Velocity Work

Billing monthly is the norm for most law firm owners, and it's probably working just fine for you and your clients, so why would you do it differently? This is what Eileen Kendall from Kendall Law believed… until she realized that a simple billing switch could change the game for her firm’s cash flow.   Eileen Kendall is back this week to share how billing twice a month has helped stabilize her firm’s cash flow, especially as she’s gone through a period of rapid growth from $300K to $900K per year. Listen in to discover how you can improve your firm's financial health and create more breathing room in your schedule with a simple billing tweak.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/269

By the end of May, Eileen Kendall was essentially running her firm alone. With her associate out sick and no paralegal support, this was her breaking point. She was close to shutting the doors to her firm when she decided it was time to make some big changes to get her house in order.   Eileen has been a private client of Melissa’s for a couple of years, and on this episode, Eileen and Melissa are discussing how Eileen's tenacity has helped her weather some significant storms in her business. Join them to hear what it takes to build a get-it-done mentality, why Eileen believes failure isn’t an option, and how her mindset has kept her afloat when she thought the worst might happen.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/267

Welcome to a special episode as Melissa celebrates five years of The Law Firm Owner Podcast! There are a handful of other things Melissa is celebrating right alongside the fifth anniversary of the podcast, and she’s using this opportunity to introduce you to Velocity Work’s COO, Giselle Urbina, and highlight everything that’s been going on behind the scenes.   Join Melissa and Giselle on this episode as they dig into the work Giselle has been doing inside the company as COO and facilitator, and how she came into this role. They’re also exploring some of the major client wins that have been happening in Melissa’s groups, the role Giselle has played in ensuring client success, and the updates and improvements you can expect to see soon.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/267

There are two approaches to running a law firm and the first one is structured. Discipline and focus are highly valued with this style, and there’s often intensity present too. The second approach is one that’s softer, more flexible and adaptive. Both sound great, but is there a time and place for one over the other? Which foot are you leading with? And why does understanding your stance even matter?   Listen in this week as Melissa walks you through what it takes to create radical shifts inside your firm, and why your approach matters when it comes to achieving whatever it is you have your sights set on right now. You’ll hear when the combination of structure and flexibility is truly powerful, how to exercise your individual strengths, and how to walk the line of focus and adaptability at the same time.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/266

As a law firm owner, you’ve taken huge risks and put in blood, sweat, and tears to lift your firm off the ground. You’ve considered how to run your firm in a way that feels healthy and aligned, and you’re ensuring your clients and team are served at the highest level possible. But have you ever stopped to put a number on what success means to you? Have you figured out how all this work you’ve put in can lead to more time and money freedom for you?   Join Melissa on this episode as she offers her guide for calculating how your business can fund your dreams. You’ll hear how you can make jumps in profit without putting in extra work, what playing around with your future numbers looks like, and a mental exercise to get you in the practice of mapping out your dreams.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/265

What is your people cost? Do you know what should be included in and excluded from your people cost? And how can getting into the nitty-gritty from a numbers perspective help you run your firm more smoothly and even create happier employees and clients?   If you feel like you’re just surviving as a law firm owner right now and want to understand the levers you can pull to truly thrive, listen in. Melissa is showing you how to calculate your people cost, what you might need to do if your people cost is higher or lower than it should be, and she’s also giving you prompts that will allow you to run the checks and balances necessary for a healthy firm.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/264

Are you aware of the return on investment you’re getting from your hires? Does it feel like you have to watch your pennies when it comes to taking an owner’s draw or rewarding your team? How might you be hiring blindly, and how is it affecting the health of both your business and your team?   If you’re embarking on your team-building journey with hunches or an unwillingness to look at the math, listen in today to hear how you’re setting your business up for failure. Melissa is showing you the order in which you should be hiring, why you must raise your standards when it comes to the ROI from your team, and how to avoid bloating your people cost.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/263

There’s a recurring theme Melissa has noticed in her consult calls with law firm owners. They’re willing to pay thousands on coaching programs without understanding the health of their business, and if this is you, Melissa is here this week to show you why you have no business paying that much when you don’t know what’s going on under the hood of your firm. You’ll learn what happens when you can’t answer basic questions about gross revenue or net profit, how this is a super common experience among owners, and why getting back to the fundamentals doesn’t have to cost thousands.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/262

It’s human nature to fixate on day-to-day tasks—whether that’s in your firm, your personal life, or elsewhere. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the prospect of achieving something greater for your practice or you think that anything outside of those menial tasks requires too much time and energy. Well, consider this your wake up call.    If you’re ready to lock in (and do so relentlessly), Melissa has the insights to help you manage your priorities so you not only get more done but enter a state in which you can achieve more in an efficient manner. It’s all about finding “flow”. Tune in as she breaks down how to become more focused and turn off the voice in your head telling you that you can’t do it.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/261

Melissa’s guest this week is someone who has won over not only the Velocity Work community, but the law firm owner sphere as a whole. If your firm’s digital marketing process is something that leaves you overwhelmed and confused, you have no idea what your marketing company is doing for you, or you want to better understand how to get higher-quality leads, you’re in the right place.   Matt Burke is the CEO of ZillaMetrics: a digital marketing company that helps law firms get not just more, but better leads. His philosophy and expertise on digital marketing specific to law firms has been game-changing for many of Melissa’s clients, and he’s here to share his insights on how ZillaMetrics uniquely serves law firms.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/260

