In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Kelly Kennedy, executive business development coach and host of The Business Development Podcast, about what it really means to “open doors for rainmakers.” Kelly reframes business development as the disciplined art of creating interest and securing face-to-face meetings—not closing deals or running marketing campaigns. He introduces his concept of “meeting math”: start with your revenue goal, determine the average value of a new client, estimate your close rate from qualified meetings, and back into the exact number of meetings you need per year and per month. Because meetings are the only part of the sales process a BD professional can truly control, Kelly argues that success should be measured in high-quality meetings, not just revenue, and that this clarity gives rainmakers confidence and focus.

Kelly then walks through how to build a repeatable door-opening system. Instead of chasing only the biggest “tippy-top” companies, he recommends targeting the next tier down and the service providers that support them—often better, stickier clients with more realistic expectations. He urges firms to identify their ideal buyer personas (presidents, procurement managers, operations leaders, etc.), then use tools like LinkedIn to build targeted lists and send personalized connection requests and introductions. Kelly stresses the importance of separating roles—door-opening BD, proposal/sales, and account management—so nothing falls through the cracks, and he closes with three action steps: block 3–5 hours weekly for pure BD, define your ideal buyers by title in each vertical, and make direct contact via phone and email while always asking for the meeting.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/FJtovnbYvRo

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For the intellectually-driven and results-focused professional who wants to grow their book of business. Visit ⁠www.therainmakingmagazine.com⁠ to chart your course to greater rainmaking success.

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Kelly Kennedy is an Executive Business Development Coach specializing in empowering businesses and professionals to reach their full potential. In this role, he provides high-level strategic guidance tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, whether they’re entrepreneurs, corporate teams, or executives. Kelly’s coaching is built on a foundation of nearly two

Through one-on-one coaching sessions, group workshops, and his Business Development Mastery Program, Kelly guides clients through essential business development concepts such as lead generation, client retention, CRM optimization, personal branding, and strategic planning. His goal is to equip clients with the skills and confidence to make informed, impactful decisions that drive measurable growth. Kelly’s coaching is known for its holistic approach, emphasizing not only business strategies but also personal development, resilience, and adaptability.

Links: https://www.businessdevelopmentpodcast.ca/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellykennedyofficial/

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In this legal-focused episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Elise Holtzman, former BigLaw attorney and founder of The Lawyer’s Edge, about how lawyers can become visible experts rather than “well-kept secrets.” Elise explains that doing excellent work behind a closed door is not enough—clients and referral sources must see you as a top, credible choice. She introduces her simple “who, what, and where” framework: identify who your ideal clients and referral sources are, what problems you solve and value you deliver for them, and where they “hang out” for information (conferences, associations, publications, online communities). From there, she recommends pursuing speaking, writing, and podcast opportunities in those venues so you become the person who gets the call.

Elise also unpacks the main reasons lawyers resist visibility: fear of being “salesy,” lack of time, and imposter syndrome (“I’m not really an expert”). She reframes rainmaking as service, not aggressive selling, and stresses that you don’t have to be the world’s #1 authority—only valuable to your audience. A major lever is building intentional referral-source networks: other professionals who serve the same clients but don’t compete with you (accountants, consultants, marketers, recruiters, other lawyers in different practice areas). By collaborating on events, content, and introductions, you “borrow trust” and create win–win–win outcomes for yourself, your referral partners, and your shared clients. Elise closes with three action steps: (1) block a “power hour” to define your who/what/where and list specific A-level referral sources who’ve already tried to send you work; (2) proactively ask for speaking and writing opportunities instead of waiting to be discovered; and (3) talk openly about your thought-leadership work—on LinkedIn, your bio, and in conversations—so others know you’re available as a visible expert.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/kNaUHw9eMOs

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For the intellectually-driven and results-focused professional who wants to grow their book of business. Visit ⁠www.therainmakingmagazine.com⁠ to chart your course to greater rainmaking success.

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This podcast is sponsored by:

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Elise Holtzman has dedicated over 16 years to working with

As founder of The Lawyer’s Edge, she helps leaders promote a healthy, growth-oriented culture in their firms and coaches lawyers on how to

Links:

https://thelawyersedge.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliseholtzman/

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love talks with Tony Karls, co-founder of Sterling Lawyers and president of Rocket Clicks, about using a podcast as a practical business-development engine. Tony explains how his team built Revenue Roadmap, a single show with two recurring formats—growth stories on Tuesdays and how-to education on Thursdays—to balance entertainment with tangible value. The podcast is treated as a cornerstone content asset: every episode is repurposed across video, audio, blogs, and social channels to reach prospects where they prefer to consume. Tony stresses keeping the show unscripted and authentic, niching hard on a clear avatar (for him, family-law firm owners), and partnering with the right communities (e.g., AAML) to book high-quality guests and create “network effects” that turn conversations into relationships.

