Servant leadership transforms organizations by flipping traditional hierarchy upside down. Doug Thorpe, an executive coach with military and banking leadership experience, reveals how this approach creates sustainable success by putting team members first.

Doug's leadership journey started in elementary school when he aspired to be captain of the crossing guards. This early experience established a pattern that would follow him through military service, a 20-year banking career, and into his role as coach to hundreds of business leaders. What stands out in his story is how consistently he found himself in leadership positions—not from ego, but from a genuine desire to serve.

The concept of leaders eating last, literally practiced in military settings, provides a powerful metaphor for servant leadership in business. By prioritizing team needs and wellbeing, leaders demonstrate value while ensuring resources flow to where they're most needed. This principle extends naturally into organizational leadership, where putting others first creates a foundation for growth.

Doug's coaching process helps clients develop personalized leadership frameworks that define their leadership identity and determine their legacy. Rather than adopting someone else's model, he encourages leaders to identify attributes and principles that authentically represent their values. This framework becomes a roadmap for intentional development, guiding how leaders show up in every moment.

Understanding your "why" proves equally transformative. With insights from the Why Institute, Doug helps leaders identify their core motivations. The combination of why (core purpose), how (method), and what (contribution) creates a unique leadership fingerprint that drives authenticity and impact.

Reach Doug here:

https://dougthorpe.com
https://podcasts.dougthorpe.com
https://www.headwayexec.com/

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Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
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Phillip Hogan's entrepreneurial journey is a captivating story of opportunity recognition and strategic growth. After a chance encounter with a mobile notary service during an out-of-state car purchase, Hogan spotted an unmet need in the market that would transform his life path. Drawing from childhood experiences working in his family's retail business and leveraging his military discipline from four years of Navy service, he built Signing Services of America into a powerhouse with 65,000 CFPB-compliant notaries nationwide.

What makes Hogan's approach unique is his unwavering commitment to understanding clients' needs. Rather than simply connecting notaries with clients, his company provides comprehensive training to ensure every transaction proceeds smoothly. This attention to detail has made Signing Services of America particularly valuable to mass tort law firms and estate planning attorneys who require reliable document execution. As one estate planning attorney confided to Hogan, before partnering with his service, many trustees never completed their notarization requirements, creating expensive legal complications for families after death.

This conversation shows how strong leadership starts with solving real problems. By streamlining document delivery and notarization with trained notaries and responsive service, Hogan built a business that delivers real value. He believes notaries represent the company and clients, highlighting the importance of trust. For law firm owners, this episode shares useful insights on building effective partnerships and improving the client experience through specialized support.

Reach Phillip here:

www.signingservicesofamerica.com

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Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
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Boundaries might be the missing ingredient in your quest for a successful and fulfilling law practice. In this powerful conversation with boundary coach Barb Nangle, we explore how setting healthy boundaries can transform not only your personal life but also revolutionize your professional relationships and leadership approach.

Barb shares her remarkable story of transformation that began at age 52, proving it's never too late to change ingrained patterns. After decades of therapy that barely scratched the surface of her issues, she discovered through 12-step recovery programs that her core wound was codependence, manifesting as people-pleasing, burnout, and an inability to identify her own needs and preferences. The moment she began establishing clear boundaries, everything changed.

Law firm owners will find particular wisdom in Barb's workplace insights. Working at Yale for 19 years with a chronically unreliable boss, she discovered that complaining and hoping others would change only deepened her resentment. When she shifted to implementing structures she could control, regular meetings, clear communication protocols, and letting her boss experience the natural consequences of her actions, team morale and productivity soared. This principle applies perfectly to law practice management.

The most transformative concept Barb shares is moving beyond a victim mentality. She challenges the common attorney's belief of "I don't have a choice" when faced with demanding deadlines or difficult clients. Recognizing your agency in every situation, whether choosing to complete weekend work because it aligns with partnership goals or choosing to set limits that protect your wellbeing, creates empowerment and prevents burnout. The sustainable law practice requires filling your cup first through non-negotiable commitments to rest and personal connections.

Reach Barb here:
https://higherpowercc.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbnangle/
https://www.instagram.com/higherpowercoaching/
https://www.youtube.com/@higherpowercoaching/
https://www.facebook.com/HigherPowerCoaching/

Law Firm Marketing Fix

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Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
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Financial management is often the most intimidating aspect of running a law firm, yet it's crucial for sustainable growth and success. In this illuminating conversation with fractional CFO Leah Miller, we explore how intentional financial planning can transform your law practice from surviving to thriving.

Leah shares her journey from paralegal to firm administrator, and then to founding her own financial services company, which helps law firms nationwide. Her approach begins not with spreadsheets but with understanding your personal and professional goals: "How much do you need to be bringing home to live the life you want to live?" By starting with this foundation, she creates financial strategies that support both business growth and the lifestyle you desire.

We dive deep into the challenging transition phase from $500,000 to $1 million in annual revenue, that uncomfortable period when "all you're doing is spending money" on marketing, talent, and infrastructure without seeing immediate returns. Leah provides practical guidance on navigating this growth stage with confidence, including how to set appropriate KPIs, maintain essential compensation for yourself, and communicate financial goals transparently with your team.

The conversation covers critical foundations every firm should establish, from proper accounting software setup to the distinction between "bookkeeping for tax purposes" and "bookkeeping for financial growth." Leah explains how categorizing expenses strategically can reveal operational inefficiencies and help you make smarter hiring decisions. You'll learn why your financial team should include bookkeepers, CPAs, and strategic advisors, each playing distinct roles in your firm's financial health.

