Self-Efficacy Comes Through Determination, Focus, and Hard Work

Do you know what self-efficacy is?

Unless you have a psychology book on hand, then you probably don't.

Famous psychologist Albert Bandura hypothesized that self-efficacy is “the belief in one’s capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations." In other words, self-efficacy is a person’s belief in his or her ability to succeed in a particular situation.

Also read: Building Grit

People with high self-efficacy see difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered. They bounce back from failure with resilience and a healthy perspective.

If you believe you're low on self-efficacy, don't worry. This is not your lot in life - at least if you don't want it to be. Self-efficacy is one of those qualities that are earned, coming by determination, focus and hard work.

Here are four ways self-efficacy can be enhanced in your life.

1. Look to role models.

It's important to have role models in your day-to-day life who demonstrate what you need to do to accomplish your goals. Think about athletes. Many attest to the power of training in the presence of other athletes who have accomplished the same goals.

2. Surround yourself with people who believe in you.

Have a cheerleader in your life who believes in you, and who has earned your trust. Cheerleaders can increase your belief in your own skills and take risks that you might not otherwise take.

Don't surround yourself with people who simply tell you what you want to hear. Those are the WRONG cheerleaders.

3. Manage stress.

Don't allow bad moods, stress, and physical pain to keep you from doing your best. When we learn to manage stress and physical symptoms, we persevere and develop a more optimistic mind-set.

4. Focus on the "wins."

Allow "wins" - all of those obstacles that you conquered - to define who you are. Break goals into small pieces and master the action steps along the way. Savor every success - great and small.

Remember - There is a prize for anyone who wants to work for it. 

 Seeing is Believing - Especially When it's Written Down on Paper

Remember Jim Carrey's story?

When Jim Carrey was a wanna-be actor, before he ever made a movie, he drove up to Mulholland Drive one evening, parked on a bluff overlooking Hollywood and took his checkbook out.

He wrote a check out to “Jim Carrey” for $25 million and dated the check 3 years into the future.  At the bottom of the check, he wrote “For acting services rendered.”

Why?

Because Jim Carrey VISUALIZED HIS SUCCESS - and wrote it down on paper.

Also read: How Successful People Achieve their Goals

Written goals produce better results than goals that aren't written down. It's as simple as that. Writing goals in a place where you can easily see them has the effect of reminding you of your commitment to yourself - and it also allows other people to add their support to help you accomplish those goals.

Journaling researcher Laura King hypothesized that the simple process of writing down a goal seems to stimulate a more hopeful mindset, which in turn stimulates more creative and proactive ways of achieving those goals.

Also read: Nail Your Rainmaking Goals

I encourage you to journal your goals and be reminded of them daily. There are several ways to do this. You can make your goals into a screensaver on your computer, jot them down on post-it notes, e-mail them to yourself - and to friends and family members.

Write it down - and it will happen.

Grit can Help You Achieve Your Goals and Overcome Obstacles.

Grit by definition means, "firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck."

Now take a good look at yourself. Is grit a quality you possess?

You'd know if you had it. Grit comes from within. It helps us accomplish our goals and achieve long-held ambitions. It gives us persistence and perseverance. Grit also lifts us up when we suffer setbacks.

Yes, grit keeps our wheels in motion. Without it, some people just wouldn't get out of bed in the morning.

Also read: Adopt a Resilient Mindset

If your grit has lost its gusto, or is simply non-existent, here are some great grit-building exercises from the top researchers in the field.

1. Don't give up.

It's tempting to quit when you're tired or discouraged, but when you fail to follow through, you destroy all chances of becoming the achiever you want to be.

2. Surround yourself with gritty people.

Find a culture or group of people who demand the best of themselves - and of you, too. Even a bootcamp style exercise program will give you a taste of grit.

3. Read biographies.

Book stores, libraries, newspapers - they are all filled with stories about people who never took no for an answer. Walt Disney, for instance, went bankrupt several times before he succeeded with his lovable Mickey Mouse character.

