Marketing legal services: doing things you don’t want to do
Conventional wisdom says that success lies outside of your comfort zone. If you want something you don't have, you have to change what you are doing and this will probably be uncomfortable, as is whatever business new. Over time, you will become comfortable with your new activities and you may really delight in them.
But then, you will have a new comfort zone. To get to the next level in your progression, you will once again need to go beyond your comfort zone into new territory.
Success, therefore, requires continually being uncomfortable.
This is what we are told, but is it right?
Let's take marketing for example. Let's say you really don't like networking. You're shy, you don't like being away from your family, you're not a "people person". Whatever. You just don't like it.
But networking is a proven way for attorneys to build their practices. So what if you don't like it, there are lots of things we have to do in life that we would rather not do. Shouldn't you just get out of your comfort zone and do it anyhow?
No.
If you tried it and truly don't like it. . . you don't like it. Don't do it.
There are other ways to bring in clients. You don't have to continue to do things that make you uncomfortable, you can do something else.
Ultimately, success lies surrounded by your comfort zone.
When you like something, you'll continue doing it. The more you do it, the better you get at it. The better you get, the more successful you will be and the more you will delight in doing it. And the cycle will continue.
In contrast, when you force yourself to do something you despise, you are miserable. You'll find ways to avoid going to your networking event, even to the extent of getting sick. You won't get better at it and your lack of results will only frustrate you and make you despise it even more.
Doing what you delight in doing is the recipe for success.
Don't struggle how you feel, don't try to talk yourself into it, and don't do it because you reckon you must.
There, did I just hear a huge sigh of relief from you?
Excellent. I'm glad I could help. Just don't be too quick in deciding what is and what isn't surrounded by your comfort zone.
Often, we choose we don't like something based on too small information. Sometimes, we never try at all, basing our opinion on what we've heard from others or what we imagine. Sometimes, we try it once, have a terrible experience, and never try again.
Don't give up too soon and don't assume that when you try something and it is uncomfortable, it will always be so.
Give it a honest try. Study and learn how to do it better. Find mentors who can counsel you. Give the new experience sufficient time for the newness to rub off.
If it really isn't your cup of tea, relax, you don't have to do it. On the other hand, you might learn some things you thought you despised that you're really quite excellent at and now delight in.
My wife and I grew up with dogs in the house. Cats? Not for us. We don't like them. All that changed when our daughter was young and wanted a pet but unknown wanted to walk a dog. So we got a cat. Then another.
We gave them a opportunity and today, Seamus and Andre are like members of the family. That's Andre in the photo with me, sharing some like with his daddy.