1. You answer your own phone.

• It telegraphs to potential clients that you’re really not that busy.
• It telegraphs that you don’t have enough business going on to be able to support someone answering your phone.  
• It demonstrates you are sort of desperate for the call.
• It keeps you from doing good work. It distracts you.
• It is a lack of time management.
• Clients are expecting a receptionist. It’s more professional.

1. You have a non professional email account.

• You need to look professional. Be professional.

1. You meet with potential clients at Starbucks or Panera.

• It telegraphs you are small potatoes, and that you don’t make enough money to spend money on an office, or you don’t care enough.
• You need an office. Because of what it represents, because of the privacy.

1. You lower your fee when pressured by a potential client.

• Set a fee which is fair to you and fair to your client.
• You don’t wanna be dealing with client who are looking for the lowest cost denominator.
• It telegraphs to clients that we as lawyers will fold to others when dealing with another attorney or the government.
• It sets the tone for the relationship. Clients could end up bossing you around.
• People are smart, they are gonna try to get the best deal possible.

1. You offer many practice areas in your website.

• This telegraphs that you will do anything.
• It shows you don’t have the systems nor the expertise built out to handle a particular matter.
• How can you target with so many practice areas!?

  
Hacking’s Hack: Don’t work at home, work in the office. Stop looking at your phone, emails, to-dos, etc once you get out of the office. This will give you time to be with yourself and your family. Read books. Spend quality time with your kids.
   
Tyson’s Tip: The Ultimate Sales Machine: Turbocharge Your Business with Relentless Focus on 12 Key Strategies. By Chet Holmes. Portfolio; Reprint edition (May 27, 2008). The best book on how to run your business.
   The Maximum Lawyer Podcast. Partner up, and maximize your firm.

Resources:

• Join the Guild Membership
• Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube Channel
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join the Facebook Group
• Follow the Facebook Page
• Follow us on LinkedIn