4. Be passionate.

In order to have grit, you have to be passionate about what you do and the goals you want to accomplish. Having that passion will keep you moving forward, even in hard times.

5. Learn from mistakes, criticism.

Gritty people seek out and learn from criticism and failure. They know how to handle setbacks and bounce back from them. Grit, in a sense, makes you resilient.

Also read: High Profile Leaders and Ways they Stay Productive

Think of grit as being a shield; a shield against failure, and all things that can bring you down. If haven't found your grit yet, I urge you to dig deep to find it and build it up. Your life's dreams depend on it.

5 Ways to Meet (and Exceed) High Expectations

No matter how hard you work at it, the challenge of managing expectations can be overwhelming. Falter just a little, and you could lose a client (and his or her referrals) forever. Sometimes there are no second chances, so meeting those great expectations from clients is crucial for the growth of your practice - and your bottom line.

Also read: How to Negotiate with Hardline Buyers

Managing expectations comes in many forms - from picking the right clients, to handling their matters. While you can't always be successful (no one is!), the client must feel like you gave him or her your all.

Here are five ways to do just that:

1. Under promise, over deliver.

When some lawyers are trying to woo a new client, they'll say just about anything to seal the deal. When the pitch is an over-sell, the lawyer may not deliver. It's best to hedge on what you can deliver; under promise so to speak. In the end, you'll hear more of "better than I had hoped for" rather than "that was a disappointment."

2. Weed out the bad clients.

Part of managing client expectations is to rid yourself of the client who will never be satisfied. These are the types of clients who eat up so much time and energy that letting them go will actually open your practice to greater profitability.

Also read: How to Fire a Client

3. Bill appropriately.

Don't nickel and dime your client. Don't bill him or her for a few copies, a phone call, or parking receipts. In other words, don't allow a client to put a magnifying glass to the bill. Instead, provide enough detail, in a timely fashion, that makes the client think "that was worth it."

4. Pick up the phone.

You know you have the client's matter under control... but he or she doesn't know this. Don't assume you're on the same page with the client. And don't make the client feel in the dark! Pick up the phone and touch base. Let your client know the status of their case, even if there isn't much new since the last time you talked. Reassure him or her that you'll call immediately if things change.

Also read: Why Face Time Matters

5. Staffing is key.

Make sure your client knows who is working on what and when. Staffing is also tied to communication and cost— so be sure the client has a clear understanding of the who and what in regard to getting the job done.

Remember,  if the client feels like you gave him/her the best shot of winning, it will lead to greater opportunities.

Leverage Technology to Carve Out More Time in Your Day

When you're busy, you have no time for redundancy. Repetitive tasks are the LAST things you want to deal with when you have a lot on your plate.

But imagine being able to eliminate those tasks; literally cutting them out of your routine to allow for more productivity in other areas.

Here are five tools to help you do just that.

1. ActiveInbox

This is a helpful tool if you're a gmail or Google Apps user. If most of your to-dos exist within your email, then ActiveInbox allows you to categorize those tasks: Action Items, Waiting On, Someday Tasks.

Other organization features - from basic to super advanced - then become layered within your gmail account. ActiveInbox is also the simplest way to add a personal to-do, like to pick up groceries, is to send an email to yourself!

2. Swype

Need to send a quick email through your smartphone? No more fumbling on those minuscule keypads. Swype bills itself as a record-breaking solution to typing. Instead of touching each letter on your phone to type, just drag your finger from letter to letter. It's known to let users type around 40 words per minute on their mobile phones.

Some say that once you "swype"... you'll never type again.

3. Tungle.me

Think of all of the time that is wasted trying to schedule a group meeting or conference call. With Tungle.me, everyone can easily see your availability (or unavailability) and select options for the time and duration of each meeting. It also incorporates e-calendars from Google, Outlook, iCal, and many others to make scheduling meetings much more efficient and streamlined.

