The Thought Leadership Project

Becoming a lawyer is a journey not a destination. To achieve success and satisfaction, and thrive in your career, you must continually learn, improve your mindset, and develop positive new habits. Joining Tom and Jay in this episode to discuss these and other issues is Elise Buie of the Elise Buie Family Law Group. Topics include:

• The importance of being a lifelong learner

• What “keystone habits” are, and how they can have a positive spillover effect on all you do

• Why you should aim to operate within your “zone of genius”

• Overcoming imposter syndrome and other limiting beliefs

Reading & Resources

• Elise Buie Family Law Group

• Elise’s podcast: Maximum Mom Podcast

Listen wherever you cast. And don't forget to rate and review The Thought Leadership Project!

Want to be a guest on a future episode?

Share your thoughts directly with our show hosts by emailing Jay Harrington or Tom Nixon.

Jay Harrington

Tom Nixon

Jay Harrington is a lawyer, author, executive coach, and marketing consultant for law firms and lawyers. Tom Nixon, who is Chief Storyteller at the Harrington agency, has more than 25 years of experience helping experts become thought leaders. Both are prolific content creators whose work has been featured in leading publications in the legal industry.

From start to finish, we help our clients conceptualize, create, and produce podcasts that engage their audience, build awareness, and support business development efforts. In less than 30 days, we will have you up and running with a polished podcast. We will handle the details of podcast setup, from technology to branding, so you can focus on getting ready to host your show.

Tom asks Jay to describe a newly discovered approach to LinkedIn that attorneys who aspire to become thought leaders should explore: the value of writing daily posts on LinkedIn. Jay shares his methodology and the impact its having on his engagement and reach on LinkedIn, specifically:

• How this differs from strategies used by marketers in the past

• How this will make you a better writer and more thoughtful practitioner

• How daily posts are naturally engineered to better engage with an audience

• The math and science that make this approach work, and how it will grow your network

• The advanced techniques that maximize exposure and audience engagement

• The knowledge management system that allows you to share your best ideas and influence conversations

Reading & Resources

• Listen to the Laura Frederick success story here.

• How to generate more engagement on LinkedIn

• Connect with Jay and Tom on LinkedIn

Listen wherever you cast. And don't forget to rate and review The Thought Leadership Project!

Want to be a guest on a future episode?

Share your thoughts directly with our show hosts by emailing Jay Harrington or Tom Nixon.

Jay Harrington

Tom Nixon

Jay Harrington is a lawyer, author, executive coach, and marketing consultant for law firms and lawyers. Tom Nixon, who is Chief Storyteller at the Harrington agency, has more than 25 years of experience helping experts become thought leaders. Both are prolific content creators whose work has been featured in leading publications in the legal industry.

From start to finish, we help our clients conceptualize, create, and produce podcasts that engage their audience, build awareness, and support business development efforts. In less than 30 days, we will have you up and running with a polished podcast. We will handle the details of podcast setup, from technology to branding, so you can focus on getting ready to host your show.

There are myriad ways you can market a legal practice. We believe, perhaps not surprisingly, that thought-leadership marketing is one of the best ways. But thought-marketing is not a silver bullet. It’s not magic. And it’s not to be confused with other short-term, in-your-face marketing tactics. In this episode, Jay and Tom discuss some common misconceptions about thought-leadership marketing, describe what it is and is not, and attempt to set some realistic expectations. Among other things, they discuss:

• How thought-leadership marketing is more like farming than hunting

• How thought-leadership marketing generates new business leads, but not in the way most think about “lead generation”

• Why it’s critical to create a digital footprint consisting of your content

• The difference between “tricking” your audience and “enrolling” your audience

• Why thought-leadership is no substitute for business development

Reading & Resources

• Buyers get 57% of the way through the buying process before making contact with a service provider

• Create a digital trail to your website bio

Listen wherever you cast. And don't forget to rate and review The Thought Leadership Project!

Want to be a guest on a future episode?

Share your thoughts directly with our show hosts by emailing Jay Harrington or Tom Nixon.

Jay Harrington

Tom Nixon

Jay Harrington is a lawyer, author, executive coach, and marketing consultant for law firms and lawyers. Tom Nixon, who is Chief Storyteller at the Harrington agency, has more than 25 years of experience helping experts become thought leaders. Both are prolific content creators whose work has been featured in leading publications in the legal industry.

From start to finish, we help our clients conceptualize, create, and produce podcasts that engage their audience, build awareness, and support business development efforts. In less than 30 days, we will have you up and running with a polished podcast. We will handle the details of podcast setup, from technology to branding, so you can focus on getting ready to host your show.

Scott Love is a legal recruiter who focuses on national partner placement for Amlaw100 and Amlaw200 law firms. He is an expert on the topic of business development strategy, and uses this skill to help partners reach their full potential in joining a new firm. Listen in as Jay and Tom discover what's behind what Scott has identified as the five key attributes of successful partners, and how you can attain them:

• They have a business plan

• They have a niche

• They have good leadership skills and people skills

• They take initiative such as creating their own events

• They have regular habits

Reading & Resources

• Learn more about Attorney Search Group at attorneysearchgroup.com

• Check out Scott's The Rainmaking Podcast

• Connect with Scott on LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter

• Connect with Jay and Tom on LinkedIn

Listen wherever you cast. And don't forget to rate and review The Thought Leadership Project!

