Empathy, Ethics, Entrepreneurship

365 days ago, there was one thing I was looking forward to above all others: moving out of the San Francisco Bay Area and back to my home state, Washington.

By January 1st, I knew our move was imminent, so I started preparing. For January, February, and March, my camera roll is littered with photos of furniture and personal belongings I was hocking on Facebook Marketplace.

I sold furniture, made repairs at our Redwood City Rental, and did a lot of mechanical work on my van (hitch install, ball joints, tie rods, differential fluid, etc.) to ensure it could make the 830-mile journey up I-5, pulling a U-haul trailer, packed to the gills.

My attorney and business colleagues are perplexed by my connections to my tiny hometown in eastern Washington. They don’t get why I’d invest time into such a small community. They don’t understand why a place they view as a truck stop in the middle of nowhere is a reasonable home base for a business. They don’t see the vision.

Let them wonder! For now, I want to speak to the locals.

I grew up in Ritzville, Washington, a small town full of family businesses – farms, ranches, grocery stores, fast-food franchises, restaurants, towing companies – you name it. Growing up, I always dreamed of having my own business. Having decided to become a lawyer at the age of 16, I always assumed that business would be a law practice.

Imagine this:

I am on the run from the law. I know things. Important things. Try as they might, the three-letter agencies can’t find me.

You  – being a tried and true detective  – are tasked with tracking me down. To find my location, you start by looking at places I’ve been, connections I’ve made, and people I know. You create a dossier.

2024, a year in review ... not the best ... but I guess I grew!

This past year was a blast! But … it was also fraught with inconveniences. A car accident, a twisted ankle, and foot injuries derailed a lot of my personal goals. However, month over month, The Longhair Lawyer grew and so did I!

There is a perception that men have it easy. In some ways we do. I'm not here to draw comparisons or claim men have it just as bad or worse than anyone else. I'm just here to tell you that men are struggling.

1. Don’t neglect the people you already know!

2. What’s so special about LinkedIn?

3. How to use social media.

4. In-person events, clubs, and communities.

5. Targeted Advertisements.

1. Mission, Vision, and Values

2. Target Market

3. Rate Setting. Let’s talk pricing!

4. Establishing Your Brand, Logo, and Brand Voice

5. Website, Intake, Engagement, and Goodbyes