4. Text n' Drive

Stay productive while driving with Text ‘n Drive. Having incoming texts from clients, children, or anyone audibly read to you. This allows you to keep your eyes on the road and help eliminate the dangers of texting and driving.

5. Shoeboxed

Shoeboxed is a receipt tracker and reader.

Just snap a picture of any receipt and the app extracts the data and stores it into an online searchable archive within 1 business day. Your receipt data is securely stored in Shoeboxed.com's Online Document Filing & Management system, available to you whenever you want. You get 5 receipt processing credits each month - for FREE! Pricing varies.

What are your tricks for staying productive? Share what you do with our readers!

Do You Appear to Be Lying - Even When You're Telling the Truth?

Making small talk or speaking in front of a large crowd can be rather tricky. Every move you make - intentional or not - is SCRUTINIZED!

And, that means your listeners may mistake you for a liar - even when you're not!

Leil Lowdes, author of How to Talk to Anyone, suggests that this type of problem arises when we're feeling insecure or intimidated. Or, the problem may stem from the environment.

Here's how Lowdes explains it.

"A woman talking about her company's track record to an important client could rub her neck. A businessman who doesn't feel nervous at all could loosen his collar because the  room is hot.

...these fidgety movements give the listeners the sense that something just isn't right or a gut feeling that the speaker is lying."

These are NOT scenarios you want to find yourself in. Alert yourself to this hazard by recognizing signs that send the wrong message.

For instance.

• Don't blink repeatedly or shift your eyes. Fix your gaze on the listener(s).
• Don't put your hand on your face or rub your nose - even if you have an itch.
• Don't let them see you sweat by mopping your brow or forehead.
• Don't loosen your collar - even if it's hot.
• Don't shield your eyes from the sun.

FIDGETING UNDERMINES CREDIBILITY!

The next time you're speaking, try to limit extraneous movement.

Ignore that itch, tickle, or tinge - and make your communication count!

Build Trust and Your Brand by Interacting on a Personal Level

When it comes to marketing and advertising your services, authenticity is critical.

Stale or robotic-like pitches will be ignored. People just aren't receptive to them. Instead, keep humanity in mind.

Think about it. When people talk to each other through social networks, they do so rather candidly. They are themselves. Their interactions are human - with real emotions and experiences.

Now, apply this level of communication to the marketing medium. Your firm must keep your prospects' expectations in mind when that sales pitch is made... when that marketing newsletter goes out... when that ad is designed... when that presentation is produced.

Be human in your interactions on every level. Anything less and your prospect might consider your attempt at conversation nothing more than a cheap ploy, or just plain bland.

Consider what your firm is really like. How can you convert your mission statement into actual conversations? You need to let the world know about your firm's personality while showing that you truly care about your clients and are willing to put the time in to making a connection with them.

Here are some action items to help you get started:

1. Write down five things you could say that would seem inauthentic or that sound like marketing speak to a client. Then write five examples of how you could say the same message in a more meaningful way.

2. Create a plan for how to represent yourself authentically. Consider how you can make communication more authentic across all channels.

3. Get on the social networks and join conversations! This is perhaps the best way to show prospects that you are human.

Remember: Authenticity breeds trust.

Helpful Tips for an Effective PowerPoint Show

You have a big presentation coming up, or you want to win a prospect over with a killer proposal, and you're afraid your PowerPoint show is going to tank.

What to do?

Sharpen your PowerPoint skills by learning how to perfect your presentations - start to finish.

Stick to a Story

First, think of your presentation as a story. The beginning of your show should always present a problem, so ask yourself, "what are we going to solve today?" The middle of the presentation should present your key findings, always tying back to the central issue you want to solve. At the end, of course, your audience should feel like they have learned something.

Keep it Simple

Sometimes we get so caught up in putting our ideas on the screen that we tend to over-complicate the presentation. Flashy images, quick transitions, too much text all lead to confusion and audience tune-out. Instead, try to keep each slide free of clutter. If you're using bullet points, never exceed one line of text per bullet.