Want to be a guest on a future episode?

Share your thoughts directly with our show hosts by emailing Jay Harrington or Tom Nixon.

Jay Harrington

Tom Nixon

Jay Harrington is a lawyer, author, executive coach, and marketing consultant for law firms and lawyers. Tom Nixon, who is Chief Storyteller at the Harrington agency, has more than 25 years of experience helping experts become thought leaders. Both are prolific content creators whose work has been featured in leading publications in the legal industry.

From start to finish, we help our clients conceptualize, create, and produce podcasts that engage their audience, build awareness, and support business development efforts. In less than 30 days, we will have you up and running with a polished podcast. We will handle the details of podcast setup, from technology to branding, so you can focus on getting ready to host your show.

A limiting belief is something you believe about yourself that prevents you from realizing your full potential. In this episode, Jay and Tom discuss three common limiting beliefs that get in the way of lawyers producing content and becoming thought leaders, including:

• Imposter syndrome

• The pursuit of perfection

• The need to produce truly “original” ideas

Tune in to learn how to recognize and overcome these limiting beliefs on your way to becoming a thought leader.

Reading & Resources

• Jay’s blog post: How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome as a Young Lawyer

• Seth Godin on perfectionism: Abandoning Perfection

Listen wherever you cast. And don't forget to rate and review The Thought Leadership Project!

Want to be a guest on a future episode?

Share your thoughts directly with our show hosts by emailing Jay Harrington or Tom Nixon.

Jay Harrington

Tom Nixon

Jay Harrington is a lawyer, author, executive coach, and marketing consultant for law firms and lawyers. Tom Nixon, who is Chief Storyteller at the Harrington agency, has more than 25 years of experience helping experts become thought leaders. Both are prolific content creators whose work has been featured in leading publications in the legal industry.

From start to finish, we help our clients conceptualize, create, and produce podcasts that engage their audience, build awareness, and support business development efforts. In less than 30 days, we will have you up and running with a polished podcast. We will handle the details of podcast setup, from technology to branding, so you can focus on getting ready to host your show.

Laura Frederick is the Managing Attorney at Laura Frederick Law, a boutique law firm in Austin, Texas that helps businesses with vendor contracts. Having just recently launched an aggressive and committed thought leadership program on LinkedIn, Laura joins Jay and Tom to discuss her recipe for success, including:

• How focusing on a narrower niche actually generated more inbound opportunities

• What she changed in August, and how that led to 6,600% growth in one key metric on LinkedIn

• Her advice and tips for attorneys looking to be more committed to LinkedIn

• The art of giving, as opposed to "marketing"

• The roles visuals play in generating audience engagement

• If, how and when to measure campaign ROI

Reading & Resources

• Connect with (or follow) Laura on LinkedIn

• Laura's firm website, frederick.law

• Connect with Jay and Tom on LinkedIn

Listen wherever you cast. And don't forget to rate and review The Thought Leadership Project!

Want to be a guest on a future episode?

Share your thoughts directly with our show hosts by emailing Jay Harrington or Tom Nixon.

Jay Harrington

Tom Nixon

Jay Harrington is a lawyer, author, executive coach, and marketing consultant for law firms and lawyers. Tom Nixon, who is Chief Storyteller at the Harrington agency, has more than 25 years of experience helping experts become thought leaders. Both are prolific content creators whose work has been featured in leading publications in the legal industry.

From start to finish, we help our clients conceptualize, create, and produce podcasts that engage their audience, build awareness, and support business development efforts. In less than 30 days, we will have you up and running with a polished podcast. We will handle the details of podcast setup, from technology to branding, so you can focus on getting ready to host your show.

It’s that time of year: personal marketing plan season. When it comes to creating a personal marketing plan, make it strategic and also keep it simple. In this episode, Tom and Jay discuss the different components of a personal marketing plan, and how lawyers can make theirs effective and actionable. They expound upon:

1. Goal setting

2. The importance of differentiation

3. Identifying your audience

4. Understanding your audience’s ecosystem

5. Marketing tactics

6. Scheduling your marketing activity

Reading & Resources

• The companion blog post, with examples and illustrations

• Creating a Content Marketing Culture at Your Law Firm with Ryan Pasquali

• Four Ways to Take Your Thought Leadership Marketing to the Next Level

• Connect with Jay and Tom on LinkedIn

Listen wherever you cast. And don't forget to rate and review The Thought Leadership Project!

Want to be a guest on a future episode?

Share your thoughts directly with our show hosts by emailing Jay Harrington or Tom Nixon.

Jay Harrington

Tom Nixon

Jay Harrington is a lawyer, author, executive coach, and marketing consultant for law firms and lawyers. Tom Nixon, who is Chief Storyteller at the Harrington agency, has more than 25 years of experience helping experts become thought leaders. Both are prolific content creators whose work has been featured in leading publications in the legal industry.

