Don Metznik's List: Articles, webinars, whitepapers, wisdom, and other useful stuff

• The greatest value of a leader is in ensuring that the strategy is implemented.
• The single biggest problem in the implementation of strategies is the absence of consequences for non-compliance.
• What is often underestimated is that the problem of the nonconforming person is not his or her own nonparticipation in the strategy but the adverse effect that he or she has on the motivation of others to participate in the new initiatives.
• The best managers make use of a third motivating force, the glamorous dream. They are able to convince their colleagues that life could indeed be significantly better, that greater accomplishment is possible and that, yes, they can do it.

2 more annotations...

• But the worst of all this is: that we’ve chosen simply money, as our measure of success.
• But money, just money all by itself, does not provide a sense of worth or accomplishment, or even peace of mind. The fact is, it’s in our DNA to always want a little more, and getting more only feeds the need to get a little more.
• First, be someone others count on. Most folks talk a good game; very few come through. Clients come to you because they have a situation they cannot solve on their own. Most are not looking for an analysis of the law. Most want you to solve a problem. So solve it, don’t add to their problem by being hard to find, by missing deadlines, or by simply describing their problem back to them.
• What they want is someone they can count on to make their lives simpler, to accomplish what they want accomplished
• Second - be an interesting person, for your own good and so that clients think of you as more than a lawyer.
• orce yourself to do be able to talk about more than law - read books, go to movies, be part of politics, go to lectures.
• . Look out for yourself. Nobody cares about you like you do except maybe your parents, and you won’t be working for them.
• The secret is simple- great careers are the result of day after day deciding to do good work and being someone who others count on.
• Be enthusiastic

  • Maister's 3 points: Passion, Principles, and People.
• Trust yourself. You are a very bright person or you wouldn’t be here today.  I think among the most important conclusions I came to as a young lawyer was that if I didn’t understand something, it was because the thing in fact didn’t make sense, not because I was stupid.
• Get involved. O
• The toughest lawyer is not the one who is the most obnoxious.
• Be nice and have fun. Just doing that makes life better for everybody, mostly you.

11 more annotations...

• If you want the world to think you or your organization is a helpful expert in your subject, then you must always try to act as a filter, facilitator and advisor on the best, most relevant and most timely information of value to your audience. In fact, I seem to remember co-authoring a book on this very topic: how to be a Trusted Advisor (!).
• We have begun to put ourselves in the shoes of different audience members and ask, “What kinds of needs would they have, and what specific kind of information might they be looking for?”