Nice Things
Everyone who blogs has had the “conversation.”
You know, the one that begins with your spouse, friend, colleague or boss asking the question, “So what is a blog, anyway?” and ends with you trying to explain how cool the whole blog thing is and why you spend so much time writing yours and reading others’.
I’ve had the “conversation” dozens of times and have always had a hard time explaining why I’ve spent literally hundreds of hours this past year reading blogs and writing my own. As a lawyer accustomed to valuing my time at almost $200 per hour, there is a very real temptation to measure my ROB (Return On Blogging) against the money I could have made if I were doing client work each hour I instead spent blogging (I am sure my partner has run the same calculation in his head a time or two).
What it has come down to is this: I blog for opportunity. In the past year, I have met more interesting people, been exposed to more amazing ideas, and been involved in more cool projects than in the rest of my (11 year) legal career. This blog has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Blawgs, and I was named the Best New Legal Blogger. I have had more than forty incredible people contribute to my Five by Five series, and met even more cool folks on my Think Tank Tuesday conference call. I was even nominated (by myself, but still…) as one of America’s Top 20 Legal Thinkers. I just finished a chapter on rainmaking for an ABA publication due out in May, and am starting a significant essay (that may become a book) tentatively titled, “Building the Service-Centered Firm.” And I can’t even describe how proud and excited I am about LexThink! Chicago.
What has made this year even more special for me is the really nice things people have said about me and this blog. At the suggestion of my friend Steve Nipper, I started collecting them (for myself, initially) and will share some of my favorites with you. Remember, I’m just a small-town lawyer in Southern Illinois. If I can do this, anyone can!
“What is your favorite blog? I really like Homann's the [non]billable hour blog. If anyone is going to write something I print out and think about...it is going to be Matt. At some point in the future I am going to convert my blogroll into a separate post...with reviews of all of my favorite blogs.” Steve Nipper
“I have to say that my favorite blog of all is the[non]billable hour by Matt Homann. The topics are beyond interesting, they are extremely useful. I left my previous law firm with a deep desire to do things differently and much better than I had seen them done before. From Matt’s blog, I have picked up many little tips and tricks that I have incorporated into my business. Most importantly, I get some validation that I have been thinking the right way all along.” Russ Krajek
“Matthew is an affable guy, as evidenced by his smart, intelligent, and informative blog at the [non] billable hour. One reason I asked Matthew to contribute to this on-going series of interviews is because he's actively involved in changing the face of law. What I mean to say is that he is reaching out to people, connecting with his clients and prospects, in ways that we might not associate with lawyers. This interview gives valuable insight into not only how Matthew, as a lawyer, thinks, but also how far removed the law profession is from all those lawyers jokes we hear every day. (I didn't edit anything, Matt. Your answers were too good to tinker with...much thanks!)” Yvonne DiVita
“If I had to hire a lawyer, I'd hire someone like Matthew Homann. His blog gives me the sense he's well-read (not just because he reads my blog :) ), passionate about his work, careful with his client relationships, professional, and most of all human. I like this guy, not just because he has a blog, but because he has a voice that appeals to me. I could never get that from a Yellow Pages ad.” John Porcaro
“By the way: I read Matt's site The Non-Billable Hour regularly. It's nothing short of fantastic. While Matt's work world is one of law and law firms, his ideas, observations and analysis are applicable to most business development or marketing situations. He also conceives and implements unique feature items (like the Five by Five) and content formats. It's catchy, sticky stuff that's way ahead of the pack.” Skip Lineberg
“A few people have asked me which blogs I read. At some point I will probably include a proper list on my page. For now, I want to point out the best law firm-related blog I have found: the [non]billable hour. Matthew Homann, attorney and mediator, has just set up a small law office. Most of his postings regard marketing the law firm and are commentary on ideas posted in a number of blogs he monitors. Some great, fresh ideas. Really worth a read if you work in a law firm” Connie Crosby
“Matt's a lawyer. Matt's a blogger. Matt's a guy who thinks outside the room, not just the box. And he does it in a way that remains practical, pragmatic, useful. He contacted me a few months ago and asked A. If I'd like to participate with a group of bloggers called THINK TANK TUESDAY (list of members is on the left of this blog). B. Would we like to sponsor the conference calls. I said yes to both. Lucky for me. Matt's oneof the few people who qualify as a thought-leader, as a leader and as a genuinely decent fellow. I love the way he's tweaking the nose in a constructive manner of the legal establishment challenging them to rethink their relationship with their clients, their practice, their billing, how to run their practice. And his ideas on marketing, entrepreneurship and just his energy and drive are inspiring.” Zane Safrit
Thank You!
