#286: From 65 to 28-Hour Workweeks: Strategies for Scaling Back with Lauren Davis

Have you ever felt like you're riding the line between feeling good and feeling down, but not quite tipping over into full-blown depression? As a high-achieving law firm owner, it's easy to get caught up in the drive to succeed and push yourself to the limit, often at the cost of your own well-being.   In this episode, Melissa sits down with her therapist, Jenny Jacobsen, to discuss the importance of mental health for law firm owners. Jenny is a Certified EMDR therapist with 14 years of experience in clinical practice. They dive into the concept of curiosity as the opposite of depression and how getting curious about your own feelings and experiences can lead to greater self-compassion and connection.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/289

Do you ever feel like you intellectually understand a lesson, but haven't truly learned or implemented it? In this episode, Melissa shares eight hard-won lessons from law firm owners that have been game-changers for their businesses. These are not just quippy truths, but real experiences that have forever changed the way these owners operate.   Join Melissa this week to hear the top eight lessons learned by her Mastery Group members, and consider how you can start practicing them in your own firm. Whether it's implementing a system for regular check-ins with your team, tracking conversion rates, or learning to trust others with responsibility, there is at least one takeaway that can help you create better results for yourself and your firm.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/288

Do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions at work, never quite making progress despite working long hours? Do you struggle to find a sense of calm and control over your time and results?    In this episode, Melissa sits down with Drew Hickey, a Mastery Group member and Monday Map Power Hour facilitator who has experienced a profound shift in her mindset and productivity through implementing the Monday Map process.    Tune in this week as Melissa and Drew dive deep into the power of the Monday Map process for creating intentional plans and honoring them throughout the week.    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/287

As a law firm owner, it's easy to fall into the trap of working long hours and neglecting other important areas of your life. And if, like so many other lawyers, you’re looking for a way to achieve better work-life balance, you’re in luck.   This week, Melissa is joined by Lauren Davis, a medical malpractice and personal injury attorney based in Virginia. Lauren shares her journey from working 45-65 hour weeks at a midsize firm to starting her own practice and intentionally scaling back her hours.    Listen in to hear Lauren’s practical tips and insights on how to track your hours, create an ideal workweek template, and delegate tasks to free up more time for the things that matter most.    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/286

Feeling exhausted as the holidays approach? You’re not alone. While some level of exhaustion is normal, different types of exhaustion require different remedies.   Tune in to discover the difference between harmful and beneficial exhaustion, learn practical tips for restoring the nervous system and cognitive function, and understand the importance of having a strong support team.    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/285

Are you ready to make 2025 your best year yet as a law firm owner?   In the midst of holiday celebrations and all the things that come with this exciting time of the year, the key to success lies in being proactive and setting yourself up for a strong start. And in this episode, Melissa shares two crucial areas to focus on now that will pay dividends in the new year and beyond.   Listen in this week to learn Melissa’s tips for teeing yourself up for success in 2025. You’ll hear how surrounding yourself with the right people can provide energy, inspiration, and guidance you need to thrive, why data is an essential piece of the puzzle, and the key metrics every law firm owner should track to gain clarity and make informed decisions to drive your firm forward.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/284

If you ever find yourself doubting your team's ability to hit your firm's revenue goals, you’re not alone. Many law firm owners struggle with this, but the truth is, lowering your targets is not the answer.    Listen in this week to discover how to identify the real reasons your team may not be following processes and what you can do as a leader to address those underlying issues. Learn why accountability, training, and process validation are essential for enabling your team to perform at their best, and important questions to ask yourself about what’s really going on under the surface if you find yourself wanting to lower targets.    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/283

Last week, Melissa introduced you to the concept of the future vision you are creating for your law firm. In order for it to come to fruition, you must deeply believe in that vision as an owner, which requires you to take a close look at your mindset and assess whether or not it’s supporting you in achieving your goals.    Join Melissa this week to learn the mindset shifts required to break free from the perfectionism and doubt that can hold you back from achieving your goals. You'll learn how to quiet the voices of fear and doubt and instead focus on aligning your actions with the paradigm shift required to reach your goals.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/282

Do you ever feel like you're stuck in the day-to-day of your law firm, making decisions that don't align with the future you envision? Whether you want to be a $2 million firm, a $5 million firm, or something more, you must start thinking from your future and making choices that bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.     Discover the power of thinking from your future and learn practical strategies for aligning your daily decisions with your long-term vision. Melissa emphasizes the crucial role of data in creating a realistic roadmap to your desired future state, and shows you how to overcome the default thinking patterns and behaviors that are holding you back from achieving your goals.     Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/281

Have you ever experienced an organization grasping tightly onto you as a client at all costs, even if it wasn’t in your best interest to stay? Maybe you’ve done this with your own clients in the name of retention. You probably already know this doesn’t feel good to anyone, and it’s also not the healthiest way to run your business. At Velocity Work, Melissa takes a different approach.   Tune in this week to hear where Melissa stands on client retention and when it might be time to let a client fly on their own. You’ll learn the importance of recognizing how a step back could be a positive move in your client’s journey, examples of when sabbaticals in your professional relationships might be necessary, and Melissa’s top tips for approaching these partnerships with honesty, trust, and a focus on long-term growth.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/280