entry-Level Salaries” from Empirical Legal Studies. Unless you live on Mars, or are on vacation, you probably have already heard about Drinker Biddle’s one-year associate training program. Why should you read this post? Because Bill Henderson is one of the leading thinkers in the empirical analysis of the legal profession space (he co-organized the recent FutureFirm competition), spends his time studying how law firms are structured and managed, and knows this stuff better than most. Need another reason? The future is now, and Drinker Biddle is writing it. Shouldn’t you be doing the same?
  
  
• “Buying Lessons from a Master Salesman” from Trust Matters. Another post that tells a story about selling (and buying) to give valuable insight on the buying process. It works. Lawyers, read this post every time you’re pitching work. The people across the table already know you’re an expert. You don’t need to convince them of that. You need to show them that they can trust you.
  
  
• “Bear Experiences vs. Bare Products” from Working Knowledge. This post is about innovation. And teddy bears. Intrigued? Read it, and you’ll see why it is summarized as “innovate the experience, not just the product.” When you’re done, think about the ways you might be able to innovate the experience for your clients. Your competition is, and some of them are even doing it. Don’t let yourself be left behind.
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and insightful posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “How to Perfect an Elevator Pitch About Yourself” from Harvard Business Publishing’s Voices column. This is a useful post for job seekers, who will find five pieces of very practical advice about selling themselves in 15 seconds. Not you? Don’t kid yourself: your life just as full of 15-second blips during which are you are required to communicate your value in an interesting and engaging manner.
  
  
• “Can We Honestly Measure the ROI of Online Relationships?” from Law Firm Blogger. This post, and the discussions that it sparked, is a must read for legal professionals struggling to quantify the value of social media relationships. Whether you think that using metrics to evaluate these types of time/effort/expense costs is pointless or you think demonstrable ROI is a requirement before you make any investment whatsoever or you still haven’t figured it out, you will learn something from these discussions.
  
  
• “Neighborhood #1: The Regal Queen” from WonderBranding: Notes on Marketing to Women. I don’t know when I picked up this feed, or whether I’ve even noticed it will sifting through the hundreds in my RSS reader. But this post makes me glad it’s there. What if legal marketers applied the same discipline to understanding – so they can better communicate with – their different customer types?
  
  
• “Thinking about business models” from Seth Godin’s blog. Godin always uses fewer words to say more than just about everybody else: he’s great at reducing ideas and concepts to their essential elements, and articulating them in concise and thought-provoking ways. Lawyers, if you are indeed serious about exploring alternative business models, this post will help you frame the discussion.
  
  
• “Excellence. Always. All You Need to Know. (More or Less.)” from tompeters! Dispatches from the World of Work. Posts like this really demonstrate the power of blogging. It used to cost money to get advice like this. Today it’s free. And Tom Peters is most likely doing more work because of it. There’s probably a lesson there. There is definitely a lesson in this post, six tremendously valuable ones to be exact. Read it and learn.
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and valuable posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “The Decline of Differentiation” from Branding Strategy Insider. Now more than ever, lawyers need to communicate that which differentiates their services from those of their competition. This post describes three marketing errors that are contributing to the commoditization of consumer products. Make sure you’re not committing them too. Why? “Without a clear differentiating idea attached to a brand, all you’re left with to motivate buyers is price.” How long can that be sustained?
  
  
• “An evolving profession: Lawyers describe the commoditization of certain legal services” from Chicago Lawyer Magazine. This is one of the more thoughtful pieces I’ve read on how and why the profession is changing, and what it may look like in the future. You need to know this.
  
  
• “Employee blogs v. ceo blogs: which is best?” from don’t get caught. An interesting discussion about who should be writing corporate blogs. Read it closely and you’ll see that it also provides some basic but crucial guidelines for companies – and law firms – trying to find the best blogging model.
  
  
• “What Documents Should I Post on JD Supra?” from JD Scoop. JD Supra is a great forum for showcasing your written work (I have an account). This post describes how legal professionals are using it, and the types of work they share. Yes, it’s a commercial for JD Supra. But it will also help you think differently about your work, how you could re-purpose it, and in doing so better communicate your skills, experience and expertise.
  
  
• “Finding Your Ceiling” from Some Assembly Required. I read Thom Singer’s work for many reasons. It gives me practical advice that helps me work better. It gives me new ideas that make me smarter. And most of all it inspires me to think about what I am doing, why I am doing it, and how I could add greater value. This post falls into the latter category. Read it. You’ll be inspired too.
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of valuable and interesting posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Meddlesome Clients Often Drive Changes” from Corcoran’s Business of Law blog. Whether or not in-house lawyers allow business managers into the outside counsel selection process, as Corcoran advocates, lawyers and firms pitching to corporate clients would do well to prep for their next meeting as if they were facing managers, not lawyers. This post provides valuable insight on how to do that (and a pretty strong argument for letting business managers into the process of selecting counsel).
  
  
• “The Biggest Mistake PR Pros Make Every Day” from Communications Catalyst. Lawyers, don’t be fooled by the title: this post is written for you, too. There’s nothing particularly novel about this advice, yet we all commit these mistakes more often than we’d like to admit. Read it. It will help you stop making the same mistakes again tomorrow.
  
  
• “20 Ways to Engage Contacts in Social Media” from Sometimes it’s better to be Socially Creative. If you’re reading this blog, you probably already understand that the greatest value of social media is being able to engage with others. This post is chock-full of practical advice on how to maximize that value. Even if you think you’re doing everything right, you’ll learn something when you read this post.
  