Nice Things (oops)
I posted a half-finished post called "nice things" yesterday. I used Blogjet's feature "post as draft" but it posted anyway. I'll finish up the real edited post today and have it up later this afternoon. Sorry.
Matt
My Christmas List
Just a few of the things on my Christmas list. I know it is late, but I won’t hold it against you if the gift arrives after the holidays.
A website designed by 37 Signals. These guys (and gals) are masters at making really functional websites look simple and elegant. Take a look at their 37Better Project, with redesigns of popular sites Google, FedEx, and PayPal. These guys are also behind the Basecamp project management tool (that I love).
A blog designed by Kevin at LexBlog.
A subscription to Worthwhile Magazine. I love the blog, and can’t find the magazine at my local bookstore.
A Tour Edge Exotics fairway wood. I’m on my fourth driver by this company and love their products, warranty, and customer service. Great prices on unbelievable clubs. Oh, and thanks for asking: the three wood with the stiff Fujikura shaft, please.
A smaller Advertising Block from Law.com. Visit my site. Enough said.
A Mirra Personal Server for home and office.
A clean desk.
A new laptop bag and backpack.
Time to respond to my comments.
Registration for a few cool trainings and conferences.
Your vote.
Oh, and one more thing: The ability to meet and thank every single reader of this blog.
I have dedicated (a growing) part of my professional and personal life to improving law practice and making this gig the one we all thought we were signing up for when we decided to go to law school. I am gratified beyond words at the response I’ve gotten from all of you. Blogging isn’t about conversations, it is not about ROI, it is about opportunity. I’ve learned more, met more fascinating people, and gained more from the fellowship of bloggers and blog readers than I ever thought possible. Thank you so much.
Happy Holidays!
Drum Roll Please!
I've done it -- I've found someone silly enough to pay me for doing what I was previously doing for free. As of today, I have become an "affiliate" of the Law.com Blog Network. The [non]billable hour is joined by The Volokh Conspiracy, May It Please The Court, I/P Updates, MyShingle.com, Jottings by an Employer's Lawyer, and Crime and Federalism (click here for a link to all of our bios). I'm honored to be in such fine company and hope that my affiliation with the folks at Law.com profits everyone.
I have a lot more going on here too. In the next week, I'll be putting up a "user's guide" to this blog, and will rerun some of my favorite posts in a new "Best of the Blog" category.
On the Five by Five front, I've been getting the submissions for my Law Student Edition and can't wait to share the five ways each contributor would change legal education.
I also hope to have an announcement soon on the innovation conference conference for lawyers.
Finally, I'm rolling out a new project here called "Building the Perfect Firm," where I'll draw upon the hundreds of ideas I've compiled in this blog, along with substantive suggestions from non-lawyer experts in marketing, architecture, client service, psychology, business and innovation to put together a blueprint for how law could be practiced in a fulfilling (and hopefully profitable) way.
Well, that should keep me busy for the next few months. If you are new to reading this blog, welcome. If you are a long time patron of t[n]bh, thank you. And if you are reading this post in your aggregator, click through to my site from time to time to look at the pretty ad. Grace needs a new pair of shoes.
I'm Back, and Think Tank Tuesdays
Sorry for the posting blackout. A family emergency (resolved) and a crush of new business has kept me out of the blogging loop for nearly two weeks. Think Tank Tuesday will be rescheduled from today (September 14) and the regular blogging will resume with several longer posts I've been working on during my hiatus. I also have some really big personal and professional developments I'll share soon.
