The 80/20 Principle

In this episode, Knoxville attorney Patrick Slaughter returns to discuss the importance of crafting (or discovering) your law firm's vision. Patrick and Ernie explain why they think that these two books are helpful in crafting a meaningful vision of success (in life, and in your law practice):

• The Alchemist, by Paolo Coelho
• Traction: Get a Grip On Your Business, by Gino Wickman

General Resources

• Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/
• Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice.
• Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Thanks to My Sponsor

Ruby Receptionists Ruby is a virtual receptionist service that provides all of your law firm's callers with first-class service. I used them for my solo practice and they were phenomenal in helping me surprise and delight my callers. I've been enthusiastically recommending Ruby to hundreds of lawyers and they also have been amazed by the quality of service and its affordability. To learn more about Ruby Receptionists' exceptional services (and get a special discount for podcast listeners only) click here.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Through his company Optiable, Craig Bayer has helped hundreds of solo and small firm attorneys better manage their digital documents. So he's in a great position to discuss the best way to backup those documents, along with other crucial data.

…

Want my personal help?

And if you want ongoing guidance improving and growing your practice consider joining my ; Co-Pilot coaching program ...which is exclusively for solo and small firm lawyers that want to better manage and market their practices (so they can take more time off and enjoy life more!)

Our Sponsor: Ruby Receptionists Ruby is a virtual receptionist service that provides all of your law firm's callers with first-class service. I used them for my solo practice and they were phenomenal in helping me surprise and delight my callers. I've been enthusiastically recommending Ruby to hundreds of lawyers and they also have been amazed by the quality of service and its affordability. To learn more about Ruby Receptionists' exceptional services (and get a special discount for podcast listeners only) click here.

***

EPISODE CREDITS:

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

BTW, I'd love to get your feedback or hear about your questions (which I'll answer in upcoming episodes).

And when you get a chance, download my free Guide to Working Smarter in the Digital Age (which will help you streamline & optimize your practice —so you start working less and relaxing more). Oh, and if you're interested in making changes sooner, check out my new Working Smarter course.

The main reason people aren't able to effectively manage their important tasks and projects is they don't have a good system for capturing tasks and ideas as they come up. In this episode I'll share with you the three keys to effective task capture and management.

• The Magic Number 7, Plus or Minus 2: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information, by George Miller
• Eisenhower Matrix, ETA blog post
• David Allen interview by Tim Ferriss
• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity, by David Allen
• Asana; - cloud-based task & project management tool
• Omnifocus for Mac

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1599185059/ernieattorney-20

General Resources

• Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/
• Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice.
• Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Thanks to My Sponsor

Ruby Receptionists Ruby is a virtual receptionist service that provides all of your law firm's callers with first-class service. I used them for my solo practice and they were phenomenal in helping me surprise and delight my callers. I've been enthusiastically recommending Ruby to hundreds of lawyers and they also have been amazed by the quality of service and its affordability. To learn more about Ruby Receptionists' exceptional services (and get a special discount for podcast listeners only) click here.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Literally every person who thinks has flaws in the way they think. It's not their fault; it's factory-installed in their cognitive engine. That's true for me, for you, and for any human born with a brain.

You can ignore the preset cognitive flaws and live at their mercy. Or you can improve your thinking. Step one is understanding some of the basic flaws that are most insidious and most debilitating.

In this episode I touch on three books that are quite helpful in getting a better sense of what kinds of cognitive flaws you most need to address.

• The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield
• Meditations;, by Marcus Aurelius
• Seeking Wisdom - From Darwin to Munger, by Peter Bevelin

General Resources

• Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/
• Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice.
• Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Thanks to My Sponsor

Ruby Receptionists Ruby is a virtual receptionist service that provides all of your law firm's callers with first-class service. I used them for my solo practice and they were phenomenal in helping me surprise and delight my callers. I've been enthusiastically recommending Ruby to hundreds of lawyers and they also have been amazed by the quality of service and its affordability. To learn more about Ruby Receptionists' exceptional services (and get a special discount for podcast listeners only) click here.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Podcasting is not as hard as most people think. After having doing this podcast for over a year I am ready to share some "behind the scenes" observations. The main takeaway is that you can create a podcast more easily than you'd imagine.

And the impact that a podcast will have on your marketing efforts are huge. The ROI of podcasting surpasses every other form of marketing or advertising. Listen to my interview with Danny Ozment and find out how.

Danny's podcast: Podcast Strategies for Growing Your Business, Community, and Influence

General Resources

• Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/
• Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice.
• Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Thanks to My Sponsor

Ruby Receptionists Ruby is a virtual receptionist service that provides all of your law firm's callers with first-class service. I used them for my solo practice and they were phenomenal in helping me surprise and delight my callers. I've been enthusiastically recommending Ruby to hundreds of lawyers and they also have been amazed by the quality of service and its affordability. To learn more about Ruby Receptionists' exceptional services (and get a special discount for podcast listeners only) click here.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Adriana Linares founded LawTech Partners twenty years ago. Her unwavering mission has been to help lawyers get more done, more easily. Her focus is on helping lawyers use tech to better manage their practices and work smarter, not harder.

