While on vacation, I had the opportunity to read the book, The Power of Habit, which discusses how patterns shape the everyday aspects of our lives and contribute significantly to business and personal success (and failure). The Power of Habit discusses why some people and companies struggle to change, despite years of trying, while others seem to remake themselves overnight. It also offers insights into how the right habits were crucial to the success of Michael Phelps, Howard Schultz (CEO of Starbucks), and Martin Luther King, Jr. Ultimately, the books reveals that the key to becoming more productive, building great companies or teams, and achieving success is understanding how habits work.  The book breaks down habits into a cycle of Cue/Routine/Reward, e.g., you walk past a Starbucks (cue); you go inside and order your drink (routine); you get a caffeine boost (reward).

In reading The Power of Habit, I quickly realized I am much more of a predictable creature than I care to admit. So, I'm trying to figure out what my bad habits are and adjust them. For one thing, I know I need to go outside during the day more and I need to exercise more. I also know I need to push myself to stay on top of legal marketing trends and developments, despite my role as Capital Chapter president. So, I'm trying to leave my building for lunch every day and I'm trying to talk to a peer in legal marketing at least once a week.

While LMA can not help you start exercising, it can help you grow professionally, make friends, and get up from your desk at least once a month to come to a program or social event. So, if you've been meaning to get out more, meet more people, and expand your professional knowledge let us help - starting with our Webinar, "Best of the Web for Professional Development" on August 16.
 

And, if you are curious, the reward for my habit of getting to work by 8 a.m. is dinner with my family most nights. This is one habit I plan to keep. 

Sincerely,
 
Ezra Crawford
2012 LMA Capital Chapter President 
 
Ezra Crawford is Director of Marketing at BuckleySandler LLP   

Start with a Plan

Similar to other firm events, before getting started first develop a project plan.

• Create your agenda - You should have a clear idea of exactly how you want the day/s to flow.
   
• Choose a great location - What type of retreat environment will this be (which can also lend to creative teambuilding activities) - the Ritz, rugged, pampered, low-budget, convenient?
   
• Next steps - If you have working sessions, some of the most important work will happen after the retreat. How do you plan to capture what was discussed, record action items, plan follow-up activities, and keep the momentum going after the retreat? 

Maximize the Benefits

Venable's internal structure is divided into four divisions including IP, Litigation, Government & Corporate. As he explains it, "While the marketing team handles marcomm related tasks, such as PR, web and graphics, the business development team interacts with attorneys more, almost like account managers working with practice group leaders and partners to carry out tactics using the services of their marketing department. In short, we facilitate the implementation of strategies."

"For attorneys that want it, we'll develop a personal business development plan. We'll hone in on their particular skills and create a plan around their strengths. Your goal," he said, "is to make every attorney your number one client."

He started with the firm's IP division, and talked about one particularly interesting project that involved coaching attorneys to reach a new untapped market for the legal industry. He explained, "I outlined tactics and marketing plans designed to infiltrate this new industry and promote the idea of using the legal industry to protect their intellectual property - it wasn't on their radar yet. We obtained several new clients and that industry focus is still doing well for the firm." Brandon emphasized the role of market research in contributing to the success of the project. "I really value our firm's research team, they are an integral part of our success as a department."

Like switching majors in college, Brandon showed his versatility when he switched from supporting the IP Division to the Litigation Division where he advanced to senior business development specialist. When I asked him to share some of his work methodology, he said, "I religiously use Microsoft Outlook's Task Manager to stay organized and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. I keep tasks organized by category, track the percentage done, and link emails to tasks."
After college, he earned a master's certificate in graphic and web design, the result of a one-and-a-half-year commitment. "I wanted to know the technical side of design to enable me to manage web and other design projects better," he said. He also takes an avid interest in keeping up with new technology as it emerges.
 
To maintain close working relationships with the litigators in two offices, he splits his time between the firm's DC and Baltimore offices. To accommodate the dual commute, Brandon and his wife live in Columbia, MD with their two daughters. He remarked, "I think that work/life balance is just as important for a man as it is for a woman. I can't wait to get home each evening to spend time with my girls.
On the weekends, he plays the drums at church and at various DC jazz clubs like Blues Alley. "As a jazz musician, you can get gigs with different bands, sort of like a contractor. I've played with Marcus Johnson quite a bit."

When you see Brandon, be sure to say hello, and take the opportunity to ask him about his next gig. 
 

Best of the Web for Professional Development - Webinar Sponsored By Copper Services

In this lively webinar, two noted West Coast bloggers and legal marketers will share their best tips and sources for using the world's biggest archive of knowledge -- the social web. The presenters will reveal their favorite information sources for the legal industry, practices of law, marketing and business development innovation. You will leave this webinar with specific resources and destinations to advance your professional development, strategies to organize the flow of information, and time management tips that will help to ensure you stay informed and do your job at the highest level!

This August 16 webinar will be presented by Heather Morse, Barger & Wolen Director of Marketing and blogger at The Legal Watercooler, and Jonathan Fitzgarrald, Greenberg Glusker CMO and blogger at BAD for the BRAND.  To register, click here.

Chapter Happy Hour A Success

Do you follow the Chapter on Twitter?  Have you liked us on Facebook?  Have we connected on LinkedIn?  If you answered "no," then you probably missed the Capital Chapter's first "unofficial happy hour" that was promote entirely via our social networks.

On May 16, an after-work get-together drew about 15 social media-savvy LMA Capital Chapter members and "friends of the Chapter" to Asia 9 in Penn Quarter.

 "The informal happy hour brought together a more intimate crowd and was a great way to meet and connect with LMA members in a more personal setting. I felt that we focused more on getting to know each other rather than discussing business, which was a good contrast with the more formal events." said LMA member Samantha McKenna, a senior sales executive at ON24.

Mandy Warfield, a business development manager at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, agrees with Samantha.

 "I thought the event was a great break from the norm," Warfield says. "Since most LMA events are so heavily attended, this was a nice opportunity to get to know a few people within the organization on a one-on-one basis without being overwhelmed by new faces."

Michelle Talbert, a former practicing attorney and now a consultant, said, "Jonathan Groner invited me to attend the May 16 LMA happy hour and the timing could not have been more perfect as it was the day following my last day as a corporate and education attorney with Dow Lohnes. I had great conversations with Helena [Lawrence] and Ezra [Crawford] about the goals and vision for the chapter and I was quite excited to see how active the participants are. I am not yet a member but look forward to joining in short order. The members appear quite vibrant and dedicated to helping their attorneys and firms achieve their marketing goals."

Chapter Secretary Jean Brinker, a marketing specialist at Van Ness Feldman, says, "I hope that these happy hours become more frequent and widely attended in the future. We tried to use social media to promote the event, instead of doing a more official e-mail invitation, in order to keep it more informal and casual. For future happy hours, we hope to increase the promotion on social media to attract more people." 

It sounds like it is time for you to check out the LMA Capital Chapter's online presence on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

By Helena M. Lawrence, Business Development Manager, Proskauer

June's Capital Chapter Program Recap