The question is, do you love working “on” your business or “in” your business? Lawyers work in the business: they have a job working for clients. A law firm owner works on the business and deals with management, marketing, technology, and finance issues. Depending on the size of the business, owners may also work in the business as well.

How do you define yourself? Lawyer or owner?

They’re both good things to be. There is no more honor in one role or the other. You’ve got to decide what you’re doing and how you choose to look at your role.

If you’re the lawyer working in your business, then you need to accept certain limitations. You’re not likely to grow quickly. You’re not likely to be particularly well managed. Your technology may be an afterthought, and you may struggle to keep up. That’s okay, because you’ll be on the path to being an exceptional attorney.

If you’re working on the business, you may never become an extraordinary lawyer. You may learn to become a great manager and marketer. You’ll likely know more about technology and finance than most of your peers. Your business will grow and improve. You might miss being a lawyer because as your business grows, you’ll have less and less time to practice law.

What’s your vision of yourself?

You’ve got to decide and become stronger and stronger within that vision.

The least happy lawyers are the lawyers who can’t decide whether it’s “in” or “on.” Those lawyers are perpetually unhappy with the status of their practices. They’re unhappy when they don’t get the big cases, and they’re unhappy when they don’t grow the business. They fail to focus. They won’t pick a role, and they never achieve their dream.

Are you a lawyer or a law firm owner?