The Rainmaking Podcast

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Bruce Lafetra, business development strategist and speaker, about achieving clarity in business development. Bruce explains how law firms and professionals can attract their best clients by identifying what truly makes them valuable. He emphasizes that clients don’t hire professionals for the work they do—they hire them for what they can accomplish because of that work. By shifting their perspective, firms can focus on attracting the right clients while eliminating those who drain resources and profitability.

Key topics include how to identify ideal clients, understanding why they choose your firm, and leveraging those insights to generate more high-value business. Bruce shares the importance of interviewing best clients to uncover their real reasons for working with you, using storytelling to highlight differentiation, and refining marketing messaging to remove self-centered language. He also discusses the "us, we, our" test—an exercise to shift the focus from the firm to the client. This episode offers actionable strategies for firms looking to build stronger relationships, increase profitability, and create a sustainable business development strategy.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

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Bruce La Fetra is a business development catalyst and speaker working with attorneys and law firms to fundamentally change how and who generates business. Focusing on their Best Clients sets in motion a virtuous cycle where revenue grows, profitability increases, and the business development cycle shortens as the firm attracts more of its Best Clients.

Clients call Bruce The Client Whisperer because he interviews a firm's Best Clients to reverse-engineer that firm's secret sauce and gains highly credible and actionable insights.

Bruce consults with small to mid-sized law firms, coaches individual attorneys, and speaks to firms retreats, and Managing Partner peer groups.

Bruce earned a degree in Economics, cum laude, from Claremont McKenna College and a MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth College. He is also a trained facilitator. Bruce isn't an attorney, but he is married to one.

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/

Links:

[email protected]

https://LinkedIn.com/in/brucelafetra

Link for whitepaper: https://EastwoodStrategy.com/TRP

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Darryl Cross, sales coach and author of Cultivating Excellence, about building a high-performance culture for rainmakers. Drawing from his experience as the first in-house sales coach at Norton Rose Fulbright, Darryl shares how professionals can develop a growth mindset, embrace coaching, and continuously refine their sales approach. He emphasizes that success isn’t about working harder but about making small, incremental improvements that lead to lasting impact.

Key topics include the importance of team-based sales, focusing on a core group of high-value relationships, and shifting from a transactional mindset to a client-centric approach. Darryl also introduces the concept of functional reserve—unlocking untapped potential by overcoming complacency and self-imposed limitations. He explains how professionals can apply lessons from elite training programs, such as those used by astronauts and top athletes, to build resilience and improve performance. This episode is packed with actionable insights for professionals looking to elevate their business development skills and drive long-term success.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

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Darryl Cross serves as the first in-house coach for Norton Rose Fulbright where he builds scalable sales programs and helps partners build their own impactful practices that mutually benefit clients and the firm. He has more than 25 years of experience in the legal industry and is an internationally known expert on high performance. His experience includes serving as a law firm Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President of Performance Development and Coaching at LexisNexis, and Head of Global Sales Enablement for Intapp. Darryl also served as the head of the Sales Skills and Methodology global strategy team for Amazon Web Services (AWS) and was the founder of HighPer Teams, a high-performance consultancy. Darryl has researched astronauts, pilots, athletes, Navy SEALs, surgeons, trial lawyers, and other professions where the high consequences for failure demand a higher standard of preparation. He has spoken to over 10,000 lawyers and business executives from over 100 countries on five continents on how to maximize performance and business results. Darryl is an evangelist on using the power of team dynamics to improve personal performance. He is the only Certified Team Performance Coach dedicated to the legal industry. To recharge his batteries, Darryl volunteers as the Head Coach of the Washington (D.C.) Irish Rugby Football Club, speaks to audiences on physical well-being for busy executives and enjoys chasing his 4-year-old granddaughter around the playground the best he can.

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/

Links:

Book: Cultivating Excellence

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071NN3B43/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

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

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Blane Prescott, managing shareholder of Mesa 5, about the counterintuitive challenges law firms face with partner compensation. Blane, an expert in law firm strategy and growth, explains how traditional compensation models often fail to motivate partners effectively and why incentives alone don’t create new rainmakers. He highlights the need for firms to focus on aligning compensation with each partner’s strengths rather than enforcing a one-size-fits-all approach.