Vacation Time
Sorry for the lack of updates. I'm taking a little personal time, but will be back on Friday.
Depressing News For Dads.
Tyler Cowen of Marginal Revolution discusses a study that should be sobering news for us dads. From the study:
Children rate their fathers as among their least popular playmates because they are too competitive, according to research among more than 1,000 youngsters. They "played to win", lacked imagination or were simply at a loss as to how to play games, said the Children's Play Council, which commissioned the survey with the Children's Society.Children up to the age of 12 would rather play with their friends, their mother or their brothers and sisters. Only one in 16 chose their fathers as their ideal companion. Dads were rated slightly above grandparents (one in 33). One in 50 children said they would rather play on their own.
I hope my daughter won't feel that way. Good thing we lawyers aren't more competitive than the population at large....
Only Four Days Left ...
My birthday is coming up on Saturday, and compliments of Angie McKaig, I found this site titled, "Things Other People Accomplished When They Were Your Age." I turn 36, here's my competition:
Barthelemy Thimmonier developed the world's first practical sewing machine.Walter Hunt devised a modern sewing machine.
Benjamin Franklin invented the Franklin stove.
Robert Jarvik invented a pneumatically powered heart .
German chemist Friedrich August Kekule discovered the ring structure of the benzene molecule in a dream.
English navigator George Vancouver explored Vancouver island.
Four days left, better get to work.
The Cycle
I feel like I've just hit for the cycle, won the trifecta, or (insert your sports metaphor here): horrible cold, internet down, computer network on the fritz, and three major projects to get through the door by Thursday. We think we've narrowed down the computer issues to a combination of lightning strike/power surge from this weekend and Norton Anti-virus gumming up the works. Light blogging to follow for a few days while we get caught up -- I'm writing this from home now -- but more big news on the next three Five by Fives (or is that Fives by Five) when I return.
One little rant first, today I went to McDonald's (I know it's bad for me, but I was in a hurry) and ordered some Chicken McNuggets. I asked for an extra sauce packet like I always have, and the helpful cashier told me that the McDonald's is under new ownership and he would have to charge me extra for it. Now, I'm not a "regular" there, but I eat at this McDonald's about once every two weeks. What a short-sighted business decision. I'm not going back.
If you are a lawyer, do you charge "extra" for copies, postage, or other things? When you clients get your bill for hundreds (or thousands) of dollars and see a $3.70 charge for postage for 10 letters, or $15.00 for copies, I bet they feel a lot like I did today.
"Smart Men Online" Interview
Yvonne Divita, a participant in my first Five by Five asked me to return the favor. Yvonne interviewed me for her "Smart Men Online" feature that debuts today. Yvonne asked me some questions about technology, blogging, and the practice of law. I'm flattered she asked me and was happy to participate. Thanks, Yvonne!
Memorial Day Memory
My grandfather (age 95) came down this weekend for my family's barbeque. He hasn't talked about his military service much, but he and I spent the afternoon talking about his time as a Navy Commander in World War Two. He enlisted in the Navy the Monday after Pearl Harbor when a Navy recruiter showed up at his civilian flight school graduation. He was an agriculture teacher raising four young children (along with his two youngest sisters) with my grandmother in Highland, Illinois. I asked him why he enlisted in the Navy, when he could have easily gotten a deferrment (he was in his early 30's), and he said:
When I was nine, my father took me to a parade for returning World War One soldiers. He told me that every twenty years or so, the whole world went a bit crazy and went to war. I promised my father then that I'd be ready for the next one."
I don't know how many nine year olds feel the same way today, but I'm damn glad men like my grandfather did then.
Welcome to Samuel Lamere Schaeffer
A belated congratulations go out to Evan at Notes from the (Legal) Underground and his lovely wife Andrea for the new addition to their family, Samuel Lamere Schaeffer. A brand new copy of The Happiest Baby on the Block is on its way from Amazon. A book that saved my wife and I countless hours of sleep with our daughter Grace.
