Rainmaking Recommendation # 80: They Think I’m a Pest

The part of Rainmaking that I try to pound into my client’s heads is “follow up, follow up, follow up”. But how many times should you try to get in touch with someone before you become a pest? There is no magic number.  While some may say 3 times, others say 6 times and some […]

Rainmaking Recommendation #79: Manners Matter

Lately, I have noticed a horrific lack of manners (even more so than usual): Not saying “excuse me” when you have to interrupt someone; Not saying:  “thank you” for being helped; Not apologizing for making a mistake or offending someone inadvertently; Looking at your smart phone at inappropriate times (like when you have a client […]

Rainmaking Recommendation # 77: Spring Renewal

One-quarter of this year is already gone. For most of us in the world, spring is on its way (although on the East Coast of the United States, it seems like this won’t happen).   What usually happens in spring?  The flowers begin to bloom, the trees get their leaves back, and the world seems to […]

Rainmaking Recommendation # 76: Predict your Own Future

I can predict your future (even if you cannot):  If you are doing the same thing today that you were doing yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, you will get what you have always gotten. There is an oft used definition of “insanity”:  Doing the same thing but expecting different results. […]

Rainmaking Recommendation # 65: “Who are you?” Rather than “What do you do?”

When you go to a networking event, what’s the inevitable first question that you get asked or that you ask another? “What do you do?” The fact is that this question implies that you are only interested in what they do for business and what they can do for you, not who they are as […]

Rainmaking Recommendation #58: May I have your Card?

Look on the corner of your desk or open that top drawer – is there a stack of business cards you’ve collected during networking events? Pull the cards out and start going through them.  Do you remember who any of these people are? First, cull through the list of cards and throw out any card […]

Rainmaking Recommendation # 57: Create your own Networking Group

What type of law do you practice?  What industry do you target?   In each area of practice there is a list of people who work in the same in industry who do not practice law.  People like accountants, psychologists/therapists, and other vendors who concentrate on the same group of people/businesses you are trying to reach […]

Rainmaking: Out of the Mouths of In-House Counsel

Lindsay Griffiths is a friend of mine.   She is also the Director of Global Relationship Management for the International Lawyers Network (ILN), a consortium of independent law firms across the world. In March, Lindsay went to the Legal Marketing Association’s annual convention in Grapevine, Tx and blogged about her time there.   In one of her […]

Rainmaking Recommendation # 55: Broken Chains

So you went to a networking event.  You met some really wonderful people.  You got their business cards. You think there is some way that you can potentially do business.  You left the event after having a great time. You went home.  And then… you did nothing! You didn’t write a “Nice to Meet You […]

Rainmaking Recommendation #54: The Sweetest Sound

“Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” – Dale Carnegie Rarely do people spell my name correctly.  Even more aggravating to me is that I am constantly getting correspondence addressed to Mr. Jamie Field (note incorrect gender AND incorrect spelling). While I no longer […]