With 2010 coming right around the corner, I know a lot of you have finally decided to do it. This year will be the year you start a law firm, become your own boss, and take control of your life. Well, good for you.
I have a funny feeling, however, that at some point in the very near future you are going to actually sit down, try to get started, and think to yourself, “what the heck do I do to even get started?” If this happens to you, don’t worry. It happens to all of us. To get through this initial shock and awe of starting a law firm all you have to do is take a little bit of time and plan.
Setting up a strategic plan isn’t hard. All it’s going to take is about a full day of your time free from distractions (this means no cell phone, no laptop, and no spouse around and an honest assessment of what you need to do, not just with your professional life, but with your personal life. This will allow you to see everything you need to do this year, set some realistic goals for getting it done, and start working today towards accomplishing all of your goals.
Step one for putting together your strategic plan is to make a list of all the things you need to do this year. This includes both personally and professionally. Include both things you need to do (create a website, order business cards, choose office space, etc.), things you have to do (pay bar dues, mow the lawn, etc.), things you want to do (vacation to Tahiti, one round of golf every two weeks, etc.), and things that will make you money (speak once a week, internet marketing plan, etc.). Take the time to put down everything you need.
Second, organize everything into four categories. A for things that will make you money directly. B for things that are for self-improvement. C for chores. And D for rewards/recreation.
Third, break each of those things up into steps that can be accomplished on their own. For example, creating a website might mean finding a designer, choosing a template, creating your content, etc. Each of those is a step that can be broken down into it’s own to-do.
Fourth, and finally, get out a huge calendar and calendar everything you need to do. This gives you a visual idea of what you will be doing every day. It keeps you from stalling, from spinning your wheel, and from feeling overwhelmed while you in the process of starting a law firm.
With any luck, using this method will give you a great idea of where you want to go in the next six months to a year and will give you a plan to get there.
