Velocity Work

If you have an overarching revenue goal for your law firm, you need data. But you can’t just look at last year’s numbers and decide to add 20% to the top. The truth is you have to set and reach subgoals that will make your ideal revenue inevitable, and this week, Melissa is diving into one key piece of your revenue stream: average revenue per case or matter type.   On this episode, Melissa is reverse engineering the concept of average revenue per case or matter type to help you in your planning and projection process. If you’re wondering what kind of cases or clients you should be bringing through the door, how many of them, and what to expect so you can increase your visibility and plan in a smart way that is based on real numbers, tune in.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/173

What’s an area in your life or business that you feel a need to create a new normal for? As nice as it would be, cultivating a new standard for how you roll isn’t a one-and-done job. Behavioral change takes time, and this week, Melissa is introducing you to a tool you can use to create new normals for anything you want to improve upon.   Take delegation, for example. Mastering the skill of delegation is your path to freedom, but it’s so easy to stay stuck struggling without being able to see how you could improve. So on this episode, Melissa is looking at the issues people face around delegation to demonstrate how you can use her tool to evaluate where you are and reveal your next steps in any aspect of business.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/172

What’s the difference between the people who are in a high results cycle, achieving the results they want, and the people on the other side of the coin? It's not that they are smarter, better in some way, or more suited for being a law firm owner. Through years of experience, Melissa pinpointed exactly what is behind success, and she’s sharing it all in this episode.   Listen in this week to discover where you have an opportunity to amp up more velocity towards where you want to go. Melissa is diving into what the work that creates velocity means, and the three things that will reduce friction on the path to your desired results and make a huge difference on your trajectory of growing your firm.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/171

As all business owners do, we get sucked into always being on and available for people, we don’t stop thinking about work, and our brains are constantly cranking with ideas and anxiety. Your work is to come up with small ways to tee yourself up to win at this game, and to do that, you need to implement rest and rewards.   If you don’t want to be a shell of yourself when you get to where you want to go, or leave yourself in the dust along the way, tune in. Melissa is showing you the importance of being thoughtful around getting better rest in your everyday, and the power of using rewards in the completion of your rocks so you can start baking these into your plans.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/170

People think it’s the big swings at something that will knock it out of the park. That’s true every once in a while, but what typically contributes to success is showing up consistently in small ways. If you want to get to the next level, you’re going to have to evaluate how you’re going to operate and the decisions you’re going to make, and to do that, you need daily reminders.   As a leader, there are so many things vying for your attention and so many hats you have to wear that it’s likely your plans get put on the back burner. What you need is a touchstone every single day to point you in the direction you want to go, and Melissa is sharing questions you can ask to brainstorm and customize your reminders so you can take the reins over the results you’re going to create.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/169

As you may have heard, Melissa introduced a concept called The Wee Things in a special episode where she was joined by her husband. Of course, we all want to knock it out of the park with our goals and tee ourselves up to win, but The Wee Things are what actually contribute to your success, so this conversation needs to be kept alive. This week, Melissa breaks down the power of focusing on and taking care of The Wee Things, and why, without them, even with the most perfect plan, you will be left in the dust. You’ll discover the three R’s of The Wee Things you need to consider, and how going into execution mode without this piece will leave you falling short.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/168

Welcome to the third and final installment of our Strategic Planning Retreats Lessons Learned series. This is the mini-series where Melissa extracts the gems her members and clients shared at the end of their June Quarterly Strategic Planning Retreat as they were planning for Q3 and the remainder of the year.   If you’re looking to find your footing as you look towards the next quarter and the rest of the year, tune in. Melissa is sharing the growth her members and clients have experienced through the process of making powerful decisions and executing on them, and you’ll find some universal truths here that will turn your attention to what’s working and what isn’t so you can foster growth where you want to see it.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/167

Strategic planning is all about sitting down and creating space to evaluate your business. As a law firm owner, there are important milestones on your journey that have to be intentionally addressed, especially if creating an unstoppable machine that is your business is something you want to make a reality.   If you’re on the brink of growing your team, or you’re thinking about incorporating them into your planning sessions and meetings, tune in. Melissa is sharing lessons learned about why your employees need to be considered in your vision, the importance of creating space and support in your business, and an exercise in belief.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/166

Quarterly strategic planning with accountability and coaching in between is at the core of what we offer every single client, and this week, you get a sneak peek into the transformations happening in our community.   Join Melissa as she offers 7 lessons learned that have come out of Mastery Group. These are gems shared by your peers who are currently doing the work to be the kind of law firm owner they need to be to grow their firms, and next week, you’ll hear more lessons learned from Melissa’s private clients.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/165

A new quarter is on the horizon, which signals a great time for making headway on the things you need to think through as you grow. The truth is you’re going to have difficult quarters, or hard moments in seemingly easy quarters. When you feel fear and doubt creeping in, what you need is a clear reminder of what drives you.   The Vision Deck is a one-sheeter cheat sheet we offer our clients that summarizes the key elements that they need to keep top of mind, and Melissa is sharing the nuts and bolts of it with you in this episode. Discover how you can create your own customizable Vision Deck cheat sheet for your quarter to help you stay above the fray, even when things get crazy as you try to execute your plans.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/164

