During a recent consultation, a client asked how I was handling all of the COVID-19 crisis issues.  My response was “I’m doing great but as I say it, I realize that I don’t want to come across as being insensitive or insincere. I fully realize the tremendous financial pressures and health care concerns that our country is facing.  However, I’m choosing to be a realistic optimist.”

As we talked further and reviewed different strategies, the client shared that he loved my optimistic outlook and practical guidance.  After our consultation, he said that he felt “pumped up and ready to work even harder to be productive” and get his firm through the situation that we all face. His comments made me realize, once again, that we’re all different — so we can learn from each other in how to best cope in adverse circumstances.

Key Steps 

I’ve been encouraged to share a few thoughts on “coping with adversity,” so here are some concepts that you might find valuable:

  • An attitude of gratitude:  I try to have an “attitude of gratitude,” being thankful for all the good things that we have every day.  Tough times can actually be a positive in that respect, causing a person to reflect on the many blessings that we do enjoy.
  • Focus on being productive.  On a daily basis, I try to be highly productive. You may do this all the time and so now isn’t really that much different – but the key difference is maintaining this approach when billable work isn’t always there.  Consider strategic planning involving marketing, financing, HR issues, and facilities management — especially those items that you typically can’t find time to address.
  • Be positive. It doesn’t help to dwell on the negativity of everything around us. Times are tough right now and may be for a while.  But strong leadership in your firm is needed: your partners and staff need a leader who will choose to look for the positives in the situation and work hard toward building your firm’s future.
  • Develop realistic strategies.  We shouldn’t have our head in the sand and avoid the reality of life.  Some firms are taking the approach of siting on the sidelines until the coast-is-clear, potentially waiting out the crisis for months.  Those firms will likely drop further behind, possibly shrink and maybe even dissolve.  We saw this in the last recession, in which to the contrary, those who developed and implemented sound marketing strategies not only endured but eventually prospered.
  • Do an act of kindness every day.  Reaching out beyond yourself to assist others in need is an amazing remedy if you’re feeling down.  It can truly change your outlook and make your day, and someone else’s, much brighter.

Questions? We are here to support you and keep your firm running.  Feel free to contact The Specialists in Law Firm Marketing  to help your firm.