"Working with Carolyn made me realize that networking and client development does not need to be hard or intimidating. She helped me break down a seemingly impossible task into manageable steps which were fairly simple to incorporate into my professional life."
~ Sr. Associate, Real Estate & Tax Credit
"The program has been beyond my expectations. I was skeptical of the program in the way I was skeptical of my friends who needed personal trainers. The accountability factor of coaching, i.e. having a success story to tell Carolyn each week, was a real motivator!"
~ Partner, Environmental Law
"I should have been doing this 20 years ago…"
~ Sr. Partner, Tax
"Carolyn gives you the tools and support necessary to develop a personalized plan of attack and strategy regarding client development, and to strengthen and/or facilitate existing and potential client development relationships. Her 'outside the box' approach also provides fresh ideas and a different perspective than the standard 'rainmaking' guides and advice."
~ Sr. Associate, Business Litigation
"Accountability with the coach is key! The ongoing meetings with Carolyn helped me to continue to take steps toward my goals and not get sidetracked. And as for my goals, they have now become a "filter" through which I prioritize the many competing demands on my time."
~ Partner, Public Law & Finance
"As an associate, client development is downplayed. As a consequence, there is a tendency to put it at the bottom of the priority list, after work for partners, firm committees, CLEs, seminars and professional associations. Having to report on my client/professional development progress on a bi-weekly or monthly basis makes it a top priority and is a good reminder of its importance in my career."
~ Sr. Associate, Corporate Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring
"Lawyers often need help and accountability to raise their awareness of how to integrate business development into their everyday legal practice. Carolyn does this very well."
~ Sr. Partner, Tax & Family Home Office
"The program was a benefit because it rewired me to think of myself as a business generator and relationship manager. It really helped me to learn to look for opportunities to interact with clients and potential clients. Before the program, I begrudged certain client development activities because they added to my "work". Now I truly look forward to these things and am energized by them. I feel like I exude enthusiasm for my clients in a way I did not in the past. I think about what I can do for the whole client -- not just for the case they have given me."
~ Partner, Environmental Law
"The coaching program has changed my frame of mind about client development activities. I no longer see client development as a distinct and separate part of my work, but instead I am integrating it into my daily activities. I think this new approach has already made an impact on my existing relationships and has led to the development of potential new business."
~ 1st year Partner, Medical Malpractice Defense
"I now have established a strong base and have direction where previously I was dumbfounded and overwhelmed by the thought of client development…I'm much more confident and encouraged about client development than before."
~ Sr. Associate, Real Estate & Tax Credit
"Carolyn's advice, expertise, guidance and perspective were invaluable."
~ Sr. Associate, Corporate Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring
"The coaching program benefited me by forcing me to stop waiting on a partner to tell me what I was supposed to do next with my practice. It challenged me to instead, think about what interests me, what I do well and what people need. After narrowing my focus based on those criteria, the program helped me develop a plan of action so that I could move towards doing more of the work that fit my new focus."
~ Sr. Associate, Commercial & Real Estate Litigation
"I feel as though my client development time is now more focused and will lead to better results. The coaching program has helped me to consider client development in every aspect of my communication and contacts with clients or potential clients, as opposed to considering it separate from my everyday dealings with our clients."
~ Sr. Associate, Corporate Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring
"The most helpful aspect of the program was the fact it was with an independent, third-party individual and not with someone in the firm. I was more open with stories and frustrations, which allowed for more discussion on how to resolve or work with the issues I was facing. I also thought it was helpful to work with a woman coach -- I'm not so sure that I would have been as comfortable with a man. I felt like Carolyn was more in tune with the challenges women face in the work force and had approaches that a man may not have come up with."
~ Partner, Immigration
"Talking with Carolyn was most helpful. She asked many pointed questions….which helped me to put each event and my own interests in proper context. I would not have taken the time to put it all together had I not had some outside perspective and accountability."
~ Sr. Associate, Commercial & Real Estate Litigation
"Through this program, I've learned to be more confident in marketing myself and making contacts and learning that it's a process which takes time to develop and reap benefits from. Breaking the process down into manageable steps and taking time each week to sit down with a plan has been great training. [I now spend] time each Tuesday evening going over my week and making sure there is time spend on client development…consistency is the key for me."
~ Sr. Associate, Real Estate & Tax Credit
"I have been held accountable to do the things I determined - make contacts, make telephone calls, focus on smaller steps - that I was uncomfortable doing in the past. And this is indeed a major success. Add up the individual steps and they have been significant and most would not have been accomplished but for the "friendly push" from the coaching program. Accountability is very important in that it does create a helpful push to "do something".
~ Sr. Partner, Tax & Family Home Office
"A valuable aspect of this program is the accountability!" "The coaching program helped me to set realistic and time sensitive goals that were achievable. The accountability helped me to stay on track in achieving them."
~ Sr. Associate, Real Estate
"I was able to identify barriers to success and create a plan for addressing them and breaking them down, step by step."
~ Of Counsel, Public Law & Finance
"At one point during my time working with Carolyn, it occurred to me when meeting new people that my behavior and mindset toward business development had changed significantly without me even realizing that the change was happening."
~ Sr. Associate, Real Estate & Tax Credit
Workshop
"The workshop gets you to think about client development in a new and fresh way"
~ Partner, Employment Law
"…good realistic and concrete tips. Everything in the workshop was helpful."
~ Partner, Commercial Litigation
"The workshop was an excellent summation/articulation of information that is essential to all attorneys but only intuitive to some."
~ Sr. Associate, Commercial Litigation
"Very useful, practical information."
~ 1st year Partner, Commercial Litigation
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