Key topics include why financial incentives don’t drive business development skills, the risks of relying too much on profitability metrics, and how excessive data can create confusion and dissatisfaction. Blane also discusses the differences between open and closed compensation models, the importance of trust and leadership in firm culture, and why law firms should track origination credits fairly. This episode offers valuable insights for law firm leaders looking to refine their compensation structures and create a more engaged, high-performing partnership.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

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Blane Prescott is a consultant and the Managing Shareholder with MesaFive, LLC, (www.mesafive.com) and has more than 30 years of experience working in the legal profession. He works with law firms and in-house counsel throughout North America, Asia, and Europe.

MesaFive, LLC is a boutique management consulting firm serving law firms and in-house legal departments and focuses on strategy, structure, and growth.

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/

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/blane-prescott-98506948/

https://www.mesafive.com/

Here is the link to the article:

https://www.mesafive.com/_files/ugd/992d67_89f5c27db09241f4a6db8c7918b5dd1e.pdf

All Articles:

https://www.mesafive.com/insights

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Eric Dewey, business development expert and author of Power Grids, about building high-value professional networks that drive business growth. Eric explains the difference between traditional networking and creating a "power grid"—a curated, strategic network of 150 key connections that foster meaningful relationships, generate opportunities, and provide valuable insights. He shares actionable strategies for professionals looking to strengthen their business development efforts through intentional and systematic relationship-building.

Key topics include the essential characteristics of a strong power grid—broad, deep, diverse, and responsive—along with how to categorize connections into key roles such as navigators, decision-makers, influencers, and referral sources. Eric also introduces his four-step framework for outreach: Share, Care, Pivot, and Plus Up, helping professionals make their outreach efforts more effective and engaging. Whether you're an attorney, consultant, or professional service provider, this episode provides a structured approach to developing a powerful network that consistently delivers results.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

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Eric Dewey, MBA is an expert in driving growth and market penetration in professional service firms. His experience includes the chief marketing executive roles in four law firms including two AmLaw 200 law firms and the largest plaintiffs’ securities class action firm in the U.S. With over 25 years of marketing and business development experience in the legal, financial services, and commercial real estate industries, Dewey brings executive level leadership, sound business judgment, innovative strategies and a breadth of practical knowledge to his engagements.

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/

Links:

Amazon Link to book: Power Grids by Eric Dewey ( http://tiny.cc/dffzuz )

Link to the Admin Support for Business Development handout from the book. Use Code ‘Power Grids’ ( https://www.elegaltraining.com/product-page/administrative-support-for-business-development )

Link to eLegal Training course catalog ( http://tiny.cc/effzuz )

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

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Mark LeBlanc, business development expert, professional speaker, and co-author of Rainmaker Confidential. Mark shares his insights on crafting effective business development strategies and positioning yourself as a trusted advisor by focusing on outcomes rather than titles or services. Drawing from decades of experience, Mark provides actionable advice for building a strong foundation in business development that leads to sustainable success.

Key topics include the importance of a defining statement to articulate the outcomes you deliver, creating a profile of your ideal client to focus efforts effectively, and maintaining a mix of strategies for consistent results. Mark emphasizes the value of identifying your referral sources, fostering authentic relationships, and leveraging a clear understanding of what drives client satisfaction. This episode offers practical tools for professionals seeking clarity and direction in their business development efforts.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

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Mark LeBlanc, CSP runs a speaking business in Minneapolis. He conducts presentations and creates experiences for professionals who want to create an extreme sliver of focus and put more money in their pocket as a business owner. As a business coach, he has clocked over twenty thousand (one-to-one) coaching hours with professionals who want to grow their business or practice. In fact, he wrote the book, Growing Your Business! As a result of his work, people often share they are more focused each day, attract more prospects, stimulate more referrals and create a path for generating more business. 

https://www.markleblanc.com/

If you like what you have heard from Mark during this interview, I would encourage you to go to his website and watch a 45-minute, luncheon speech Mark gave on how to have your best year ever!

Check out Mark's electronic version of his book, Growing Your Business!

www.growingyourbusiness.com

Mark also is the coauthor, along with Scott Love and Henry Devries, of Rainmaker Confidential. For more information about the book visit www.rainmakerconfidential.com. You can order the book through your favorite book retailer here:

https://rainmakerconfidential.com/book/

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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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love interviews Darrell Amy, author of Revenue Growth Engine: How to Align Sales and Marketing to Accelerate Growth. Darrell shares his insights on creating exponential revenue growth by aligning sales and marketing strategies to achieve measurable, sustainable results. Drawing on his extensive experience in sales leadership and digital marketing, he provides actionable steps for business leaders to optimize their growth strategies and leverage opportunities.