From start to finish, we help our clients conceptualize, create, and produce podcasts that engage their audience, build awareness, and support business development efforts. In less than 30 days, we will have you up and running with a polished podcast. We will handle the details of podcast setup, from technology to branding, so you can focus on getting ready to host your show.

If you’re an attorney or legal marketer who has recently launched a legal podcast, you should be working actively and ongoing to grow your audience within the niche you’re targeting. Jay and Tom take a look at some of the more tried and true tactics, from basic to advanced, including:

• The low-hanging fruit of the channels you can control

• Optimizing your podcast for search

• How guest strategy can grow your audience better than anything

• Pitching for syndication

• Digestible lures and gateways

• The lightning round!

Be sure to read this post for your chance to win a free copy of Jay's new book, The Productivity Pivot, as described at the end of this week's episode!

Reading & Resources

• The companion blog post, with examples and illustrations

• The latest research and statistics that demonstrate the growth of podcasting

• What is The Rule of Seven?

• Connect with Jay and Tom on LinkedIn

Listen wherever you cast. And don't forget to rate and review The Thought Leadership Project!

Want to be a guest on a future episode?

Share your thoughts directly with our show hosts by emailing Jay Harrington or Tom Nixon.

Jay Harrington

Tom Nixon

Jay Harrington is a lawyer, author, executive coach, and marketing consultant for law firms and lawyers. Tom Nixon, who is Chief Storyteller at the Harrington agency, has more than 25 years of experience helping experts become thought leaders. Both are prolific content creators whose work has been featured in leading publications in the legal industry.

From start to finish, we help our clients conceptualize, create, and produce podcasts that engage their audience, build awareness, and support business development efforts. In less than 30 days, we will have you up and running with a polished podcast. We will handle the details of podcast setup, from technology to branding, so you can focus on getting ready to host your show.

We're now more than six months since attorneys were forced to forgo traditional forms of business development and marketing and turn their attention to content and thought leadership marketing. How's it going so far? Now is the time to evaluate what's working, what's not, and to respond by adjusting your content strategy for the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of the new year. Here are five common mistakes that can get in the way of achieving content marketing success. Listen in as Jay and Tom dive deep into each and address how to turn things around going forward:

1. Lack of consistency

2. Content is too general

3. Too much analysis, not enough actionable advice

4. Headlines aren't door openers

5. The promotion strategy is lacking

Reading & Resources

• Tips and Conventions for Writing Effective Headlines

• 7 Statistics That Prove How Valuable Thought-Leadership Marketing Is

• Connect with Jay and Tom on LinkedIn

Listen wherever you cast. And don't forget to rate and review The Thought Leadership Project!

Want to be a guest on a future episode?

Share your thoughts directly with our show hosts by emailing Jay Harrington or Tom Nixon.

Jay Harrington

Tom Nixon

Jay Harrington is a lawyer, author, executive coach, and marketing consultant for law firms and lawyers. Tom Nixon, who is Chief Storyteller at the Harrington agency, has more than 25 years of experience helping experts become thought leaders. Both are prolific content creators whose work has been featured in leading publications in the legal industry.

From start to finish, we help our clients conceptualize, create, and produce podcasts that engage their audience, build awareness, and support business development efforts. In less than 30 days, we will have you up and running with a polished podcast. We will handle the details of podcast setup, from technology to branding, so you can focus on getting ready to host your show.

There are different phases lawyers will go through as they build a significant book of business. There’s no guarantee you’ll progress through each phase, but if you do it’s likely that you’ll follow a particular path. In this episode, Jay and Tom discuss what it takes to build a $100,000, $500,000, and $1,000,000-plus practice. Topics include:

• Why lawyers in Phase One must typically rely on “friends and family” clients

• How Phase Two lawyers narrow the focus but broaden the geographic scope of their practices

• Why systems, processes, and scale are key to cracking the $1 million mark

• How thought leadership fits into Phases One, Two, and Three

Reading & Resources

• A Growth Mindset, Paired with Daily Deliberate Practice, Is Key to Lawyers’ Business Development Success

• Jay’s Book: The Productivity Pivot

Listen wherever you cast. And don't forget to rate and review The Thought Leadership Project!

Want to be a guest on a future episode?

Share your thoughts directly with our show hosts by emailing Jay Harrington or Tom Nixon.

Jay Harrington

Tom Nixon

Jay Harrington is a lawyer, author, executive coach, and marketing consultant for law firms and lawyers. Tom Nixon, who is Chief Storyteller at the Harrington agency, has more than 25 years of experience helping experts become thought leaders. Both are prolific content creators whose work has been featured in leading publications in the legal industry.

From start to finish, we help our clients conceptualize, create, and produce podcasts that engage their audience, build awareness, and support business development efforts. In less than 30 days, we will have you up and running with a polished podcast. We will handle the details of podcast setup, from technology to branding, so you can focus on getting ready to host your show.