The Benefits of An Internal Locus of Control.

We all face challenges and obstacles in life. Some say that because the way lawyers think, we face more than others! Some people seem to overcome them with ease while others struggle to get through even the smallest of setbacks. One of the main reasons for this difference is their locus of control.

Locus of control is the degree to which you believe you have control over the events that affect your life. There are two types: internal and external. People with an internal locus of control believe that their own actions and decisions primarily determine their outcomes. In contrast, people with an external locus of control believe that external factors, such as luck or fate, have more influence over their lives.

Strawberry Fields, Central Park, NYC. 📸 - The Author

The importance of having an internal locus of control and how it can impact various aspects of your life can’t be overstated. Here are just a few:

Improved problem-solving skills.

People with an internal locus of control tend to be more proactive when it comes to solving problems. They believe that they have the power to influence their circumstances and take action accordingly. This can lead to a more strategic approach to problem-solving, as they focus on identifying and addressing the root causes of the issue rather than simply reacting to its symptoms over and over again.

Increased motivation.

When you have an internal locus of control, you are more likely to be motivated to achieve your goals. You believe that your own efforts and actions will lead to success, so you are more willing to invest time and energy into pursuing your objectives. This can lead to a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment in life.

Better mental health.

Research has shown that people with an internal locus of control tend to have better mental health outcomes. They are less likely to experience depression, anxiety, and other negative emotions, as they feel empowered to take control of their lives. In contrast, people with an external locus of control may feel helpless and hopeless when faced with challenging situations, which can lead to feelings of helplessness and despair.

Greater sense of personal responsibility.

When you have an internal locus of control, you are more likely to take responsibility for your actions and decisions. You recognize that you have the power to influence your circumstances, and you take ownership of the outcomes that result from your choices. This can lead to a greater sense of accountability and integrity, which can improve your relationships and reputation.

Greater resilience.

People with an internal locus of control tend to be more resilient in the face of adversity. They believe that they can overcome challenges through their own efforts, which can help them to bounce back more quickly from setbacks. This can lead to a greater sense of confidence and self-efficacy, which can be beneficial in all areas of life.

Improved physical health.

Believing that you have control over your life can also have a positive impact on your physical health. People with an internal locus of control tend to engage in healthier behaviors, such as exercise and healthy eating, as they recognize that their choices have a direct impact on their well-being. This can lead to better overall health outcomes and a reduced risk of chronic diseases.

Having an internal locus of control can have numerous benefits for your personal and professional life. By believing that you have control over your circumstances, you can improve your problem-solving skills, increase your motivation, experience better mental and physical health, and achieve greater success.

How about you? Do you have an internal locus of control or an external one? Are you consistent across the board or does it vary depending on the “thing” you’re doing?

The 5 Lies Lawyers Have Bought Into: Lie Number 3 - You Must Be Available 24/7.

Cell phone. Text message. Email. Lions. Tigers. Bears. Oh my!

I think Steve Jobs was a genius, but part of me absolutely despises him for being what I view of the enabler of the lie all lawyers are told: you have to be available 24/7. That thought is balderdash! It actually sets lawyers up for failure. 

There are no fewer than two reasons why failure is the only result of being available 24/7.

First, there is a concept in sales you should under promise and over deliver in order to create clients who are evangelists for you and your work. This concept is true for lawyers as well because we all know a 100% referral-based business is the holy grail of any law practice. If you can create that, your client creation is a flywheel that, in essence, is a perpetual motion machine.

If you set the expectation with others you are available 24/7 and will respond immediately, you can only fail! There is no way you can keep batting 1.000. Ain’t happening, my friend. People will remember that one time you didn’t keep your promise and respond relatively immediately. That’s failure and that’s what you’ll be remembered for.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, if you’re available 24/7 why in the world did you become a lawyer? You could go work in retail, fast food, or any grocery store, and get decent benefits, get paid a living wage, and be able to unplug after your 8.5 hour shift. You’d be able to have a LIFE! You could find that illusive work-life blend we all seek. You would have freedom! Instead, by being available 24/7, you’re creating a cage, albeit a platinum one with presumably high pay and at least a modicum of respect. 

I’m here to tell you, you DO NOT have to, nor should you be, available 24/7. 

This all comes down to setting reasonable expectations with clients and any other people you interact with on a daily basis. Set your heuristics (the rules you live by) and stick to them.

When I had an active legal practice, I let clients know I would typically return emails within 12 hours and voicemails within 24 hours. I would also tell them I would not be available after 6 p.m. my time and, if they attempted to contact me, to not expect to hear from me until the following day. Same for opposing counsel. Same for my law partners. 

