I’ve been flattered when someone has decided that I’m someone they ought to meet in an effort to grow their business. They’ve called. I’ve invited them over and we’ve talked about the things I’ve done and the ideas I have. On occasion, they’ve flown across the country to meet and I’ve loved the attention. I hope they gained something from our time together.

I’ve done the same thing to others. I identified someone as a person from whom I’d like to learn something. I’ve called. They’ve invited me to come visit and I’ve never been disappointed with what I’ve learned. I’ve never had anyone turn me down.

Who should you be talking to? Who is a leader in our field that you’d like to meet? What about leaders in other industries that might have something to share?

I’d suggest that you look around and identify the people that you think might have valuable information to share. It might be a bar association leader, it might be a prominent trial lawyer, it might be a local business person that takes a leadership role in a charitable cause, or maybe a person that has started and grown a successful company. The possibilities are limitless.

Pick someone. Call them. Explain that you practice family law and you’re building a practice. Tell them that you’d like to meet them and learn more about how they’ve done what they’ve done. Offer to come by their office for a few minutes. Start with someone local. Don’t fly anywhere for this first effort.

Go at the designated time. Bring a pad and pen. Ask some general questions – “How’d you get started? What advice do you offer for someone who’s at the beginning of building their business? What accomplishment are you most proud of?” Ask for a tour. Ask about family and hobbies.

My guess is that the meeting will run much longer than planned and that you’ll learn more than you ever imagined.

Please try this once, no matter what stage of practice you’re in. Just do it and please report back here as to how it went. My guess is that it’ll go so well that you’ll become a regular visitor to lots of people you respect.

And that you’ll learn things you never knew you didn’t know.

And that good things will come that you never expected.