Why did the law student go to court wearing a shirt with no sleeves? Because he had the right to bare arms.

We've all heard this saying before: Keep it simple, stupid. Basically, this means to avoid unnecessary complexity. However, mastermind and conference culture have been emphasizing complexity for the last ten years as a marker of success. Sure, I can understand that. But, what happens when your business model is too complex for its foundation? You end up having a bunch of problems in the middle of the business that should be fixed at the foundational level. Two examples: 1. Staffing and human resources 2. Use of technology Staffing and Human Resources: Turnover happens at a significantly higher rate than before COVID. In order to have a stable foundation, your onboarding and infrastructure need to be simple. You want the mechanics of your business and institutional knowledge easy to pick up and digest. Keep your foundation simple so that the middle of the business isn't picking up the bottleneck. Use of Technology: Most firms have duplicative and/or sprawling tech stack because they layer features on top of each other from different platforms rather than taking the time to find clear alignment and simplicity in execution. Lots of time is wasted on duplicative, misaligned, or overly complex tech systems. Call to Action: I have a few resources for you. - Here at Level Up, we offer systems analysis. During our assessment, we review both tech stack and human resources to ensure your system is balanced and well-positioned. - If you need a more complex diagnostic on your automations, my friend and colleague Elisa Silverglade does this work. - If you're looking for a fractional Chief Technology Officer (CTO), my friend and colleague Jacob Baron does this kind of work.

"No white after Labor Day" is a gilded age rule that was designed to signify wealth and exclusivity. It's origins are arbitrary and outdated. Makes me think of how often we follow outdated (and yes, arbitrary) rules in business. In the last ten years, law firm mastermind and conference culture has been laser-focused on "growth and scaling." But what I'm seeing today is that the foundation of a business is much more important than whether or not it is positioned to scale. Because a weak foundation will sabotage growth and scaling over and over. And with the current labor market challenges and unwieldy tech booms, strong foundation is harder to come by. There is value today in scaling down, and ensuring that your ground-level is simple and can withstand turnover and unexpected setbacks. Think of it like a personal relationship with a loved one. Will the relationship grow properly if the foundation isn't healthy? Food for thought. And yes, you can wear white after Labor Day.

What a great session! Stuart Foster joined us for a really valuable conversation on “How AI is Changing the Way People Find Businesses.” He shared some great insights into how AI is changing the way people discover businesses and what that means for all of us as business owners and marketers. If you missed the session, or you want to go back through it, the recording is now available on YouTube. 🎥 Watch the recording below👇

Nobody likes nagging. Not your spouse, your kids, or your staff. Nagging doesn't accomplish anything except irritation and other people learning to drown out the sound of your voice. I see nagging in business. It occurs when a manager fails to communicate well and set a clear expectation. Instead, they communicate vaguely and nag when it's not done. Weak managers fear strong-boundary setting. And complain when their instructions aren't being followed. Strong managers understand that boundaries are a part of any business relationship, and aren't afraid to enforce expectations when needed. Nagging is equally ineffective coming from a spouse or a loved one. We all know that. This weekend and next week, try clear communication and reinforcement instead of nagging. Here's to Your Weekend! Best Regards, Brooke Birkey, Law Firm Trainer Level Up Law Firm Business Coaching Inside Out Revenue Solutions for Your Business 239-224-8741 | leveluplawfirmcoaching.com Client Testimonials Hire a Secret Shopper