#323: Shaping Psych Evaluation Guidelines for Immigration Law with Dr. Andrew Rasmussen

Are you investing in the long game, or just chasing quick wins? Over the past 12 months, Melissa faced some of the biggest challenges and investments of her life—in business, health, and personal growth. As she reflected, she realized that all of the lessons tie back to one central theme: the difference between short-game and long-game investments. In this episode, she shares eight lessons that illustrate why thinking long-term changes everything.   Melissa breaks down how long-game investments create transformation that goes beyond temporary fixes. She explores why consistent, intentional effort compounds over time, how identity shifts are at the core of real change, and why the people you surround yourself with can make or break your long-term progress. These lessons are designed to help you approach your firm, your work, and your life with clarity, patience, and strategy.   Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/327   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

Are you creating your law firm's future intentionally? Every firm owner faces the challenge of turning vision into reality. The real work comes in bridging the gap between your goals and the daily actions that make them happen. Too often, firms get stuck in the chaos of day-to-day operations, leaving their bigger goals on the back burner.   In this episode, Melissa breaks down how Velocity Work’s Aim, Plan, Honor framework aligns with Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s proven approach to scaling. After working with hundreds of private practice owners, Melissa has learned what truly drives growth: clarity about your future, a deliberate plan to get there, and the discipline to follow through. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a concrete framework to transform your firm from a job you work into a business you lead.   Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/326   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

Most law firm owners think scaling means working harder, hiring more people, or pushing through the chaos—but why does growth still feel unsustainable? They're pouring energy into complex systems, tolerating mediocrity, and wondering why progress is so slow. The truth is, they're making the same three fundamental mistakes that quietly sabotage their ability to scale.   In this second part of the series, based on The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Melissa breaks down exactly what those mistakes are and how they show up in your firm. From avoiding goal setting altogether to pursuing conflicting priorities, these errors keep you stuck in linear growth patterns. She explains the psychology behind why your brain needs clear goals, what happens when you aim too low, and why having multiple competing objectives guarantees you won't scale.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/325   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

Are you ready to scale your law firm strategically? In this episode, Melissa kicks off a short series based on Dr. Benjamin Hardy's book The Science of Scaling. After attending Dr. Hardy's workshop, she was inspired by his fresh take on scaling and his focus on building capacity for the future. Unlike the typical "hype" around scaling, his approach emphasizes intentional, strategic moves that help law firm owners transform their businesses in a sustainable way.   Melissa discusses the real meaning of scaling: increasing results without a proportional increase in effort. She explains why law firm owners often optimize things that shouldn't even exist and the difference between linear growth and strategic scaling. By following Hardy's framework, you'll learn how to make better decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and scale your firm with intention—without unnecessary stress and burnout.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/324   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

How can attorneys help shape the future of psychological evaluation guidelines in immigration proceedings? In immigration court, psychological evaluations play a crucial role in establishing credibility when clients can’t provide traditional documentation of their trauma. However, unlike criminal or civil courts, immigration court lacks formal guidelines for how psychologists should conduct these evaluations.   In this episode, Melissa is joined by Dr. Andrew Rasmussen, a psychologist with 20 years of experience in conducting evaluations for immigration proceedings. He explains how he and his colleague are gathering feedback from immigration attorneys to create the first-ever professional guidelines for psychologists. These guidelines aim to help attorneys ensure psychological evaluations are both effective and credible in court.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/323   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

Are you thriving as a founder, or just surviving? In this episode, Melissa is joined again by Tara Gronhovd, founder of Align. They dive into Gallup’s Net Thriving Score, a simple but powerful tool for measuring overall well-being as a business owner. Tara explains why emotional well-being is critical for success and how it impacts decision-making, business growth, and leadership effectiveness.   Through this conversation, you’ll learn how to shift from survival mode to thriving. Tara also outlines why the majority of behavior change fails and how to overcome that by building sustainable habits that align with your long-term goals. This episode offers actionable insights for founders who want to create better lives for themselves and their teams, not just build successful businesses.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/322   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

Are you ready to turn your firm's vision into a clear, actionable plan? For Rebecca Deming, getting her vision out of her head and onto paper wasn’t just an exercise—it was the turning point in her law firm’s growth. With the help of Velocity Work, Rebecca created a Vivid Vision that provided clarity for both herself and her team, outlining exactly where her firm, ProVet Legal, is headed. This process gave her the confidence to boldly declare her ambitions, including becoming a top-five nationally recognized veterans disability law firm.   In this episode, Melissa talks with Rebecca about how creating her Vivid Vision transformed her leadership and firm strategy. While Rebecca always had a general sense of purpose, it wasn’t until she wrote down her vision that everything clicked. The process forced her to get specific about her goals, giving her team a clear direction and a shared understanding of success. Rebecca also shares the critical step of rolling out the Vivid Vision to her team and how their buy-in helped solidify her role as the firm’s leader.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/321   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

Numbers don’t lie, but sometimes we wish they would. When the truth about underperforming team members becomes impossible to ignore, tough leadership decisions are inevitable. Paul Willman knows this firsthand. For over a year and a half, Paul struggled with the reality that an attorney on his team wasn’t covering her expenses, let alone contributing to profitability. His story highlights the difficult balance between being a compassionate leader and maintaining a healthy, profitable business.   In this episode, Paul joins Melissa to share his journey of facing the financial reality of his firm and making the tough decision to let a team member go. Through this conversation, you’ll learn the importance of financial clarity and why getting crystal clear on the numbers can transform difficult personnel decisions. His story is a must-listen for any firm owner who knows something isn’t working but needs the facts—and the courage—to act.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/320   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

When operating a law firm, there's a clear difference between running at full capacity and moving forward with purpose. The distinction is between being busy and being productive, between working harder and working smarter. Many law firm owners believe they’re performing at their peak, but in reality, they’re stuck in a cycle that’s holding them back from the growth they want.   In this episode, Melissa dives into the concept of gears—what gear law firm owners are operating in and what gear their firms are running at. You will learn how to evaluate your current gear and identify the shifts needed to get your firm consistently running in high gear. Most importantly, you will gain actionable strategies to eliminate the habits that keep you stuck and create sustainable momentum for long-term success.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/319   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

What happens when every decision in your firm relies on you? Founder, attorney, and C.P.A. Claudia Revermann faced this exact challenge and discovered that no amount of grinding could break through the growth ceiling she hit.   In this episode, Claudia opens up about how she transformed her firm from a one-woman operation to a thriving team, all while gaining more freedom and revenue. She shares how she’s learned to let go of control, hire strategically, and shift her mindset to lead the firm—not just work in it. Claudia’s story is a must-listen for law firm owners who are ready to stop being the center of their business and start leading it.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/318   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork