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There have been many jokes and memes about how we have all forgotten the most basic of social skills after being locked down for two years.

But in all seriousness, it sometimes feels like when you don’t flex a certain “muscle,” you forget how to use it. In some ways, the last two years have really dragged on, but in others, they’ve flown by. So it can come as a surprise when you’re getting excited to return to that first in-person event only to realize that you may feel a little rusty. …
Continue Reading Help! I’ve Forgotten How to Network!

What better way to celebrate International Networking Week with a throwback to a post I wrote about international networking (updated for these modern times)?

With virtual platforms bringing us even closer together these days, the ability for us to connect with counterparts from across borders is easier than ever. But that means we can’t forget that everyone doesn’t do business in the same way that we do. That’s incredibly fun because it means we get to learn about other people and cultures, but there can also be a few pitfalls. Entrepreneur shared this great article back in 2014 on the keys to success for navigating networking internationally and I added a fifth suggestion based on my own experience – these five tips hold true today. …
Continue Reading 5 Ways to Be Intentional About Your International Networking

I’m not big on resolutions.

Some years, I have some, other years I don’t, but they’re generally things I’d like to add more of to my life (like the year I decided I would try to learn how to knit – I’ve been crocheting since I was about five – yes, these are two different things).

Do I always have a business development plan? Yes.

So what am I advocating here? Sheer anarchy??

Uh, no. Don’t worry. …
Continue Reading Resolve to Throw Out Your Business Development Plan Today

Bad news everyone.

There’s no magic bullet when it comes to LinkedIn. Or, for that matter, any business development or marketing tool.

There’s only strategy and hard work.

Anyone who tells you differently is selling something.

Are there instances where you’ll connect with someone and they’ll immediately buy your services or you’ll write a post and it will go viral? Absolutely! That’s down to luck (and sometimes, strategy and hard work behind the scenes). But it’s not because there’s some trick to it all. You’re not going to suddenly “figure it all out” and have one tool be doing all the work for you and bringing you lots and lots of clients. It doesn’t work like that. …
Continue Reading LinkedIn for Lawyers: There’s no Magic Bullet

It’s SPOoOooOooKY Halloween this weekend (can anyone tell me which podcast that’s from?) and so I’m bringing you a post on the five most frightful business development mistakes lawyers make (and how to avoid them!).

I love Halloween, so bear with me on this. …
Continue Reading Five Frightful Business Development Mistakes Lawyers Make

I’m going to suggest a theory – that there are many lawyers out there who hear the phrase “content marketing” and assume that it’s either absolute nonsense (raise your hand) or more of that marketing hooey (and therefore secretly nonsense, or at the very least, not something you’re supposed to be involved in – raise your hand).

Am I right? …
Continue Reading Wait…Content Marketing Can Get Me…Clients??

A few years ago, I was asked the question, “What is relationship marketing, and where do you start when you want to build your business?”

Since we’re in a relationship business [spoiler alert], I’d hope that most lawyers reading this would be comfortable with the idea of engaging in relationship marketing, and how to translate that into business for your practice. But in case you’re not (or in case you want to put a more formal name to something you’re already doing in your practice), let’s talk about what it is, and how to use it. …
Continue Reading Why Should Lawyers Care About Relationship Marketing?

“I just can’t do one more online meeting. “

“You can’t get business that way.” 

“My clients need me more.” 

Have you ever said, or thought, any of these things about a virtual event or while involved in a conference organization during the pandemic? It’s not the first time I’ve heard them, which is why they merit a mention here.

When you say these things out loud or to yourself, it’s likely that your first reaction is that you’re fed up, the organization is faulty, or you’ll just hang on until things get back to “normal.” But consider for just a moment that maybe the networking barrier in these scenarios is actually you. …
Continue Reading How Zoom Fatigue May Be Blocking Your Relationship Development Efforts (And How to Fix It)

If you’ve been following along here at Zen for any length of time (or even just the last few weeks), then you’ll know that I love September and the promise of a fresh start that it brings (also because the fall is my favorite season).

A LOT of us have been feeling bogged down lately – by the pandemic, endless Zoom calls, heat and humidity, worldwide unrest, the list goes on. There is a lot that we CAN’T control. But there are some things we can control – for one, our attitudes and our ability to reach out and help someone else. …
Continue Reading Fresh New Ideas for September That We Love (And You Will Too!)