Tony shares what’s worked—and what hasn’t. With only ~68,000 family-law firms in the U.S. (most with ≤3 attorneys), chasing big vanity metrics is a distraction; serving a small, precise audience with specific problems wins. His playbook: start earlier than you think, accept that your first 40–50 episodes are reps, and move fast with “decision velocity”—ship, measure, iterate. Three takeaways for rainmakers who want to adopt the model: (1) define a narrow ICP and build episodes around their real pains; (2) deliver consistent, authentic conversations (video + audio) and atomize each episode across platforms; (3) calendar guest outreach like a pipeline (aim for 2–3 quality bookings a week), then let data—not ego—guide what you double down on next.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/W9HP-dx20Ko

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For the intellectually-driven and results-focused professional who wants to grow their book of business. Visit ⁠www.therainmakingmagazine.com⁠ to chart your course to greater rainmaking success.

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As the President of Rocket Clicks I am responsible for

Links:

https://rocketclicks.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonykarls/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-clicks/

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Jacob Parks, President of Profitable Ideas Exchange and author of The Growth Engine, about how professional services firms can drive sustained growth through structured client feedback systems. Jacob reveals that most firms miss huge opportunities by treating client feedback as a formality rather than a core business strategy. He explains that when firms pursue feedback to genuinely learn—not just to increase revenue—they inevitably uncover insights that lead to deeper relationships, new opportunities, and stronger retention.

Jacob introduces the concept of client advisory boards—groups of top clients who meet regularly to offer candid feedback, co-create solutions, and shape a firm’s direction. He outlines the steps to implement a client feedback system: identify ideal clients, engage them in ongoing two-way conversations, and, most importantly, follow through on the insights gathered. Jacob emphasizes that curiosity, collaboration, and action are the hallmarks of firms that sustain growth over time.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/9AV80rUHyUo

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For the intellectually-driven and results-focused professional who wants to grow their book of business. Visit ⁠www.therainmakingmagazine.com⁠ to chart your course to greater rainmaking success.

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President of Strategy for PIE, Jacob Parks, is the author The Growth Engine and of Never Say Sell.  His expertise includes partner remuneration and incentive plans, account planning, trigger of engagement, and how to expand a brand to include new service offerings, new industries, or new geographies. He has led client teams for McKinsey, Accenture, and KPMG among others. He leads The PIE Professional Services CMO and CGO network and is a graduate of Gonzaga’s MBA program, having previously taught undergraduate business students.

Links:

https://www.profitableideas.com/about/meet-our-team/jacob-parks/

Order The Growth Engine today:

https://www.profitableideas.com/perspectives/books/

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Hanna Hasl-Kelchner, attorney, business consultant, and author of Seeking Fairness at Work: Cracking the New Code of Greater Employee Engagement, Retention, and Satisfaction. Together, they explore “The Rainmaker’s Playbook for Managing the Team,” revealing how leadership, empathy, and trust directly impact performance and retention. Hanna explains that leading a team is not a transactional act—it’s a relationship built on an “implied social contract” of good faith and fair dealing. She shares how rainmakers can foster stronger loyalty and productivity by actively listening, showing gratitude, and treating team members as valued contributors rather than interchangeable resources.

Hanna also discusses practical ways to address performance issues with empathy and clarity, emphasizing joint problem-solving over blame. She encourages leaders to take “empathy reality checks,” solicit honest feedback, and model humility—reminding listeners that trust must be earned, not demanded. The conversation concludes with three action steps: listen to your team, invest in communication and coaching skills, and demonstrate genuine appreciation. These principles, she argues, transform high-pressure work environments into loyal, high-performing teams.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/zwC5paGj0HQ

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For the intellectually-driven and results-focused professional who wants to grow their book of business. Visit ⁠www.therainmakingmagazine.com⁠ to chart your course to greater rainmaking success.

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This podcast is sponsored by:

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📌 Resources & Links

Connect with Hanna Hasl-Kelchner: linkedin.com/in/hannahaslkelchner

Get Hanna’s free audiobook: bit.ly/4oer0L3

Visit her site: businessmo.com

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love welcomes brand strategist Cheri Quinn, Director of Brand Strategy at Mercury Creative Group, to discuss “Finding Focus in a Crowded Space.” Cheri explains that today’s marketplace is more crowded than ever—not just because of competition, but because clients are constantly flooded with information. To cut through the noise, professionals must clearly define their primary audience—the people they serve best—and communicate with authenticity and focus.