The Silver Lake Group, Ltd.
Well, the Silver Lake Group, Ltd. is open for business. My partner is Jeffrey Mollet, a lawyer with expertise in agribusiness, real estate, and banking law (I'll post his biography here in another post). Jeff shares my passion for innovation and we both recognize how important it is to get our new venture off on the right foot. To that end, I'm shutting down my legal practice for the next month to concentrate on everything we need to do to start fresh, and most importantly, start right.
To be sure, I'll still be here for client calls and meetings, and the occasional motion or hearing, but I have no trials scheduled and will be taking on no urgent matters this month. On June 1, we will be meeting with every client and sharing with them our vision for our practice -- and more importantly, learning from them how we can better serve their interests. Some things on my agenda for the next four weeks:
1. Complete our Satisfaction Guarantee.
2. Prepare our announcements and finish our marketing materials.
3. Settle on our slogan/tagline. Right now, "Innovative Lawyers - Guaranteed Service - Uncommon Value" is the one we like best.
4. Revise our Mission Statement and draft our Client Care Agreement.
5. Interview for our Client Concierge Position.
6. Talk to the Placement Offices at St. Louis University, Washington University, and Southern Illinois University Law Schools about a first or second year student for some research projects.
7. Work on the SilverLakeLaw.com website.
8. Finish our migration from Word (him) and WordPerfect (me) to OpenOffice.
9. Introduce Jeff to blogging. He's going to be starting a Farm Law/Agribusiness Blog soon as a service to his existing clients. We will use weblogs as an alternative to newsletters for clients in specific industries.
10. Keep blogging (though a bit sporadically).
I've never had more to do and been more excited about doing it. Look for updates here and thanks for your support.
Grace Homann
I don't do a lot of writing about my personal life on this weblog. The big reason is that I can't imagine people wanting to read it. However, I absolutely couldn't resist posting this recent picture of my daughter, Grace. She is just over sixteen months old (when do you stop using months and start using years, by the way?) and is an absolute ball to have around. I have the luxury of getting her from daycare around 4:00 p.m. and spending around two hours of uninterrupted "daddy time" with her each day until mommy gets home. She is at the stage now when she reaches for your hand and pulls you to whatever she wants to do. Last night, she took my hand, led me into her playroom, grabbed a book, and "forced" me to sit down so she could sit in my lap while I read it to her. Absolutely an incredible experience that I hope I don't forget as she grows up.
On a related note, Kevin Kelly, on his Cool Tools weblog suggests a book titled The Optimistic Child : Proven Program to Safeguard Children from Depression & Build Lifelong Resistance. Check out the quotes from the book on Kevin's site and pick it up. I'm going to.
Go Illini!
I've been able to catch up on my blogging quite a bit today. Now is time to watch my Fighting Illini begin their trip to the final four. See everyone next week!
My reason for living.
In a comment to my recent post, Evan at Notes from the (Legal) Underground wanted a picture of my daughter. Well this one is from several months ago. I'll upload a few more to a Typepad photo album soon.
The Legal Stuff
While I work on a fancy-schmancy disclaimer, I hope this will work for now.
Though I am a lawyer, I am not your lawyer. I do not give legal advice on this weblog and if you think I'm talking directly to you and advising you on an important legal issue in your life, you have larger problems and should seek counseling. I'm probably not licensed in your state anyway.
I write for myself, I write for fun, and I maintain this weblog so I can have a place to collect all the great ideas and thoughts I have that would otherwise disappear everynight when I finally get to sleep. All opinions are my own, but many of the ideas I share come from others. I do the very best I can to give those brilliant people attribution, but if I fail once or twice, I assure you it is not intentional.
I hope you get great ideas from this weblog -- I really do. Nothing would make me happier than knowing that what I write will help other professioinals serve their clients. Leave a comment if you have something interesting to share. If you want to contact me directly, please do so. I love to talk to people who like what I have to say. If you disagree with me, just e-mail and I may or may not get back to you. My e-mail link and telephone number are in my bio, here.
Thanks for coming. I'll leave the light on for you.