Key topics include the two drivers of exponential growth—acquiring new clients (net new) and increasing revenue from existing clients (cross-sell)—and how aligning these areas can double revenue in just 36 months. Darrell emphasizes the importance of focusing on client outcomes rather than products, mapping out the client experience to identify friction points, and creating a seamless journey from onboarding to cross-selling. He also discusses setting clear goals, identifying ideal clients, and fostering a culture where everyone in the organization contributes to revenue growth. This episode offers a roadmap for leaders to fine-tune their strategies and build a high-performing revenue engine.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

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Darrell knows how to help businesses grow. Rolling up his sleeves, he works behind the scenes with executives, sales leaders, and marketing professionals to develop and execute revenue growth strategies. He knows what works and what doesn’t, and he is sharing this information in his new best-selling book "Revenue Growth Engine: How To Align Marketing and Sales to Accelerate Growth".

Over the past 27 years, Darrell has been a leader in sales and marketing, giving him a unique perspective on sales and marketing alignment. In sales, he has trained over 1,000 salespeople and developed training programs for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Since 2004, he has also led a marketing agency, helping companies leverage the latest digital marketing strategies.

As a member of the Forbes Business Council and the C-Suite Network Advisors team, Darrell advises executives on ways to grow. He co-founded Convergo, a firm that helps companies align marketing and sales to drive growth. Darrell is the host of the Revenue Growth Podcast and the co-host of the Selling From the Heart Podcast.

As a board member of several non-profit organizations, Darrell is especially passionate about helping companies increase revenue so they can give back to their communities and impact the world.

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/

Links:

Website: https://www.revenuegrowthengine.com/

Free Tool Kit: https://www.revenuegrowthengine.com/free-tool-kit

RGE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revenue-growth-engine/

Darrell's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrellamy/

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Laura Leopard, founder of Leopard Solutions, about the ongoing challenges women face in Big Law and the alarming trends of mid-career women leaving the industry. Laura shares insights from her extensive research, including surveys and data analysis, which reveal that the top reasons for women exiting the legal profession include a lack of mentorship, limited opportunities, and feelings of being unsupported in their workplaces.

Key topics include strategies for law firms to improve retention, such as implementing meaningful mentorship programs, addressing unconscious bias, and providing flexible work arrangements. Laura highlights successful initiatives from law firms, like amplification strategies to ensure women’s voices are heard in meetings and centralized tracking systems to ensure equal opportunities. She also discusses the critical need for fair promotion practices and the importance of male allies in calling out workplace sexism. This episode offers actionable solutions for fostering equity and creating an environment where women can thrive in the legal profession.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

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Laura Leopard is the founder and CEO of Leopard Solutions, which provides the world's largest and most accurate law firm database for legal recruiters, attorneys, law firms, corporations, and law schools.

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/

Links:

Download the Women Leaving Law report here:

https://www.leopardsolutions.com/index.php/thought-leadership/women-leaving-law-research-report/.

Leopard Solutions Thought Leadership Page:

https://www.leopardsolutions.com/index.php/thought-leadership/

Leopard Solutions Upcoming Events:

 https://www.leopardsolutions.com/index.php/events/

View all past webinar recordings for Leopard Solutions here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi7McSCNOioHoUuSM1G_ZCQ/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love interviews Mary Kelly, leadership expert, economist, and author of Who Comes Next? Leadership Succession Planning Made Easy. Mary shares her expertise on succession planning and why it is critical for organizational continuity and long-term success. She emphasizes that succession planning is not just about preparing for the departure of top executives but also about ensuring that key roles throughout the organization are covered to avoid disruptions.

Key topics include how to integrate succession planning into a strategic plan, identifying and preparing future leaders at all levels, and addressing common pitfalls such as reluctance to plan for leadership transitions. Mary shares actionable steps for starting the succession planning process, including evaluating key roles that would significantly impact the organization if left vacant, aligning succession planning with the company’s strategic goals, and fostering transparency and collaboration across the team. This episode offers practical advice for leaders to ensure their organization’s resilience and future success.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

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Mary Kelly is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and spent over 20 years on active duty in intelligence and logistics. She retired from the Navy as a commander. She has masters’ degrees in history and economics, and a PhD in economics.

With over 20 years combined teaching experience at both the Naval Academy and at Hawaii Pacific University, she taught economics, finance, history and management. She has extensive experience in business coaching, management, economics, finance, banking, insurance, real estate, government, organizational leadership, communication, business growth, teamwork, strategic planning, human resources, customer service, time management, and project development.