Keep it Short

E-mail Newsletters Can Help You Build Client Relationships

As marketing tools go, email is still a powerful way to get the word out about your firm and connect with clients. Think about it - how many times a day do you look at your inbox? Sure you may not open every email, but you probably see every subject line.

And if you're still not convinced, consider companies like Groupon that have made huge profits on the strength of their email newsletter campaigns.

So, how can you be successful at email marketing? Here are a few unofficial rules to propel your next email newsletter.

1. Make the subject line grab their attention.

Subscribers will not open your email unless it is attention-grabbing and valuable. Choose a specific phrase that highlights the most important information in the newsletter. Steer clear of subject lines that read "March Newsletter." Boring!

2. Don't send too often.

This is tricky. Send too many emails and you could get labeled a spammer. Send too few emails, and your campaign will be a big waste of time.

For most law firms, sending newsletters once or twice a month is best.

3. Design is important.

Your email newsletter should be easy on the eyes. Be sure to include enough white space so each element of your newsletter is easy to find. Another design tip: If you include images in your newsletter, bear in mind that many people read email with graphics turned off. If your email consists of large graphics, readers will see blank space. Make sure there's a mix of text and images.

4. Deliver value.

Though the ultimate goal of an email newsletter is to boost business, be careful not to bombard your subscribers with a series of pitches. The best newsletters provide valuable information that benefits readers.

5. Don't forget your blog and social networks!

A newsletter is a great way to drive traffic to your blog and your social media content. Publish excerpts of your blog posts, with links to the full content. Some email marketing services, including Constant Contact, offer tools that let subscribers share the newsletter with their Facebook and Twitter followers.

Once you hit send, don't forget to follow up with your marketing service about metrics. Open rates and clicks are the primary metrics used to determine a newsletter's effectiveness. The open rate, the percentage of recipients who view the body of an e-mail, primarily gauges the quality of the subject line. The links clicked within the body of the e-mail are a direct indicator of what content subscribers find most compelling. Target numbers vary, but as a general rule of thumb a 12-to-15% open rate is about average.

We live in a tech-crazed, crash-strapped world.

We need technology to increase productivity, cut costs, and to make our lives easier.

We also need to get the most for our buck!

IT consultant Ben Schorr, author of Free and Low Cost Technology Tips for Solos, offers these tips for budget-conscious professionals.

1. Podcasts.

Podcasts are like recorded radio shows.

You can download them for FREE to your MP3 player or to your computer and listen whenever you like.

There are podcasts on just about every subject, including politics, government, law practice management, technology, science. They can be great sources of information, handy to listen to at the gym, on your morning commute, or even while working at your desk.

2. Get automated with AutoHotKey.

Are you sick of navigating through the computer's start menu to find your favorite program?

Are you tried of typing a certain phrase or sentence over and over?

AutoHotKey can automate all of this for you. It's FREE... and it works across multiple programs.

3. Make the most of your mouse.

Did you know that you can program the wheel and side buttons on your mouse for other commands, like delete and cut/copy?

In many cases, the buttons can actually be programmed to do different things in different programs!

If you don’t have a mouse with these capabilities, there are a number of them readily available from popular computer retailers. Check out Microsoft's Intellimouse and the Logitech M500.

4.  Get FREE safe software.

Before you shell out big bucks on anitvirus and antispyware software, take a look at Microsoft Security Essentials.

It's FREE for home users and home-based small businesses.

5. Knowledge is power.

If you have a little extra time in your day, dig into the manuals (or online forums) for the software products you use in your practice. One good Outlook, Word, Excel, Time Matters, or TABS3 trick that you didn’t know before could improve the way you practice and make you a little more profitable.

When it comes to technology don't become a creature of habit!

Learning just a few new tricks may save you a lot of time, money and headaches down the road.