Reach Leah here:

www.linkedin.com/in/leahlnmfinancial
https://www.instagram.com/leah_lnm_financial/
www.firmlyprofits.com

Law Firm Marketing Fix

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Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
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Lindsey Busfield, VP of Optimize My Firm, shares her journey from managing Amish chicken farms to becoming an SEO strategist for some of the nation's most powerful law firm websites. With refreshing candor, she explains why most traditional SEO tactics fail modern attorneys and reveals the strategies that work in 2023.

For small and mid-sized firms competing against giants like Morgan & Morgan, Lindsey offers hope through strategic positioning. Rather than trying to outspend the competition, she advocates for community-based approaches that leverage your authentic connections and interests. "If you're a motorcycle rider, get involved in that community, make yourself an advocate," Lindsey advises, noting how these grassroots efforts can distinguish you from "settlement mills" with deeper pockets.

The conversation dives deep into practical content strategies, with Lindsey revealing why generic "What to do after a car accident" blog posts make her "skin crawl." Instead, she outlines a sophisticated content hierarchy approach that helps attorneys dominate search results through parent pages and geographically relevant subcategories. You'll learn why Google's recent verification crackdowns are suspending many law firm listings and exactly what to do if it happens to you.

Perhaps most valuable is Lindsey's insight on client acquisition: "If they haven't said yes or no yet, they haven't given you an answer. So it is still a maybe, and there is money in the maybes." She shares examples of firms closing 5-10 cases weekly through persistent follow-up and smart referral strategies.

Reach Lindsey here:

Podcast Link: https://optimizemyfirm.com/podcasts/
Website: www.optimizemyfirm.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-busfield/

Law Firm Marketing Fix

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Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
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What does it take to build a thriving law firm from scratch in one of America's most competitive legal markets? For Nick Spetsas and Charles Buist, the journey began with a friendship in law school that evolved into a powerful business partnership built on shared values and complementary strengths.

Starting with just a $40,000 line of credit in Orlando's saturated personal injury market, they faced what seemed like insurmountable odds. But their strategic approach to digital marketing and unwavering commitment to client service quickly set them apart from established competitors.

Charles and his partners share honest insights on what works in legal marketing today. Instead of broad branding, they focus on direct response, utilizing SEO, videos, and streaming TV to target niche areas such as negligent security and dental malpractice with their "bowling pin" strategy.

What sets them apart is their real focus on client relationships. Nick shares that his defense experience revealed a lack of personal service in plaintiff firms. While others employed assembly-line practices, Spetsas Buist built its reputation on being accessible and providing clients with personal attention.

Their journey hasn't been without challenges, particularly in managing cash flow with contingency cases. Yet their strategic focus and commitment to understanding every aspect of their business, from operations to accounting to marketing, have enabled them to thrive where many others struggle.

Reach Nick and Charles here:

https://spetsasbuist.com/

Law Firm Marketing Fix

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Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
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Traci Austin brings her two decades of HR leadership expertise to tackle one of the most challenging aspects of law firm management: leading diverse teams effectively without micromanaging. Her refreshing approach centers on a powerful principle: "I can't lead you the way I need to be led. I need to lead you the way you need to be led."

The conversation delves deep into the practical applications of this philosophy, exploring how understanding individual behavioral styles transforms team dynamics. Traci explains how personality assessments, such as the Predictive Index, can reveal crucial insights into job fit, team fit, manager fit, and culture fit, as well as the often-overlooked "season of life" factor that influences performance and motivation.

For law firm owners struggling with quick but error-prone team members, Traci offers a game-changing framework for breaking projects into smaller pieces with clear quality benchmarks. This approach honors an employee's enthusiasm while ensuring client deliverables meet standards. She also shares practical strategies for documenting expectations and creating SOPs through simple video recordings, making it easier to translate visionary leadership into detailed execution.

Perhaps most valuable is Traci's "Tough Talk Audit" system for navigating difficult performance conversations. Rather than avoiding these crucial discussions, she outlines a step-by-step approach that captures facts, establishes mutual goals with deadlines, and creates documentation through follow-up emails. Her role-playing demonstration shows how even complex performance issues can be addressed constructively when approached with the right framework.

Reach Traci here:

Website: https://elevatedtalentconsulting.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traci-austin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatedtalentconsulting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatedtalentconsulting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatedtalentconsulting
Podcast: https://elevatedtalentconsulting.com/podcast-2/

Law Firm Marketing Fix

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Join our private community, Law Firm Growth Guild, Your Shortcut to Marketing Mastery and More Clients at
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Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
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Tom brings years of experience as a fractional CFO to the table, offering a wealth of knowledge about how proper financial management can become your firm's secret growth engine. He challenges the common belief that cutting costs is the pathway to profitability, instead advocating for strategic growth investments backed by a solid cash flow understanding.

The conversation tackles one of the most uncomfortable yet crucial topics for law firm owners – pricing. "The biggest mistake small business owners make is pricing their services too low," Tom reveals, explaining how raising rates not only improves profitability but often eliminates problematic clients while creating more capacity for valuable work. This counterintuitive approach has transformed countless firms from constant financial stress to sustainable growth.

We explore the tangible differences between firms caught in a scarcity mindset versus those embracing abundance thinking. Tom's insights on capacity planning, strategic hiring, and building a truly valuable, transferable asset will fundamentally shift how you view your practice's future. His provocative statement that "the less the owner is involved in the business, the more valuable it becomes" serves as a wake-up call for attorneys who haven't considered the long-term worth of their practice.

Reach Tom here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-dillon-cfa/
https://x.com/profithuntercfo?lang=en
https://www.frakfinance.com

Law Firm Marketing Fix

Fix Your Law Firm’s Marketing in 10 Simple Steps

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Join our private community, Law Firm Growth Guild, Your Shortcut to Marketing Mastery and More Clients at
https://checkout.lawmarketingzone.com

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
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#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins