Networking Success Secrets for Lawyers with Deb Feder

In the competitive realm of law, mastering the art of networking is not just beneficial; it’s essential. This episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast features Deb Feder, a renowned business development strategist, who shares invaluable advice for law firm owners aiming to refine their networking approach and cultivate more profound, productive professional relationships.

Five Key Takeaways:

1. Engage Meaningfully in Group Conversations: Deb recommends strategies for entering group discussions that make a lasting first impression.

2. Forge Genuine Connections Beyond Scripted Speeches: Move away from rehearsed elevator pitches and towards creating real rapport.

3. Transform Networking Blunders into Opportunities: Deb shares anecdotes where missteps were turned into key growth moments, highlighting the importance of adaptability.

4. Optimize Your Productivity: Learn from Deb’s personal productivity hacks designed to save time and allow for more impactful business development activities.

5. Effective Virtual Networking Techniques: Adapt to the new norm with Deb’s advice on creating meaningful connections in the digital landscape.

Harness the Power of Natural Conversations

Networking isn’t just about exchanging business cards and opportunistically seeking out what others can offer you. Deb Feder emphasizes the importance of fostering genuine connections. Begin your conversations with light, personal engagement before mentioning your professional role. This approach not only puts others at ease but also forms a memorable foundation for future interactions.

A Fresh Approach to Business Interactions

Ditch the over-rehearsed elevator pitches. Feder advocates for a more relaxed, personalized approach to business discussions. Instead of launching directly into a sales pitch, find common ground and share relevant experiences that might resonate with the person you’re speaking to. Remember, authentic interactions are often the most productive.

Productivity Hacks for Busy Lawyers

In the fast-paced world of law, optimizing productivity is key. Deb shares her unique “house cleaning” strategy to manage tasks effectively—tackle them as if you’re preparing for an important visitor. She also introduces a novel five-minute email triage system to improve daily efficiency, ensuring that you’re only focusing on what truly matters.

Transforming Mishaps into Opportunities

In a candid share, Deb recounts a networking faux pas that inadvertently deepened her connection with a client. This story brilliantly underscores the human aspect of business relationships and reminds us that perfection isn’t always as appealing as authenticity.

Leveraging Technology in Networking

The shift to remote work has transformed the networking landscape. Feder provides insightful advice on adapting to this new reality, suggesting virtual meetups and strategic online engagements that can expand your professional network without stepping out of your home office.

Why Tune Into The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast?

Every episode of our podcast is designed with you, the law firm owner, in mind, aiming to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary for not just surviving, but thriving in the competitive legal marketplace. Deb Feder’s insights from episode 55 are a testament to our commitment to offering actionable, impactful advice that can truly transform your practice and personal life.

Engage with Us!

Loved the insights shared by Deb Feder? Visit our website at thelawyermillionaire.com for more resources on financial planning and strategic business growth. While there, don’t forget to check out Darren Wurz’s book “The Lawyer Millionaire,” available on Amazon. Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review to let us know what topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes.

Join us next time for more indispensable advice tailored specifically for ambitious law firm owners like you, on the journey to becoming not just successful lawyers, but prosperous entrepreneurs. Until then, keep connecting, keep growing.

Optimize your networking strategies and enhance your law practice with structured advice from industry experts—tune into The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast!

Resources:

Connect with Deb Feder:

Linkedin: Deb Feder
Website: Deb Feder

About our guest:

Deb Feder is a business development coach, strategist, owner and CEO of Feder Development LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping lawyers bring in consistent clients through curious, confident conversations and changing the way we view productivity for professionals.

Deb believes in dropping excuses and simple productivity solutions. Using LinkedIn as a platform to validate and share ideas, Deb helps professionals engage in meaningful content and connections. For the last decade, Deb has committed herself to changing the way we think about work-life balance and tackle high stakes work, allowing for big careers and enjoying our free time. Deb leads the community in dropping excuses, getting productive, and bringing in business through the monthly membership program, Focus30.

Prior to founding Feder Development, Deb practiced corporate law for 15 years and holds a history degree from the University of Michigan and her JD/MBA from the University of Iowa. Deb completed her coach training and certification through New Ventures West and completed the training in The Daring Way, which is based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown.

Transcript:

Darren Wurz [00:02:24]:
Could a simple conversation dramatically change the course of your career or catapult you to new levels of success? Welcome to the Lawyer millionaire. I’m your host, Darren Wurz, financial planner for law firm owners. Today, we’re stepping into the realms of redefining your business strategy and shaping up your network with our special guest, Deb Feder. She’s the CEO of Feder Development, LLC. A seasoned coach, strategist, author, and sought after speaker, Deb brings to the table not just years of professional experience, but a refreshing perspective on how to navigate and flourish in a professional world. Deb, welcome to the show.

Deb Feder [00:03:10]:
Thanks so much for having me.

Darren Wurz [00:03:12]:
Yes, thanks for joining me today. Why don’t you start by telling us, telling our audience a little bit about who you are and what you do.

Deb Feder [00:03:21]:
So that’s a big question, but we’ll narrow it in here. I am currently, and have been for over a decade, a business development and practice growth strategist, primarily for lawyers, but really for all people who are in the professional services field. So typically partners and those trying to bring in books of business or grow their books or nurturing their teams or firms and really getting into how do we build great personal relationships with our clients and our referral partners, our colleagues, that changes the trajectory of our days, our books of business, and really like, how much we love what we get to do. Before that, I practiced for 15 years primarily with a transactional corporate practice, both in big law firms and in house.

Darren Wurz [00:04:16]:
Okay, very cool. I love this topic because I’ve seen this work in my own life and my own business, how it’s just the randomness of who you meet and who you interact with. And, you know, the trajectory, as you said, can change so dramatically just in these conversations that we have with people.

Deb Feder [00:04:39]:
You know, there’s a story I tell that I had a invite on my calendar pop up to join a meeting. I didn’t even know what it was about, right. And I didn’t really understand it to be very fair. And I’ve actually gone back and looked at it to be like, was I just not paying attention? Nope. It really was, like, not quite clear. But I got on. And there’s one conversation, somebody asked a question about coaching and resources, and in the part of the conversation, which is very natural, I said, hey, listen, happy to share some ideas with you. It has grown into the most magnificent relationship, and so many great things have come out of that.

Deb Feder [00:05:16]:
And it’s just, I showed up, right. I didn’t exactly know what it was for, but I was willing to just show up and be in the moment, and it worked out, you know, magically.

Darren Wurz [00:05:27]:
I love that. That’s so great. Now, you, as you mentioned, you have a background in law. I’m curious, how did you go from lawyer to now coach and working with lawyers? What was that transition like?

Deb Feder [00:05:42]:
So it was actually part, I started the transition before I went out on my own. I had been in house and came back to the big law firm that I had started at to kind of finish my career. I didn’t know I was finishing. I was just transitioning back. And that experience of having been in an in house leadership and then now back in a firm, I really started to notice how we could be better together. And I started getting really curious about what are ways that we could help each other out, simplify things, and how a lot of the advice out there seemed to be the hard way.

Deb Feder [00:06:20]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:06:20]:
Like, play the long game, do all this, try to be everything and everywhere. And I was like, I had little, little kids at the time. My mom had actually passed away, like, or was sick at the time. It was just a lot going on. Like, life was happening, right? And I was like, there has to be a way for us to do this maybe differently or be better together and still get to have great careers, great clients, and it not have to stop when life happens. And I’m that person who, when I see opportunity, I really have to go explore it. Like, I do walk into restaurants. I want to sometimes reorganize them.

Deb Feder [00:06:59]:
Like, I just. I see, like, if we moved the line over here, look at how amazing that would be. And I will say that my family has taught me just not to mention it. Like, I just. I keep it to myself. I’ll be like, wouldn’t it have been better if that, you know, but I don’t go there. But that’s really what I do. I did it as part of my practice.

Deb Feder [00:07:17]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:07:17]:
I was working with companies and in house departments, and how do we streamline things and make it easier?

Deb Feder [00:07:23]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:07:23]:
How can I help you make this all better?

Deb Feder [00:07:27]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:07:28]:
And then that translated to coaching and consulting. And after a while of doing that within that organization, I then transitioned out on my own.

Darren Wurz [00:07:38]:
Okay. Okay. So you kind of experienced some of these needs and urgencies in your own work and thought, hey, I want to bring this to other attorneys and help them as well.

Deb Feder [00:07:50]:
Yeah, yeah. You know, and I also recognize that I, you know, I probably didn’t know it at the time, but I was raised in a family environment. First of all, I was raised by two entrepreneurs. And really, like, sitting down at the table at dinner was like, you came prepared for the conversation, and I didn’t really know until later on in life that, like, not everybody’s dinner table, like, always looked that way.

Deb Feder [00:08:16]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:08:16]:
Like, in just all the conversations that were happening around helping each other out and clients would show up at dinner of my parents, and it would just. It was just very natural to have client conversations as a part of my life. And I loved that piece of it, and I love bringing that to other people.

Deb Feder [00:08:35]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:08:35]:
Like, just like, you getting to have podcasts and getting to talk to all these different people, it’s that conversation, that connection that, for me, makes it so amazing.

Darren Wurz [00:08:45]:
Yeah. Yeah. So you are naturally good at this, it sounds like some of us are not. I’m more introverted, I think. And when I first started my business and had to get out there and network and talk with people, it was very intimidating. How do you help people kind of get over that fear and put themselves out there?

Deb Feder [00:09:10]:
So I’m a believer that there is a way, like, everybody has their own approach. Like, this is not one size fits all. It’s not like, extroverts do this. Introverts? No, like, we find what works for you. So different people have, you know, I have my own approach when I walk into a networking event, which I don’t always love.

Deb Feder [00:09:31]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:09:32]:
Um, but there’s also, like, we all kind of have our own kind of way to go about it. So part of it is finding you and your style, like, and matching that to the conversation. Um, but then, truthfully, I love to make it almost a game.

Deb Feder [00:09:47]:
Right, okay.

Deb Feder [00:09:48]:
So if you walk into a networking event, you know, often it’s get out there and meet as many people as possible. And I’d rather say to you, hey, listen, what happens if the goal today is go find three people that you’re super excited to talk to next week?

Deb Feder [00:10:04]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:10:04]:
You’ll keep mingling, you’ll keep noticing, and in your head, you’re like this. You get kind of out of the nerves, the nervousness of, like, walking into the room and start to kind of be in the conversation.

Deb Feder [00:10:17]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:10:18]:
So I also believe, like, you know, in practicing, I’m not a big elevator pitch person. I think we can just get rid of that. Nobody wants to, like, hear a canned speech.

Deb Feder [00:10:29]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:10:32]:
But I do think that, like, practicing gives, like, a little bit of, like, takes the edge off a bit.

Darren Wurz [00:10:38]:
Okay. Okay.

Deb Feder [00:10:39]:
So we can, like, you know, again, you have to sort of practice the conversation a little bit or, like, think of some questions that you really want to know about so that you have something to kind of anchor your experience.

Darren Wurz [00:10:51]:
Okay? Right, yeah. Yeah. You said get rid of the elevator speech. What do we replace it with?

Deb Feder [00:10:59]:
Really? So I replace it with just ditch it, but.

Darren Wurz [00:11:03]:
Okay, just ditch it.

Deb Feder [00:11:04]:
Literally. So I once had a client come to me, and she said, you know, I’ve been told to always have my pitch in my pocket. And I was like. And she goes, and it doesn’t seem to be working. And I said, well, why don’t we put the pitch down and let’s try something different?

Deb Feder [00:11:17]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:11:18]:
And I would rather you think of an introduction as just the conversation starter.

Deb Feder [00:11:23]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:11:24]:
So when you and I got on, before you even hit record.

Deb Feder [00:11:27]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:11:28]:
We exchanged a few, like, hey, how’s it going? Like, we started, like, just building rapport and talking to each other.

Deb Feder [00:11:35]:
Right?

Deb Feder [00:11:36]:
And over time, like, I want to ask, like, the next question that just allows the. The conversation to naturally unfold when we hurry it and we try to, like, grasp it. Like, let me tell you everything I do. Like, you sort of, like, lose it, right? It, like, becomes flat. People head to the bar, they’re like, I hope maybe you’ll be remembered. Maybe it won’t. I’d rather just take a deep breath and step into the discussion.

Darren Wurz [00:12:03]:
So letting it be more natural instead of, you know, forcing it along a thousand percent. Okay.

Deb Feder [00:12:10]:
Right.

Darren Wurz [00:12:11]:
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

Deb Feder [00:12:12]:
Can you see how, like, that’s worked for you?

Darren Wurz [00:12:15]:
Yeah, definitely. I think, you know, when you force it, then all of a sudden it gets awkward.

Deb Feder [00:12:22]:
Okay, so have you ever walked into a networking event? And this is what I ask all the time, has anybody ever walked in there and heard, we will now hear the elevator speeches?

Darren Wurz [00:12:32]:
No.

Deb Feder [00:12:34]:
You walk in, and there’s a group standing there. They’re talking about, like, the pizza that they had the other night, and somebody else is talking about, like, well, have you been to this place? And you’re going to join the conversation? And, yes, it might be about pizza or about a project, and you do want to get what you do and introduce yourself to others, but if you just walk in and say, hey, this is who I am, and this is what I do, it, like, creates this awkward bubble.

Darren Wurz [00:12:59]:
Yeah.

Deb Feder [00:12:59]:
Right?

Darren Wurz [00:13:00]:
Yeah.

Deb Feder [00:13:00]:
So we want you to, like, join, take a deep breath, share your ideas of pizza, and then turn to somebody and say, hi, it’s nice to meet you, by the way. You know, like, you know, I’m Darren, and then go from there.

Darren Wurz [00:13:11]:
Yeah. That really takes the pressure off, and I think that’s easier to do. I’ve experienced that a little bit. In my business. It’s easier to do kind of once your business is a little bit more established and then I find myself going to networking things and I can just relax a little bit more and just like have conversations with people. And the ironic thing is that’s, that almost is more successful. Would you say that’s true?

Deb Feder [00:13:37]:
Oh, you mean just relaxing into the moment and like being there a thousand percent.

Deb Feder [00:13:43]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:13:44]:
Yeah. You know, and look at, we’ve all had our awkward moments in networking, right? Like, I come with a laundry list of awkward moments following me. Um, the, you know, the point is just to, to learn how to be you and where you, you find your stride.

Deb Feder [00:14:00]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:14:01]:
If you love talking about the law and geeking out on what you love to do, like, let’s find a way for that to be your natural conversation, and that’s okay.

Deb Feder [00:14:12]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:14:13]:
But there is a lot of value in that. Small talk for sure.

Darren Wurz [00:14:17]:
Small talk can be, yeah, it can be very challenging. How do you prepare for an event? Are there questions that you kind of get ready? Are there like key questions that are some of your favorites?

Deb Feder [00:14:30]:
So I will tell you two things I really do believe in is one, not to over prepare. So if you over prepare, you kind of lose the chance for the conversation because punchline, you already know the answers.

Deb Feder [00:14:44]:
Right?

Deb Feder [00:14:44]:
So that’s weird. Like, okay, can’t do that. Um, I actually work with most of my clients on finding three key questions for them, right. And not every, no ones are the same, but it’s a matter of finding out if you have one or two questions, even that are kind of your go to, and you’re almost using it like a mini research project. Again, it gets you out of your head, gives a purpose to the networking or to, and this can be for a one on one conversation. It can be a lunch, a coffee, a phone call, but it gets you out of your head. And then you can start to understand where there’s some common threads.

Deb Feder [00:15:21]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:15:21]:
And, oh, if I understand the common threads, I can then use that in business development. I can use it in my thought leadership pieces. I can use it to expand the conversation. I can use it to help that person out. So I like to have like one or two questions, at least, if not three, that like, you walk in and kind of know that that’s where you want to take the conversation as the opportunities appropriate.

Darren Wurz [00:15:47]:
Yeah, yeah. Maybe just kind of some general ideas of where you might go. Is there a time when you want to try and make that transition into business? What if it’s not happening? What if no one’s asking me what I do? You know, how do you, what do you do then?

Deb Feder [00:16:04]:
Okay, are we at an event, or are we at, like. Like, a one on one kind of conversation? What are we. I need an event that we’re at.

Darren Wurz [00:16:11]:
Maybe we’re, like, at a breakfast event or something like that.

Deb Feder [00:16:15]:
Okay. I’m like. I’m like, I need you to set the scene for me. So I think at some point, asking somebody what they do and being like, that’s so interesting, because what I do is this. I see it this way and using it as a transition. So there’s a time where we have to pivot and learn, and at that point, then start to share a little bit more about what we do.

Darren Wurz [00:16:38]:
Okay. Okay. That makes sense. Do you have maybe a personal story or anecdote that you could share with us about how a conversation that you had, a networking event, turned into something or drastically impacted your business?

Deb Feder [00:16:57]:
Well, okay, so I tell this story in my next book that, um, I. One of the very first networking events I went to, um, you cannot maybe can’t tell from me sitting right here. I’m not tall. Okay, let’s just start with that. I am not tall. And it was, like, one of the very first cocktail parties that I’d gone to and, like, business contact cocktail parties. And I turned, and it was a very crowded room, and my head hit the tray of a champagne flutes.

Darren Wurz [00:17:27]:
Oh, no.

Deb Feder [00:17:29]:
Yes. Okay. Like, so bad. Like, you can’t imagine the horror, right? And it landed on the client.

Darren Wurz [00:17:37]:
Oh, wow.

Deb Feder [00:17:38]:
Okay. So there’s many people who would think you’re never recovering from this. Like, just. Just stay away from all networking events. I am still friends with that client. We joke about that day. It was never something that was held over, and it was joked about for certain.

Deb Feder [00:17:59]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:18:00]:
But it was not like it was one of those things where I just had to own it, but, like, because of it, it almost allowed, like, a different relationship to unfold. So I always tell people, look, you can recover from anything. I recovered from literally flipping a tray of champagne. So, like, there’s no. There’s nothing that’s gonna, like, really stand in your way of being able to get back in the game. But I mean, just, like, I told you that story before, like, you show up for these conversations and just saying to somebody, what’s going on? Like, what is it that you would love to change next year?

Deb Feder [00:18:35]:
Right?

Deb Feder [00:18:36]:
And just having that, like, one, you know, question, it allows so much to unfold and things to happen that you just can’t anticipate until you just take a deep breath and join the conversation.

Darren Wurz [00:18:48]:
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Um, that’s. That’s a great story. I think that you probably. Well, for one, you were very memorable, I’m sure.

Deb Feder [00:19:00]:
So it’s not the way I was. I mean, I think I came, like, geared with an elevator pitch, and, like, I was probably trying to be, like, super proper, and I just turned and.

Darren Wurz [00:19:10]:
Oh, wow. Right, right. But, I mean, that allowed people to see the humanness of you, and that is what, you know, really, people want that connection, you know, when you can share, hey, I can make mistakes. You know, that really helps people open up, I think.

Deb Feder [00:19:33]:
You know what? Humans want to work with other humans. It doesn’t mean we don’t want to work with people who aren’t excellent at what they do and don’t really care about their work. But at the end of the day, we’re all human, right. And life happens for all of us. And having the grace to go in and just, you know, start with, like, you know, are you okay?

Deb Feder [00:19:54]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:19:55]:
Um, and being there and just being willing to, like, not charge in and be all work and all business or understanding the energy from the other side, I think, has a lot to do with it.

Deb Feder [00:20:07]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:20:07]:
I think we connect on an energy level before we do our expertise.

Darren Wurz [00:20:12]:
Yeah. Yeah, that’s good. That’s certainly true, I think. Are there some other. We’ve talked about some of the mistakes people make. Are there some other big faux pas that should be avoided in networking and conversations?

Deb Feder [00:20:30]:
I mean, there’s probably a laundry list, but I will tell you, the biggest one that I see is failing to follow up or follow through afterwards. Okay, so you get this stack of cards, or you tell somebody, oh, I’ve got this article. You have to read it, and then you never send it.

Deb Feder [00:20:50]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:20:50]:
So taking a minute and, like, afterwards making a list. It doesn’t have to be, you don’t need a fancy system. We don’t need all the bells, and, you know, it whistles out there. You just need a list and, like, just remembering. Okay, who did I meet? Who would I love to follow up with? Now, can we get you back in a conversation with somebody from six months ago? Sure, totally. But it’s a lot easier if you just send the email the next week, right?

Darren Wurz [00:21:18]:
Right, definitely. What do you do if. If, uh, no one has their business cards? You know, they’re like, oh, I didn’t bring them. What then?

Deb Feder [00:21:25]:
Okay, so I’m all about LinkedIn. I will tell you, somebody recently shared with me how to take your LinkedIn profile and turn it into a QR code and put it at your screensaver on your phone for a networking event.

Darren Wurz [00:21:36]:
Oh, smart.

Deb Feder [00:21:38]:
That’s as tech savvy as I get. Like, I’ll be honest. And each time I do it, I have to, like, really think about how I’m doing it. Right, but it does work. But you can find most people. Right? Like, you can either look it up, ask somebody for the email, right? Ask somebody for their name. Hey, you remember that person that was in our group? What was their name again? I, you know, I can’t remember, but I do want to send them, you know, a quick note about something we were talking about. Everybody forgets names, right? It gets lost in the shuffle.

Deb Feder [00:22:07]:
It’s okay. Admitting it and just moving on.

Deb Feder [00:22:11]:
Again, back to like, you’re human.

Darren Wurz [00:22:12]:
Right? Right. That makes sense. Yeah. Um, you know, speaking of business cards, we’re in a new world these days. A lot of things are virtual. You know, you and I are doing this on Zoom. How has networking and conversations. How have those things changed in a more virtual world?

Deb Feder [00:22:36]:
Okay, so pre pandemic, I believe this, but obviously the pandemic proved it to be true, is that we have to be able to work and connect without having to race to coffees and cocktail parties and networking events. I think we gained that skillset or enhanced it through the pandemic. I think that you have to be more intentional about it.

Deb Feder [00:23:01]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:23:02]:
So, you know, not to age myself, but when I started practicing law, right, way back when, there were no. We didn’t even, I think we had laptops, but, like, to get Wifi. I mean, there was no wifi that didn’t exist.

Deb Feder [00:23:16]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:23:16]:
Yes. That just aged me.

Deb Feder [00:23:17]:
But.

Deb Feder [00:23:20]:
You showed up at the office and you were dragged to client meetings, and you were. You sat on a landline conference call.

Deb Feder [00:23:26]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:23:26]:
All the time. And you built connections in your network and had the conversations just naturally. Now you have to be more intentional. You have to find out, like, what are the days that other people are going into the office to be there when they are? You have to make a plan. I can’t tell you. I’m a big pick up the phone and call people. And it throws a lot of people for a loop of, like, shouldn’t we have a scheduled. We need to put on the calendar?

Deb Feder [00:23:53]:
And I’m like, I’m just going to.

Deb Feder [00:23:54]:
Call you, or you can just call me.

Deb Feder [00:23:57]:
Right?

Deb Feder [00:23:58]:
And that’s. People want to, like, have a set time. So again, knowing how other people work and how they like to work now, it just takes, like, a little bit extra step. I feel like. Have you seen that?

Darren Wurz [00:24:09]:
Yeah. So you have to actually make a plan and be proactive with it. And I think a lot of that networking happened accidental, accidentally. You know, it was like, well, there’s these events, and I can just go to these events and I can network. Well, now it’s like, okay, maybe I should create something. Maybe I should create a group that meets on Zoom or schedule a group meeting with some referral partners where we can chat virtually. Yeah, you’re so right. Making that purposeful, because it can be so easy, just so hunkered on in my office, and I’m just here by myself.

Deb Feder [00:24:51]:
It wasn’t that. Gets lonely.

Darren Wurz [00:24:53]:
Yeah.

Deb Feder [00:24:53]:
Right? So I like, even within a law firm, I like to tell people, host office hours, if everybody’s working remotely, just be like, listen, I could use some company working today. Either. I’m going to jump on a zoom room and bring your stuff, bring your coffee, we’ll talk, we’ll get some work done. We can answer questions, but we can, like, just be working together or grab a conference room when everybody’s actually in the office and just all meet up to work together. Like almost like a coffee shop environment. Right, but make a plan to connect.

Darren Wurz [00:25:26]:
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Deb, are there other big challenges that you are helping attorneys with or that attorneys are asking you about these days?

Deb Feder [00:25:38]:
You know, I work a lot with people trying to figure out how do I. I would love to build a book, but how am I possibly going to fit it into my day? So a lot of my work, you know, as a foundation, centers around organization, productivity, you know, crunching time to, like, really understand how to get to those big priorities and goals. And we’ve, you know, I’ve developed programs over the years that address just that. So it can open up the time and the space to be able to nurture your client relationships and to really figure out what to do next. That’s one piece, and the other is how to share, how to use your conversations to inform your thought leadership, your LinkedIn keynotes, articles, what you’re creating to make sure that it’s impactful so you’re not just shouting to the wind and hoping that it resonates with somebody, but you already know that it resonates because you, you cultivated this knowledge with your clients rather than just for them.

Darren Wurz [00:26:46]:
Yeah, absolutely. Okay, so you mentioned productivity. Give us. Give us a hack. What’s your big hack right now? Or favorite, favorite tool or tip that you’re, you’re really excited about right now?

Deb Feder [00:26:59]:
Okay. This might get me in trouble for how I tell the story, but I’m just going to do it. So, um, I always say you need to clean. Like, your family just called and they’re coming for dinner, right? So, like, if I start out on a Saturday and I say I’m going to clean the house, I can get to Sunday night, and I’ve done nothing. Do you know the feeling?

Darren Wurz [00:27:19]:
Mm hmm.

Deb Feder [00:27:19]:
Okay.

Deb Feder [00:27:20]:
See?

Deb Feder [00:27:20]:
Yep.

Deb Feder [00:27:20]:
I can tell you’re, like, totally there. But if your family calls, right, and insert relative of choice in your head, and they say, we’re coming over, we’ll be there in 15 minutes, how fast can you clean your house?

Darren Wurz [00:27:33]:
Oh, well, if I get moving. Yeah, I can.

Deb Feder [00:27:36]:
You get moving, right? Oh, I can have dinner going, a table set, and the house cleaned. 15 to 20 minutes.

Darren Wurz [00:27:42]:
You’re talented.

Deb Feder [00:27:44]:
I’ve got a lot of practice at this. Okay. Like, I’m good at this, so. But that’s how we need to tackle certain tasks in your day. Like, I like to think of them as work errands.

Deb Feder [00:27:54]:
Right?

Deb Feder [00:27:55]:
So you’ve got home errands, the grocery store, the dry cleaners, the bank. You have the same things for work. Those little errandy things can suck up a whole day.

Deb Feder [00:28:04]:
Right.

Deb Feder [00:28:04]:
And instead, what we need to do is we need to crunch our time and how we tackle them and then move them out of the way, get our real work done or our real business development focus. And from there, like, start to see, you know, things happen and then go back and forth and knowing how to get into those little tasks without it, like, really taking over.

Darren Wurz [00:28:28]:
Okay, what does that look like? Is that just like a mental shift? Like, okay, I’m gonna. I’m gonna crunch down in this certain block of time and tackle these items.

Deb Feder [00:28:38]:
Okay, so two things. One, I’m all about the five minute email triage, right? And I do not mean start at the top and answer your emails. I mean, set a timer for five minutes and delete file, sort, and turn into tasks. Your inbox cannot be your filing cabinet, nor should it be your to do list. Okay. And crunching those five minutes. And just every so often during the day, grabbing five minutes. And I really do want you to set a timer to do it because otherwise you will stay there all day and just keep cleaning out in back, you know, because one coming in and one goes out, like, nonstop.

Deb Feder [00:29:16]:
I’m not.

Darren Wurz [00:29:16]:
I’ve been there.

Deb Feder [00:29:18]:
We all have.

Deb Feder [00:29:19]:
Right?

Deb Feder [00:29:20]:
So that’s one tool. Another one is really thinking about how you’re going to start your day the day before, right? If you wake up and you decide like, okay, what am I going to do today? You can shop around for a project and like, think through all the things you should do for quite a while. If you have a plan before the day starts, you’re far more likely to get something done before you have to triage for other people.

Darren Wurz [00:29:47]:
Yeah, great advice. Thank you so much for those tips, Deb.

Deb Feder [00:29:51]:
Thanks.

Darren Wurz [00:29:52]:
So we’re quickly coming to the end of our time here. It has just flown by. You’ve given us a lot of great things to think about. I want to ask you one more important question, and that is, what is your millionaire mission? And what I mean by that is what’s the big goal or driving force behind what you are doing?

Deb Feder [00:30:14]:
I such a great question. I truly believe that we get to have amazing careers, work with incredible clients, and have the life that you want to live. I believe that it’s all possible. And I believe that at the crux of it are conversations. And when we can engage in curious conversations and support each other, it’s a game changer for the industry. It’s a game changer for the professional space in our world.

Deb Feder [00:30:46]:
Right?

Deb Feder [00:30:46]:
Like building community, I think is more important than ever. And if I can have one piece of helping others connect into those great conversations, it really, that’s the magic to me.

Darren Wurz [00:31:01]:
I love it. Great stuff. Well, Deb, would you please share with our audience, you know, how they can learn more about you and get in touch with you and any last tips you have for us.

Deb Feder [00:31:14]:
So first of all, I’m at debfeder.com. Come find me. I’m on LinkedIn. Love to post there and love to connect with new people. So would love you to come find me. I have a couple of things. I have a scorecard @debfeder.com scorecard that really looks at your conversations and your clients and your days in gives. Lets you kind of figure out what’s that next best step.

Deb Feder [00:31:40]:
It is not like there’s nothing weird that’s going to send you an email that says you’re an organization guru. I actually look at every single one and talk to each person about what are the opportunities next? So that is something I’d love to share. And my best next other tool that I would suggest is, um, I put out a calendar every month that tells two tasks a day of what to do. And so I’d like to share two tasks that you can do. They’re each five minutes, right? So I’ve already given you one go do a five minute email triage. Just clear the clutter, see where the opportunities are in there and do. And just that one first five minutes. And then the second five minutes is shut off everything, paper and pen.

Deb Feder [00:32:28]:
And don’t stop writing about what you want to achieve next and just allow yourself to dump it on paper and start to see, you know, afterwards. Like, notice the themes, notice the words, notice the conversations. You’d like that need to happen to get there. And from there we can figure out a plan.

Darren Wurz [00:32:47]:
I love it. Good stuff. Thanks so much for joining us, Deb.

Deb Feder [00:32:51]:
Thank you so much, Darren, it was great.

Darren Wurz [00:32:53]:
It sure was. And thank you, the listener, for joining us today on this insightful episode of the Lawyer Millionaire podcast. We certainly appreciate Deb Feder for opening our minds to new ways to build networks and turn simple conversations into abundant opportunities. Remember, we’re here committed to guiding you further on your journey to financial success. If you’d like to learn more, please visit thelawyermillionaire.com or check out my book, the Lawyer Millionaire, available on Amazon. And be sure to subscribe and leave us a review. I’m your host, Darren Wurz, and I’ll see you next time.