If you’re like most law firm owners, you run hot all the time. Your calendar is full of obligations, weekends are far from relaxing, and it’s causing you pain. The reality is, as important as all these things feel, not everything can be a top priority. So where do you draw the line?   It can be incredibly defeating to feel like you can’t get your head above water no matter how hard you try. In this episode, Melissa is highlighting the ways law firm owners expect themselves to operate at an unsustainable pace, the downsides of doing so, and how the Monday Map process helps you pull the plug on this way of being so you can play the long game.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/259

Do you know where your business falls on the S-curve right now? The S-Curve illustrates the growth of a small business from initial slow growth, to expansion, to a plateau as the market saturates. This means that after a phase of hyper-growth, you will most likely experience a tapering off, and this period is full of opportunities you can take to ensure the long-term health of your firm.   Join Melissa this week as she shows you how to navigate the peaks and plateaus in your firm’s S-Curve, and the key pieces you must address during these periods for the long-term success of your company. You’ll learn why plateaus are a sign of a healthy business, the importance of being both honest and curious as an owner, and how to avoid getting distracted by shiny object syndrome.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/258

In a world that tells you there’s one right way to do things and perfection is virtuous, you’re not alone if you feel resistance to the idea that 80% is enough. The Awesome 80% is the foundation to Melissa’s work across all of her programs, and she’s here today to show you the power of celebrating good enough.   Tune in to learn about the importance of aiming for progress, not perfection, and why you only need to strive for 80% in anything you do. Melissa is sharing examples from inside her Mastery Group of what happens when you’re in the practice of celebrating good enough, and why real progress gets made when you adopt this mindset.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/257

If you’re a long-time listener of the show, you’ll likely be familiar with Mastery Group; the container in which quarterly strategic planning is facilitated. Melissa has the perfect guest on the show this week to dive deep into what you can expect from Mastery Group, Client Services Manager Mika Beccone. Mika is the backend coordinator and point person for all members, and she’s here to shed light on what goes on inside.   Tune in this week to learn everything you need to know about Mastery Group, from the resources available to you inside and what to expect when you join, to how much time you need to invest in the program, and Mika’s top three pieces of advice to all new members.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/256

If you’ve ever questioned the power of strategic planning, look no further. Melissa has centered her entire business around it for good reason, and she believes it is vital for every firm to do. On this episode, she’s laying out the key aspects involved in effective strategic planning so you can plug yourself into this process in a meaningful way and fly further faster.   Tune in this week to learn what strategic planning is and why every law firm owner needs this process. Melissa is sharing the basic elements of strategic planning that make it a game-changing system, how Monday Map/Friday Wrap works perfectly alongside it, and how this framework will help you create the velocity you need to get where you want to go in a more streamlined way.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/255

There’s a notion in law firm owner communities that owners ought to stay above the fray, and that they don’t need to know how the sausage gets made within certain elements of their businesses. The truth is there’s a fine line between knowing how the sausage gets made and neglecting something important inside your business. Melissa is sharing her thoughts on this today.   Tune in as Melissa explains why people who have experienced new success tend to think they no longer need to get in the weeds of their business, what a healthy amount of digging into your business looks like, and the importance of owning your hunches to ensure a healthy firm.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/254

Your time is your most precious asset, and the reality is, your calendar probably doesn’t accurately reflect how you’re spending it. When you own a law firm, there is so much invisible work that doesn't get captured anywhere, and the only way to truly know where you can buy back your time is to take stock of where it’s going right now.   Join Melissa on this episode as she gives you a time auditing exercise that will make your invisible work visible. You’ll learn why creating space is essential if you want to grow a healthy firm and how you’ll end up throwing money at the problem if you don’t take action to eliminate your time sinks.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/253

Rewarding your team with an unexpected bonus when the firm is thriving feels good, not just for them but for you too. However, shelling out cash without evaluating all the variables can end up creating a win-lose situation for your employees and the continued health of your firm.   Join Melissa on this episode as she offers you a guide for giving impromptu bonuses. You’ll learn why protecting the health of your firm must be a top priority, an evaluation process that will ground you in facts, not feelings, the four financial metrics you must be addressing, and Melissa’s favorite ideas for rewarding your team in non-monetary ways if you’re not quite ready to give them cash.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/252

Periods of high pressure are inevitable as a law firm owner. It is crucial to support yourself to get through these times with as much ease, flow, and productivity as possible, but the reality is that most owners are not planning ahead.   Join Melissa this week as she shows you why supporting yourself and your health is of utmost importance during phases of high pressure. You’ll learn how owners tend to sabotage themselves when the stakes are high, why problems occur when you don’t factor stress in ahead of time, and Melissa’s top tips for proactively supporting yourself during these periods in your firm. ‍   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/251

Are you prone to brushing off your contributions or wins in the name of humility? What are the dangers of not taking credit where it’s due as a leader? Tara Gronhovd is the CEO of Align, where she provides team-focused leadership coaching and development, and she's joining Melissa on the podcast this week to talk about why humility is key to the success you’re seeking for your firm.   Join Melissa and Tara as they dive into the meaning of true humility and the importance of owning what you do well. They’re exploring why most leaders are uncomfortable owning their strengths, and how you can exponentially grow your strengths by becoming more aware of them.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/249