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How to Insure Job SecurityThe attorneys I coach have one common problem. They don't have enough hours in the day to do everything they need to do. Most are working long hours and that "To do" list keeps growing not shrinking. So it is no wonder that when I suggest that they find time to market their practice they think I am just plain daffy! If you are working in a successful law firm with plenty of business, why bother to market yourself? When clients are flowing in it is hard to imagine that it will ever stop! During the past few years here in Boston there have been law firms that closed down because they were no longer profitable, law firms that merged with other law firms, and lawyers who were asked to leave their firm because they weren't covering their overhead. What used to feel like a stable environment now feels very unstable. What can an individual lawyer do? Nothing is constant in the work world today. Everything changes very quickly. To be really nibble attorneys need to be flexible so that they can make a move when circumstances change and their job is threatened. If you are absorbed in your work, it is sometimes difficult to even notice that the environment is changing. Michael Gerber in his book The E Myth Revisited talks about the three roles a business owner must take: entrepreneur, manager and technician. The entrepreneur sets the strategy of the business and has the vision, the manager watches over the processes of the business and the technician does the work of the business. If you work in a firm, you have been hired to do the work of the technician (the legal matters you are working on). There are others who look at strategy and manage the work. I've suggested before that everyone manage his/her own career as though it were a business. Have the attitude of what Daniel Pink calls a "free agent". Not only do you need a career strategy but you need to manage that strategy and your work as a technician. This is really a balancing act ? difficult but not impossible. For starters in order to be ready for whatever comes up, having a good solid book of business (client relationships that you own) can help you no matter what happens in your firm or in the environment. Good relationships mean that the clients will move with you to another firm or your own practice. Ok so how do you find the time to create and maintain those relationships? It doesn't have to take a huge amount of time. Make a list of the clients and potential clients that you enjoy working with and who are or would make good clients for you. Telephone calls, notes, breakfasts, or lunches are all good ways to stay in touch. Marketing can be fun not a burden so find your own way. It can also be done quickly between tasks or at a meal that you would be having anyway. Take Action: 1. Read The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber 2. Read Free Agent Nation by Daniel Pink. 3. Read Ten Ways to Market Your Business Doing What You Love To Do http://www.asparker.com/ppts0305.html 4. Read Ten Ways to Develop A Free Agent Attitude http://www.asparker.com/ppts0103.html 5. Make a lunch date with one of the clients or potential clients on your list. Enjoy the connection!! About Alvah Parker |  | | | RELATED ARTICLES Difficult Relationships at Work - Dealing with Workplace Conflict Difficult Relationships at Work - How to Influence the Uncooperative Counteroffers: Should I Stay or Should I Go? If "resignation" is the word that strikes fear into all employers, then "counteroffer" is the one that strikes fear into an employee's heart. "What should I do? They've matched my offer?" Offer Letter Limbo Recently we concluded the placement of a Senior Sales Representative for a publicly traded company. The role was ripe with potential as the company products were being widely embraced by current and new customers. 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His qualifications were beyond question and he built immediate rapport with everyone in the interview process. Every one of his references checked out. Six months later, you were wondering why you hired this clown. How To Conduct A Successful Job Search Campaign 1.Define your objective: Know what kind of work you most enjoy and perform the best. This requires self-evaluation, spending time looking at your interests and abilities. Your Salary: What Are You Worth? Why is it a good idea to determine your worth? Whether you plan to stay at your current job or seek employment elsewhere, your assessment of your worth can become a bargaining chip should you choose to negotiate for higher compensation. It's a reference point on your way to improving not only your standard of living but your sense of self as well. Tales From the Corporate Frontlines: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow This article relates to the Job Security competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. 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How much information is too much and how much is too little when dealing with resume copy? Need a Job? Put a Gun to Your Head A legendary marketing genius once said that, if he had to write a killer sales letter, he would imagine he had a gun pointed at his head and that he would be shot if his advertising didn't deliver. Occupational Health and Safety - Stress and Workaholism at Work There has been a lot of hullabaloo recently about the problems facing Australia in retaining talented workers and the subsequent pressure placed on those remaining behind in the workplace. How to Pick the Best Career For You , Part 2: From Exposure-to-Opportunity Gain an audience by recognizing opportunityThere's a sexier method to salsa into a great career with less tripping and more flair. Look for problems to solve and create a personalized solution. Find those challenges by spotting company movement of any kind, whether the change is good, bad or ugly. If you do this, you'll capitalize on an opportunity to be heard and get that coveted invitation to dance in the king's court. 7 Secrets of a Highly-Effective Resume Cover Letter Just like the late, great Rodney Dangerfield, the "humble" cover letter gets no respect. Out Recruit The Competition We hear from our clients that they "hope the candidate takes the job." Hiring a candidate shouldn't be a guessing game. After you interview a candidate thoroughly, and spend a great deal of time and money getting them through the process, you should not have to worry about "landing them." Tips on Finding Employment as a Corporate Flight Attendant I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic to write about. In fact, my knowledge of how one finds work as a private flight attendant is based chiefly on what others have shared with me. 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Analysing Adverts for the Creative Response The fundamental rule is: if you are going to apply for advertised jobs then only apply for the right ones. Don't waste time by applying for the ones you've no chance of getting; not only is your time lost but your morale will suffer if you keep getting rejections. Analysing adverts thoughtfully saves you more than just time. |
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