  
• “Associates: Get Out There and Focus on Your Passion” from Law Consulting Blog. This is a great story about an IP associate’s successful efforts to raise her visibility. Why? Because although she was very successful at earning respect and recognition, it wasn’t until she identified a specific (and achievable) objective that her efforts produced the result she was seeking.
  
  
• “Matthew Childs: Hang in there! 9 life lessons from rock climbing” from TED.com. I could watch this clip over and over again. Not just for the tips – lessons on rock climbing that do indeed translate well into lessons on life – but for the lesson on giving a great presentation that you’ll get. Study Childs’ style, make your presentations like his, and your audiences will thank you.

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and useful posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “How To Be A Happy Creative Director” from The Ad Contrarian. While everything in this post doesn’t translate directly to lawyers and the legal profession, it does offer some very good advice. My favorite: “remember why people buy stuff.” [Hint: law firm clients buy because they need SOLUTIONS and VALUE.] The bonus? Your comments on whether or not #6 applies even remotely to lawyers.
  
  
• “Brands Will Learn By Doing. Get Over It.” from Logic + Emotion. There are no absolutes in Web 2.0. No magic formula that ensures success. It takes commitment, and resolution, and willingness to make mistakes. Not the ideal environment for lawyers, but on the other hand it may provide significant opportunities for lawyers and firms willing to learn by doing. Read this post and you’ll be better prepared to do just that.
  
  
• “What Can Big Firms Do To Become More Competitive” from The Greatest American Lawyer. This post articulates well the concepts I consider central to building a successful practice: Value. Efficiency. Quality. Relationships. Read it and you’ll agree. Then do like I did, and sign up for the RSS feed.
  
  
• “5¢ architectural advice” from Make: technology on your time. My first reaction to this post was “hah, very clever.” And then I started to think about how it could apply to lawyers. What if your pitch focused on helping your potential clients figure out what they need, not what you offer? Would those potential clients judge the value of your advice differently? 
  
  March 25 Updates
  -  John Morefield's Architecture 5¢ Website
  -  NPR's Morning Edition piece on Laid-Off Architect Sells Advice For 5 Cents
  
  
• “What Makes a Lawyer Great?” from lawjobs.com Career Center. Molly Peckman puts that question to a group of “lawyers’ lawyers” in Philadelphia, and reports their views here. While their views will not surprise you, the end result is a useful collection of qualities that successful lawyers consider essential. Who wants to see clients answer this same question?
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and valuable posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “The Better Business Experience for your Customers, Prospects and Partners” from Conversation Agent. Successful client relationships depend a lot on meaningful dialogues. The ideas in this post, and the ongoing conversations, might help you reshape your client interaction and strengthen your client relationships.
  
  
• “50+ Tips to Brand Yourself Online” from HRM Today. Not a lot I can say about this post beyond providing the title. So just read it. You’ll be glad you did.
  
  
• “Recessionary Thinking: 12 Smart Marketing Tips for Tough Times” from Legal Marketing Reader. I don’t agree with all 12, there are some very good suggestions for marketing in a down economy here. The bottom line? Arbitrarily cutting back your marketing spend is no better than paying for marketing activities without a clear understanding of their benefits. Successful marketing is more about having a focused and realistic plan than it is about spending money. Read this post for a good perspective on the types of things your marketing plan should address.
  
  
• “How do you syndicate a blog or website?” from Rachel Levy’s Job Search and Networking blog. Maintaining a successful blog isn’t solely about providing good content, it’s also about finding readers and engaging them in meaningful conversations. This post provides some useful ideas on how to get the word out so you can get the readers in.
  
  
• “Know Thyself” from Leadership and Women Lawyers. I like three things about this post. The first is its practical advice: lawyers, whether you know it or not, you have a web presence. You need to be aware of it and manage it wherever possible. The second is the story of lawyers collaborating with professional staff. This firm sounds like a great place to work. The third? Being able to subscribe to a blog dedicated to “developing and supporting women in leadership positions in law firms and law departments.”
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “23 Ideas for How to Start a Consulting Practice” from Branding & Marketing. A lot more than 23 ideas here. Some very practical, some philosophical, and the rest in-between. Six screens of ideas (by my count), but you’ll be glad you read them all.
  
  
• “The Compleat Consultant” from Alan’s Blog at Contrarian Consulting. Good advice for any consultant, but especially good for lawyers: everything you do must communicate the value you provide. The value you provide, not the law you practice, not the cases you’ve handled, not the transactions you’ve managed. The value you provide. Is that clear?
  
  
• “Journalists, Bloggers & Media Outlets on Twitter,” a wiki hosted by Sarah Evans (@PRsarahevans) and the #journchat Twitterati. Great resource. Bookmark it. Tweet about it. According to Kevin O’Keefe, “Lawyers reach influencers on Twitter (bloggers/media).”  This is a list of those influencers. How much would you pay for this?
  
  
• “Ten Rules of Rainmaking” from Matt Homann’s blog, the [non]billable hour. Homann’s stuff is always great: thoughtful ideas for lawyers and legal professionals who want to think – and practice law – differently. My advice? Start reading now, and you'll quickly want to do the same.
  
  
• “Businesses currently on Twitter” from twibs.com. Another great resource. When I last looked there were 4,331. People used to pay a lot of money for this kind of information. Aren’t you glad you don’t have to do that anymore?