Cheri shares her “dartboard” analogy for targeting ideal clients: those in the bullseye deliver the greatest results, while trying to appeal to everyone leads to “missing the mark.” She walks listeners through exercises to identify their favorite clients, understand their motivations, communication styles, and values, and align their firm’s brand strategy accordingly. By clarifying audience, message, and brand alignment, professionals can stand out in a crowded market and attract the right opportunities.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/pNZU13CEz9I

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For the intellectually-driven and results-focused professional who wants to grow their book of business. Visit ⁠www.therainmakingmagazine.com⁠ to chart your course to greater rainmaking success.

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This podcast is sponsored by:

SurePoint Legal Insights (formerly known as Leopard Solutions) –turning legal intelligence into opportunity

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Cheri Quinn is a brand and marketing strategist who specializes in asking open and honest questions and listening with an open heart and mind. As the Director of Brand Strategy at Mercury Creative Group, Cheri is a master at discovering and communicating an organization’s essential value. With a wealth of experience in brand strategy, strategic planning, marketing, and communications, she has helped numerous organizations discover their unique value and voice.

Links:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriquinn

https://mercurycreativegroup.com

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love welcomes back Rudhir “Rudi” Krishtel, former patent litigation partner at Fish & Richardson, former senior patent counsel at Apple, and now executive coach and founder of Krishtel. Rudi discusses “Overcoming Pitfalls to Becoming a Rainmaker” and shares practical insights on how lawyers can shift their mindset to grow their book of business. He explains that business development is 80% mindset and 20% skillset—most lawyers don’t need more tools; they need a new way of thinking. By reframing marketing as helping, not selling, attorneys can replace fear and hesitation with purpose and authenticity.

Rudi also outlines how to identify your smallest viable market—the eight to ten people or companies most aligned with your expertise—and focus all your efforts on being helpful to that group. Through strategic clarity and mindset realignment, professionals can eliminate fear of rejection, become more consistent in outreach, and build a sustainable business development playbook. Rudi concludes with three action steps: remember you’re helping, define your smallest viable market, and take concrete, helpful actions toward that audience over the next 90 days.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/8Zwzm00eb9k

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This show is sponsored by Leopard Solutions Legal Intelligence Suite of products, Firmscape, and Leopard BI. Push ahead of the pack with the power of Leopard. For a free demo, visit this link:https://www.leopardsolutions.com/index.php/request-a-demo/

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Prior to becoming an executive coach and consultant, Rudhir practiced

To focus his approach to support the legal community, Rudhir trained as a professional Co-Active leadership coach and as a yoga and mindfulness meditation instructor.

Rudhir founded Krishtel in 2018, where he leads workshops and coaching on business development and leadership. He specializes in creating space for having difficult conversations and growth at the intersection of leadership, well-being, and collective engagement. Krishtel’s flagship BD Circle Program has reached hundreds of law firm partners and executives. Check out the BD Circle video here.  More info at www.krishtel.com and LinkedIn. 

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love welcomes back Stacey Brown Randall, author of The Referable Client Experience: A Proven Method to Generate Referrals Without Asking. Stacey shares her science-based framework for creating client experiences that naturally generate referrals—without the awkwardness of asking. She explains that client experience is not just about doing great work; it’s about how clients feel when working with you. Professionals who intentionally design their client journey to include both excellent results and meaningful relationship-building touchpoints create the emotional connection that makes them truly referable.

Stacey outlines her three-stage model—New, Active, and Alumni—and shows how to tailor communication and touchpoints at each phase to build trust and loyalty. She also discusses “referral hot zones,” those key moments when clients are most likely to refer, and how to identify and leverage them strategically. By focusing on both client emotions and relationship touchpoints, professionals can bridge the gap between being referable and receiving consistent, high-quality referrals.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/lWTNQlQ3RMA

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This show is sponsored by Leopard Solutions Legal Intelligence Suite of products, Firmscape, and Leopard BI. Push ahead of the pack with the power of Leopard. For a free demo, visit this link:https://www.leopardsolutions.com/index.php/request-a-demo/

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Stacey Brown Randall is the multiple award-winning author of Generating Business Referrals Without Asking, host of the Roadmap to Grow Your Business podcast and national speaker.

She has had the privilege of helping well-known corporations and franchises but her focus is on small business owners and solopreneurs including HM Properties, O’Connor Insurance Associates, Keller Williams Real Estate, Farris Cooke CPA, Tyra Law Firm, Nicole Odom Coaching, Slater Interiors, HF Financial, Kintsugi Home Staging, Financial Symmetry, Rae Images, CAJA Bookkeeping, and hundreds more.

Stacey has been featured in national publications like Entrepreneur magazine, Investor Business Daily, Forbes, CEO World, Fox News, Cheddar TV Network and more.

She received her Master’s in Organizational Communication and is married with three kids.