Those were the my rules. 

The benefits of setting those rules at the outset of my engagements was that I was able to unplug and be fully present with my family and in my community, absent the week leading up to and including jury trials. I also set myself up to exceed my client’s expectations because, occasionally, I would respond to a message immediately or closely after receiving it. My clients became my evangelists and my client pipeline was full of pre-qualified, closer-to-ideal, clients.

You have to get the thought you must be available 24/7 out of your head. It doesn’t serve clients, your law practice, your family, your community. It simply does not serve you.

The 5 Lies Lawyers Have Bought Into: Lie Number 2 - If you're not busy, your lazy.

Picture the hamster on its wheel or, for those with more refined taste, Sisyphus pushing his boulder up the hill. 

There’s a bill of goods we’re sold from the moment we enter law school, that is double-downed on when we practice law: 

If you’re not busy, you’re lazy.

I’m here to tell you it’s a bunch of crap and, in fact, the opposite is true.

I believe busyness is laziness. Let me explain.

We all have 168 hours each and every week. That’s all the time we have. Period. We can’t make any more. The decisions you make for what goes into your 168-hour pie is where the real work is. If you’re lazy here, then you’ll be busy, busy, busy, everywhere else. 

But what are you busy doing? Are you busy doing your high-leverage work. The work only you can do? Are you taking ideal cases from ideal clients that give you energy and excitement? Are you saying no to virtually every opportunity that comes your way?

This isn’t just me talking here. According to Inc., Warren Buffett believes: “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” Steve Jobs famously said: “Focus is about saying no.” Tim Ferris, best-selling author of “The 4-Hour Work Week” wrote: “Being busy is a form of laziness—lazy thinking and indiscriminate action. Being busy is most often used as a guise for avoiding critically important but uncomfortable actions.”

Please don’t come here believing, as a successful lawyer, you’re some kind of unicorn to whom the rules don’t apply. Don’t tell me these people who have dented the universe in their own unique way got it all wrong when it comes to attorneys in general and you in particular.

Please, stop lying to yourself. Please, stop listening to others’ lies. 

Any coach worth her or his salt can help you build a system to attract ideal clients and make decisions based on what is important to you. A good coach can help you build guardrails so your 168-hour week is filled with meaningful work. That is, frankly, the easy part.

The hard part is finding a coach who can help you radically rewire your mindset so you can learn to block out the voices - both external and the voice in your head - that tell you if you’re not busy you’re lazy. 

I am that kind of coach if you’re ready to do the work. Here’s what sets me apart from any other coach on the planet:

• Your bullshit doesn’t scare me

• I will never shame or “should” you

• You cannot convince me you aren’t great

Are you ready to get to work transforming your life?

The 5 Lies Lawyers Have Bought Into: Lie No. 1 - You have to grind all of the time to be a successful lawyer.

When you take time during your work day to walk or simply zone out, do you feel guilty? When you shut it down at the end of your day do you worry someone will question your dedication? When you’re not head-down focused for days on end are you worried you won’t achieve your goals? All of these thoughts, and countless others, are based on a lie you’ve been told: You have to grind all of the time to be a successful lawyer.

It’s total nonsense. Frankly, it’s worse than nonsense, it’s bullshit, it’s destructive, and it results in less success, not more. If you want to be successful (no matter how you define that word), you simply cannot grind all of the time.

Look no further than Olympic and professional athletes. Those at the very top of their game do not grind for hours on end. Instead, they break their days down into three types of activities: planning, focused work, recovery. There’s a reason they go about their business this way: it works. Period.

Elite athletes also use a system called periodization. They build in times of less intense work over the months of training and competition. These periods of less intense work always come on a regular basis and after intense work has been happening. 

Instead of this type of process, lawyers are told we have to grind to be successful.

There’s an alternative to grinding that will move you closer to success more quickly than grinding. That alternative is being able to enter a state of flow where you have your neurochemistry work for you. It is a process that enables you become up to 500 times more productive, elevates the quality of your work, your clients are served better than they’ve ever been, and, literally, changes your life. It’s called flow. Flow can certainly help you get out of the grind. It’s a system you can put in place.

But learning all about flow and how to trigger it isn’t enough. 

Instead, your mindset needs to be radically rewired so that you don’t get trapped by this and other lies lawyers are told. With a new mindset, you’ll learn to set your own course, define what true wealth means for you - hint, it ain’t all about the Benjamins - and chart your own course.

Are you ready? Click here to schedule a 30-minute discovery session.