Melissa’s guest on the show this week is no stranger to the podcast. Chris Nicolaysen is a private client and co-founder of Springs Law Group; a firm that has experienced tremendous growth over the three years they’ve worked together, and he’s back for the third time to have a slightly different type of conversation.   Chris and Melissa are here to discuss a mental and physical challenge they’ve both gone through: 75 Hard. They’re diving into the benefits they’ve found on the other side of having completed it, the struggles, what they found surprising, and to share their honest experiences. And as a bonus, Chris is also sharing a concept that will benefit you hugely in business.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/163

Setting expectations is the secret to a streamlined experience where everybody- your clients and your team- is positioned to win. Melissa’s guest this week, Bill Farias, is here to encourage you to make it a part of your firm’s culture. Bill is a family law attorney who has been practicing for 12 years. He got serious about making the transition from solo practitioner to CEO of his own firm four years ago, and setting expectations has been a huge part of the success he’s seen since making the leap.   This week, tune in for a masterclass on setting expectations. Bill is offering his take on the power of setting expectations upfront with your clients and team, why everybody wins when expectations are set properly, and how to start implementing expectations within the different facets of your business.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/162

Welcome to the first episode of The Law Firm Owner Podcast! Melissa is giving you strategies to deal with your brain when it inevitably serves up skepticism, fear, and doubt about your ability to achieve the goals you’ve set. For any of you who haven’t yet set specific, measurable, realistic, and timely goals, this is your invitation to do so because, as you’ll find out, it’s essential for a healthy, thriving, and successful business.   Join Melissa today to discover how to get your brain onboard with seeing your goals all the way through. She’s offering her favorite tools and strategies for overriding the part of your brain that wants to stay safe and small, and instead, how to cultivate the confidence and commitment you need to experience ease on your way to new levels of success.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/161

Welcome to The Law Firm Owner Podcast, a show for owners who are ready to get clearer on their vision, really know their numbers, and leverage their mindset to build a successful firm. I’m your host, facilitator, coach, and founder of Velocity Work, Melissa Shanahan, and each week I will guide you through different tactics, tools and stories to get you the results you want.   I created this podcast to help owners take their firms from unorganized and unsustainable to truly intentional, so you can experience growth with greater ease. If you are ready to be a strong business owner, increase your revenue, take real time off, and build the law firm that gives you the life you want, this podcast is for you.    I’ll be bringing a range of topics from the power of quarterly planning to accountability, business strategy and mental health. My approach will help you create sustainable success, not just in your firm, but in your personal life too.   If you like what you’re hearing and are ready to shift how you operate

What comes to mind when you think of the word “retreat?” You might think fancy spas and curating the perfect vibe for relaxing, and while this is true, it’s also the perfect space for evaluating and making smart plans for the future.   This week, Melissa is showing you why she calls her Quarterly and Annual Strategic Planning Retreats exactly that, and sets up her clients to treat these sessions as such. The turn of the quarter is your time to withdraw from the craziness that’s part of owning a business and all the other obligations that make up your busy, full life. Hear why you’ll do yourself a huge favor by carving out time to retreat.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/160

It’s the turn of the quarter, which means Melissa is digging in with her clients, reviewing the quarter they’ve just had, while also planning for the rest of the year. However, you could have the best-laid plans in place, but without this one key component, you’ll set yourself up to lose.   Listen in this week as Melissa lets you in on the secret behind being the kind of person who has the results you want and are working towards right now. You’ll learn why you don’t have to wait to feel peace, calm, or confidence until after you reach those goals, and in fact, why it’s your job to identify what those emotions might be and to feel them right now.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/159

Did you know that what comes out of your mouth is one of the best indicators of what’s really going on in your brain? If you’re a regular listener here, you’re far from average. You have a deep interest in understanding yourself better to achieve the things that matter most to you. And becoming conscious of the words you say is key.   This week to discover how to be awake to the words you speak, and where those words aren’t in alignment with where you’re trying to go. You’ll learn why examining what you say is so important, and how to start making small, nuanced shifts to transform the trajectory of your success.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/158

Over here at Velocity Work, we spend a lot of time talking about dropping in, getting focused, and exploring ways to set ourselves up to win. But have you ever considered how you close out a period of time on your calendar and whether you honor the next block on your to-do list?   Listen in this week as Melissa offers her top tips for starting a practice of ending with intention. Whether it’s a task at hand, your day, week, or month, honoring your plan matters. You’ll discover why not ending something with intention is an inefficient use of your time, and how to implement a practice of evaluation and optimization for how you operate.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/157

So often, we have this black-and-white view of what’s possible for us in terms of our careers. We think we have to either go and work for someone else or start our own firms. But the truth is there’s some middle ground to be explored here that can pay off for you in a big way, and Melissa’s guest on the show this week did exactly that.    Tune in this week as Jeanette Mora and Melissa invite you to stop writing off all the possibilities available to you. Jeanette is giving you the 30,000-foot view of what it means to make the call to switch up your life or career, guiding you through the process of intentionally choosing your path forward, and offering her top tips for anyone who wants to explore their options.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/156

Do you know why you’re experiencing high turnover rates in your law firm? Are you ready to figure out what it takes to retain your employees so you can finally stop running around in circles and get back your precious time and money?   Molly McGrath of Hiring & Empowering Solutions is back, and this week, Melissa quizzes her on what it takes to be a great leader and invest in your people to maintain employee retention. Molly is sharing the three keys to having a team-centric approach in your business, how to have a team that has your back and vice versa, and the importance of being willing to have courageous conversations with your employees.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/155