Links:

www.StaceyBrownRandall.com

http://www.referableclientexperience.com

Book link on Amazon:

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love welcomes back Kevin Wheeler, a seasoned business development consultant with over 30 years of experience advising law and professional services firms on strategy, marketing, and client growth. Together, they explore “Growing Key Clients: The Low-Hanging Fruit of Business Development.” Kevin explains that most firms overlook their most lucrative opportunities—their existing clients. Rather than constantly chasing new business, firms can achieve greater profitability by deepening relationships with key accounts and institutionalizing client management.

Kevin outlines the major barriers preventing firms from capitalizing on these opportunities, including compensation structures that reward origination over collaboration and a lack of leadership support for client-focused strategies. He provides a roadmap for building a strong key client program: secure buy-in from firm leadership, appoint dedicated client relationship partners, conduct regular client listening interviews, and link compensation to client growth goals. By developing structured account plans, engaging clients directly for feedback, and mapping relationships strategically, firms can uncover untapped opportunities, strengthen retention, and create long-term growth.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/unWLu82HdqY

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For the intellectually-driven and results-focused professional who wants to grow their book of business. Visit www.therainmakingmagazine.com to chart your course to greater rainmaking success.

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This podcast is sponsored by:

SurePoint Legal Insights (formerly known as Leopard Solutions) –turning legal intelligence into opportunity

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Kevin Wheeler has been advising professional services firms on all aspects of strategy, marketing, business development and client relationship management/key account management for more than thirty years.

Before setting up Wheeler Associates in 1997, he had been Marketing Director with Nabarro Nathanson, the commercial law firm, and Cinven, the private equity house. He also held various senior in-house strategy and marketing positions with Coopers & Lybrand, now PricewaterhouseCoopers.

As a consultant and coach, Kevin has provided services to more than one hundred firms drawn from the legal, accountancy, actuarial, real estate consultancy, tax, corporate finance, management consulting and insolvency practitioner sectors. Wheeler Associates is also a leading provider of strategic and client insight solutions and thought leadership delivered through bespoke market research studies. As well as his consultancy and coaching activities, Kevin writes, blogs and lectures frequently on strategy, marketing, business development and CRM/KAM issues facing professional services organizations.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjwheeler/

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love welcomes Jordana Confino, founder of JC Coaching and Consulting and author of the blog Chronicles of a Recovering Type A+ Perfectionist, to explore “The Perfectionist Paradox.” Jordana explains that perfectionism is not about high standards—it’s a fear- and shame-based mindset driven by self-doubt and the need to prove worth. She reveals how this approach undermines both mental health and performance, blocking creativity, risk-taking, and authentic business development. Drawing on neuroscience and positive psychology, she describes how to replace the inner critic’s harsh voice with self-compassion, rewiring the brain through neuroplasticity to enhance confidence and performance.

Jordana shares practical strategies to help high-achieving professionals and lawyers break free from destructive perfectionism. These include “drawing your critic” to externalize self-judgment, practicing compassionate self-talk, and identifying core values to shift from fear-based motivation to values-driven achievement. By replacing self-criticism with self-compassion and clarity, professionals can perform at a higher level, strengthen resilience, and enjoy greater fulfillment in their careers and lives.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Td8DVO6nlZM

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💡 Created for results-driven rainmakers who value credibility and substance.

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This show is sponsored by Leopard Solutions Legal Intelligence Suite of products, Firmscape, and Leopard BI. Push ahead of the pack with the power of Leopard. For a free demo, visit this link:https://www.leopardsolutions.com/index.php/request-a-demo/

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Jordana is a certified professional coach, speaker, and advisor, valued for her expertise in positive psychology and well-being, and her unparalleled ability to connect with and inspire everyone she meets.

Seven years after graduating from Yale Law School, Jordana founded JC Coaching & Consulting to empower lawyers and other high-achieving professionals to transform their lives and work for the better. Having spent the bulk of her career working as a lawyer and in legal education at elite institutions, Jordana knows that many high-achieving, successful people hold limiting beliefs that prevent them from truly flourishing. For many years, she was one of them. Jordana transformed her life leveraging the science of positive psychology and human motivation theory, and she is passionate about helping others do the same.

Jordana is an Adjunct Professor at Fordham Law School, where she previously served as the inaugural Assistant Dean of Professionalism. Jordana teaches a course on Positive Lawyering, which educates students on how they can harness the insights and science-backed strategies of positive psychology to reach their highest potential and build meaningful, satisfying careers in law. She also teaches Peer Mentoring & Leadership, a

Jordana was voted Fordham Law Adjunct Professor of the Year

Website: https://www.jordanaconfino.com/

Blog: https://www.jordanaconfino.com/subscribe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaconfino/

Values Discovery Guide: https://www.jordanaconfino.com/values

Self-Compassion Guide: https://www.jordanaconfino.com/self-compassion-guide 

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