Links:

https://productiveleaders.com/

https://productiveleaders.com/podcast/

Get Mary Kelly’s book “Who Comes Next?” Here:

https://whocomesnext.com/

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

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Laurie Gilbertson, a former prosecutor, legal analyst, and founder of Tribeca Blue Consulting, about the critical role of communication in professional success. Laurie challenges the misconception that communication is a "soft skill" and instead positions it as a vital leadership tool. She shares strategies for developing clarity, confidence, and creativity in communication, whether it’s for public speaking, courtroom presentations, or media appearances.

Key topics include understanding that effective communication is about the audience, not the speaker; the importance of listening as a key communication skill; and how storytelling can create impactful and memorable connections. Laurie also discusses the challenges of communicating in a virtual world, emphasizing the need to adapt and connect authentically through platforms like Zoom. This episode offers practical advice for professionals looking to enhance their communication skills and build stronger relationships in business and beyond.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

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Laurie Gilbertson is a former New York City sex crimes and organized crime prosecutor, television legal analyst, educator, and entrepreneur. As the owner of Tribeca Blue Consulting, she helps professionals communicate with clarity and confidence in their public speaking, presentations, trial work, and media appearances.

Laurie is passionate about helping people present their ideas in creative and persuasive ways that engage their audiences. As a former trial lawyer and television legal analyst, she shares insider’s tips and tricks from her experiences in front of judges, juries, and live television audiences to help her clients get the most out of their presentations and public speaking.

Laurie works with her clients through group training and one on one coaching to develop their personal and professional narratives, craft the hooks that draw their audiences in, and curate the stories that keep them listening and wanting to learn more.

This means more attention and success to them and their businesses and more clarity and confidence in their communications.

Laurie is a graduate of Cornell University and American University, Washington College of Law. She traded big city life for the beauty of Colorado when she and her family moved to Denver from New York several years ago. You can find her reading in her backyard, running (slowly but surely) in the park, hiking in the mountains, or watching a sporting event or dance competition involving her three awesome teenagers.

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/

Links:

www.tribecablueconsulting.com

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

[email protected]

Conference Links:

https://www.naps360.org/page/ConferenceOverview

The National Association of Personnel Services; Conference dates: Oct 2 – 4, 2022; Alexandria, VA 

www.sanfordrose.com

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In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love interviews Mike Lipkin, internationally renowned motivational speaker and author of The Potentiator: How to Create Breakthroughs with Others in a Post-Pandemic World. Mike introduces the concept of a "potentiator"—someone who brings out the best in others and builds strong, meaningful connections that lead to extraordinary outcomes. He shares insights into how professionals can develop a "moonshot mindset" to pursue bold ambitions and navigate a world defined by constant change and uncertainty.

Key topics include the five potentiator practices: knowing your game (defining your goals and value proposition), building robust resilience (learning from setbacks and adapting), being courageously creative (taking bold, calculated risks), communicating like a champion (clarity, authority, reassurance, and empowerment), and cultivating close connections (building a network of fans, advocates, mobilizers, and evangelizers). Mike emphasizes the importance of resilience, experimentation, and cultivating relationships that expand your impact. This episode is packed with actionable strategies to help professionals lead with purpose and maximize their potential.

Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/

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Mike Lipkin is one of Canada’s preeminent speakers.

In 2021, he spoke to over one hundred thousand people in nineteen countries and delivered 150 programs internationally; almost every working day, excluding public holidays and travel days, he was talking to an audience somewhere on the planet. Mike knows meetings. In fact, his life is one long conversation.

Mike is president of Environics/Lipkin, the motivation and sales empowerment practice of Environics Research Group— one of Canada’s leading research houses. The distinctions that he has gathered from talking to a million people in forty-three countries, combined with the insights from the celebrated Environics social values research, is how he offers his clients the best of all worlds: a powerful blend of ideas, principles, and observations that will help you achieve preeminence one conversation at a time.

Mike has authored eight best-selling books. His newest book is The Potentiator - How to Create Breakthroughs with Others in a Post-Pandemic World.

https://potentiator.mikelipkin.com/

Mike is also a certified Leadership Circle Profile coach. He specialized in engaging with c-level decision-makers to build organizational capability and create outcomes that matter most.

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/

Links:

https://www.mikelipkin.com/

Get Mike’s book here:

https://potentiator.mikelipkin.com/

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

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