She offers refreshing advice on the four essential components of a modern law practice. As well as recommendations for keeping data secure from hackers.

To get more of Adriana's exceptional advice listen to her popular legal podcast The New Solo.

General Resources

• Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/
• Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice.
• Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Thanks to My Sponsor

Ruby Receptionists Ruby is a virtual receptionist service that provides all of your law firm's callers with first-class service. I used them for my solo practice and they were phenomenal in helping me surprise and delight my callers. I've been enthusiastically recommending Ruby to hundreds of lawyers and they also have been amazed by the quality of service and its affordability. To learn more about Ruby Receptionists' exceptional services (and get a special discount for podcast listeners only) click here.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Tom Lambotte spent years helping small law firms improve the way they use Mac-related technology but has broadened his consulting to help more types of lawyers.

Tom runs a firm called GlobalMac IT that provides remote support tech management for small law firms that use Macs. His clients love working with him, which doesn't surprise me.

Tom is one of the few legal tech consultants that I completely trust and enthusiastically recommend. This is evidenced by the fact that he's one of the few consultants I allow to be part of the online discussion forum in my Co-Pilot group coaching program.

General Resources

• Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/
• Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice.
• Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Thanks to My Sponsor

Ruby Receptionists Ruby is a virtual receptionist service that provides all of your law firm's callers with first-class service. I used them for my solo practice and they were phenomenal in helping me surprise and delight my callers. I've been enthusiastically recommending Ruby to hundreds of lawyers and they also have been amazed by the quality of service and its affordability. To learn more about Ruby Receptionists' exceptional services (and get a special discount for podcast listeners only) click here.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Technology can help you improve your practice if you use it well. For most lawyers, it's more like picking up a cat by the tail. Listen, and I'll explain.

The best way to learn is to study other people's mistakes and successes. This is not common practice, but it's a good idea. With technology, though, it's tricky (as I explained in this blog post.

In this episode, I'll explain in more detail how you can make technology work for you, rather than against you.

General Resources

• Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/
• Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice.
• Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Thanks to My Sponsor

Ruby Receptionists Ruby is a virtual receptionist service that provides all of your law firm's callers with first-class service. I used them for my solo practice and they were phenomenal in helping me surprise and delight my callers. I've been enthusiastically recommending Ruby to hundreds of lawyers and they also have been amazed by the quality of service and its affordability. To learn more about Ruby Receptionists' exceptional services (and get a special discount for podcast listeners only) click here.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Automating the commonly used text phrases and paragraphs is a powerful way to streamline your law practice. But what's the best way to do this? Let's find out.

Brett Burney is a consultant who can help in several ways, including E-discovery and Mac-based workflows. But he's most passionate about teaching lawyers how to use an amazing text automation tool called TextExpander.

In this session, Brett and Ernie discuss the many benefits of using TextExpander, mostly the power of efficiency and accuracy in creating text snippets or multi-page documents.

Show Notes

• Brett's website
• TextExpander website (free 14-day trial)
• TextExpander for Lawyers - Brett's course on using T.E.
• E-Discovery Buyer's Guide, created by Brett & Chelsey Lambert (who appeared in podcast episode #56)

General Resources

• Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/
• Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice.
• Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Thanks to My Sponsor

Ruby Receptionists Ruby is a virtual receptionist service that provides all of your law firm's callers with first-class service. I used them for my solo practice and they were phenomenal in helping me surprise and delight my callers. I've been enthusiastically recommending Ruby to hundreds of lawyers and they also have been amazed by the quality of service and its affordability. To learn more about Ruby Receptionists' exceptional services (and get a special discount for podcast listeners only) click here.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Chelsey Lambert knows what software works best for solo & small firm lawyers, and she shares insights that will help you find more success and less heartache.

Chelsey Lambert is an author, speaker and tech consultant whose mission is to help lawyers better understand their best tech options.

Her career has given her a truly unique perspective on how solo and small firm attorneys can best leverage technology in their day-to-day operations.

In this episode, we'll focus on the challenges of selecting the right tech consultants for making software selection deacons, including selecting practice management software.

Show Notes

• Lex Tech Review - Chelsey's site
• Read my blog post: Ugly Truth's About Practice Management Software
• Capterra's List of Law Practice Mgt Software
• Client Sherpa (now called Client Rock)
• Lexicata;
• Lawmatics;
• Lead Docket
• Practice Management Software - Chelsey's webinar recording
• For a prior episode on selecting practice management software see episode #47 with Jared Correia.
• Chelsey's 10 Days of LegalTech. Use special code ("ERNIE") to get a $150 discount.

General Resources

• Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/
• Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice.
• Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Thanks to My Sponsor

Ruby Receptionists Ruby is a virtual receptionist service that provides all of your law firm's callers with first-class service. I used them for my solo practice and they were phenomenal in helping me surprise and delight my callers. I've been enthusiastically recommending Ruby to hundreds of lawyers and they also have been amazed by the quality of service and its affordability. To learn more about Ruby Receptionists' exceptional services (and get a special discount for podcast listeners only) click here.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.