1.  Nurture yourself.  Remind yourself that you can handle whatever happens.  You've managed your way through problems and disappointments before and, if necessary, you can again.  That reassurance can help you stop worrying and focus on opportunities.  If your work is slow and you have the financial means, this might be a great time to take advantage of the bargains available to travel for a weekend, a week, a month or longer.  If you can't travel, consider small pleasures, like a pedicure or a day of fishing.  Take the time to play, whether it's tennis with your friends or tossing a Frisbee with your kids.  Worrying won't help anyone and will make you less effective, so lighten up!  What will you do to take care of yourself?

 

2.  Hug your clients.  Start by doing excellent work, then ramp up your client service.  Client service is always
important, but never more so than when clients are trying desperately to cut costs in a slow economy.  Be visible to
your clients.  Make client calls every single day and visit client sites when possible - off the clock.  They'll appreciate
the attention.  Take your clients to lunch and provide them with useful information.  Let your clients know how much
you care.  If they're struggling, help them prioritize their needs.  What's critical now?  What can wait for a few months?  If they become inactive, check in to see how they're doing.  Let them know you care.  How will you hug your clients?

 

3.  Market yourself.  Note that some of the activities in these five categories overlap.  Make those daily calls to clients and prospects.  Get out in your community and be active.  Plan and deliver events.  Attend events where your clients and prospects are likely to congregate.  Being visible will not only build the loyalty of your existing clients, it will also help you attract new clients.  Are you writing and speaking?  Are you blogging?  E-blasting?  How about teleseminars? Physically or virtually, you can simultaneously deliver value and become a recognized thought leader in your area.  What are you doing to market yourself?    
 
4.  Invest in yourself.  This is a great time to learn something new, whether for pleasure or for practical business application.  Have you always wanted to learn Spanish?  This might be the perfect time to do it and, with our growing Spanish-speaking population, it will make you more valuable in addition to enriching your life.  Do you want to add a new practice specialty?  This is the time to learn - whether by CLE or independent study.  Take this time to master your social media skills or study your clients' industries.  What will make you more valuable?

 

5.  Invest in your firm.  What can you do to improve your firm?  Can you lead an effort to market collaboratively?  Research new industries or opportunities?  Would your firm or practice group benefit from improving one or more of its systems?  Instead of complaining until someone else takes the lead, volunteer to be part of the solution.  Are you doing your part to delegate work and mentor newer associates?  Overcome the urge to hold work close to the vest and spend time teaching new associates.  They need it, your firm needs it.  What firm need can you meet? 

 

Bonus:  Invest in our community.  The need is as great as it's ever been in our lifetime.  Growing numbers of people in our community are hungry.  Domestic violence increases with unemployment.  Schools always need our support.  Whatever you choose to do, your community service will enrich your life.  How will you invest in our community?

 

Just how productive can you be during a slow economy?  The only limit is your imagination.