Warning – I’m going to get a bit personal, but I promise to tie it in to a relevant business lesson, so hang with me for a moment!

Sorry for the radio silence all of November. I have a good excuse, really. Brain surgery to remove a benign (thank goodness) tumor. And, here a share and push and evangelizing all day long about preparing yourself mentally and physically for a slightly more invasive procedure as this one, and in life generally. 

Following surgery, Doctors told me I’d likely be gripping a walker for at least a month, I was walking on my own within one week. Doctors told me partial facial paralysis could well impair my speech, and that this could last for up to an entire year. Great! What am I supposed to do with my business where I talk all day long? Sign my messaging through videos?? I don’t even know how to sign! With little paralysis initially and now barely noticeable I am speaking to you clearly I hope. Now, we might argue if I’m making any sense, but speaking I am!

Finally, Doctors told me I’d have serious balance issues temporarily. Well, yes, I still do now a month out, but even this has turned out well! This is now my daily reminder to ‘find balance’ in walking, talking, driving business, sharing strategies, and really in every facet of my life. Great break and time to slow down a bit, introspect ways to position and streamline even better value for my clients in their growth aspirations.

Lesson out of all of this? Two. Preparation and Balance. Let’s talk preparation on this episode and balance on the episode for next week.

First lesson: Preparation. For any endeavor (though I’d recommend staying away from brain surgery as the path) prepare!

Once my surgery date was set – 4 months out – I decided THIS was going to be the best time to start training for my first Triathlon. I ramped up my running schedule, I began ocean swimming in the dark at 6am in the morning, and then hopping on a bike in sloppy wet gear – and I felt great! They don’t say triathlons are addictive for nothing, I was hooked! Have my next one lined up for April. The mental and physical preparation for surgery? Outstanding, and doctors agreed, my spectacularly speedy recovery was due in large part to my preparation!

Here’s the takeaway and business lesson: And, this is also why I named this first of two episodes the “Branding and Spaghetti Toss” – in all we do you must prepare. Otherwise, what are we doing? Just tossing the spaghetti against the wall to see if it sticks! I’ve been guilty of this toss! Have a marketing strategy, and prepare. No matter how much you pay for those Google adword campaigns, or how much time you put into your LinkedIn outreach and referral partner nurturing, it’s no good if you don’t prepare by thinking through a well-positioned, and optimal plan that mirrors your practice and goals! It’s the end of the year – just do it!

I know and remember all too well the hectic pace of an attorney’s life! But taking the time out to map, plan and prepare for your messaging and outreach is key. This in turn is all based and defined on one premise: YOU. Prepare your marketing plan for 2019 by figuring out a few simple (but not always easy) aspects of who you are, how you offer your services, and most importantly, who/what/where/how of your specific and narrowly defined client audience. This is all about branding you, your back story, your services and your voice to resonate with your particular audience! Otherwise, you are tossing that spaghetti against the wall and usually it’s not going to stick.

So, I leave you this week with a renewed appreciation for preparation and hope I’ve somehow inspired you to prepare for any endeavor in your life big, small, personal or business related. The spaghetti toss? Leave that to others who are under the misconception that they have no time. This year, make time! And, if you need help making the most of your time to prepare a marketing strategy or implementing a system that resonates with your specific audience, reach out to me on LinkedIn. I’m here to help you streamline your business in any way I can.

Now, I’m off to prepare a plan for where our newly retrieved Christmas tree should be placed and celebrated! Speak next week on balance and the spaghetti toss avoidance!

And, if you’d rather listen to this while on your walk or commute, head over to my podcast The Social Lawyer Show on iTunes or click on the play button below!