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Message: Hi, I thought you might be interested in this article I found. Who Controls Your Future? More than a few people have used the economy as a scapegoat for problems they are experiencing within their law firms. I have heard everyone from immigration attorneys to criminal defense attorneys blaming the global economic meltdown for their troubles. This convenient excuse started in late 2007 and it continues today. The news media helps add fuel to the fire but make no mistake; this is an idea that is perpetuated at the grassroots level. The problem with this position is it just isn’t true. Problems in most law firms started years ago. In fact, most law firms were not built as businesses on a solid foundation. Most law firms are started by lawyers who need work. This need for work creates a job that you own. That is not a business. It is a job. Instead of reporting to a boss who is employed by a company, you report to multiple bosses in the form of your clients. You punch a time clock (hourly billing) and you only have the work they decide to give you. You are not in control of your destiny any more than the guy stocking shelves at the local Wal-Mart is in control of his destiny. How to Break Free The secret to breaking free of this economic dependence comes in building a business instead of building a job. This means: 1). Marketing your services as a professional 2). Setting up systems to deliver the service 3). Recruiting, hiring and training people to work in and manage the business Most law firms don’t have leaders who think like this. Most law firms have leaders who focus on billable hours, sourcing one matter at a time and day-to-day administrative activities. When you look for someone to blame for the poor financial situation facing law firms today, look no farther than the guy in the mirror. It is his fault you are in the situation you are in but he can also lead you out of it. The question is: Will he? Link: http://www.rainmakerlawyer.com/site/permalink/who_controls_your_future/