The Fifth Step in leaving law behind: Getting out there and creating opportunities

STEP #5: GETTING OUT THERE, NETWORKING AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

We’ve gone through the first four steps of leaving the law. Today we discuss the fifth step: getting out there, networking, and creating opportunities.

I shot this short video for you (it’s less than 2 minutes long) describing this first step …

… and if you prefer reading, I jotted below some of the points I talk about in the video.

 

Getting out there and creating opportunities

Of course properly leaving the law requires careful planning and courageous self-analysis. It takes a lot of soul searching and internal and external discussions and personal due diligence. But there comes a point when you just need to execute. You just need to get out there. It takes time and patience and courage, but you just need to hit the pavement and begin meeting with people. That is today’s Fifth Step.

Getting out there can come in many different variations, but it really means reaching out and meeting with other people in order to build sincere connections of trust so these people will help you find opportunities.

Of course, you can apply to jobs online, or get a recruiter to help you. But the purpose of leaving law behind is not just to find another job.

The goal of leaving law behind is to create a new stage in your life that makes you the money you need while allowing you the schedule you want. The point of leaving law behind is to find an opportunity you love, so you don’t grow older and regret that you did something wrong. The goal of leaving law behind is to find a career that makes you a lot of money and is also in alignment with your strengths and skills and goals. The goal of leaving law behind is to find a job that makes you feel strong and creates more and more energy, as opposed to sapping you of your vigor.

How to create opportunities that align with your Unique Genius

And one of the best ways to do that is to speak to as many people as you can, in person (say over coffee) for a good amount of time (at least thirty minutes) with a warm lead (through someone you know) with someone who is qualified (they are in a field or have some connection to a field that you think would be a good fit with your Unique Genius).

And the output of these meetings is twofold: To research this person’s life and work – these people (who may not all be lawyers) actually do something you think you may be interested in (business development, marketing, product management, HR, Operations, compliance, technology, investment banking). You want to ask them about their life, what they like, what they don’t, how they like their work life balance, what is the money potential, etc. Instead of ruminating on other jobs in theory, actually use this coffee as a time to gain intelligence about these jobs. You may think you’d like it … but take the time to hear it now from the source.

And second, you want to get some leads. If you like what you hear, then at the end of the conversation (or later via e-mail), see if this person can provide you with the names and contact info of other people who might be beneficial for you to meet. In their industry or elsewhere. The best way to find that right opportunity is to find it through someone you may know or are referred to. And the best way to find that someone is through a friend you are close with.

For those of us who are introverts, lack confidence, feel we have a puny network, don’t know many people, feel we’re worthless, etc., this can be difficult. So, as with everything we do at leave law behind, let’s take it step-by-step.

Research jobs … and if you like them, get more leads

The first step in getting out there is to begin researching online, probing into your extended network, or checking out LinkedIn, and find someone, anyone, who you think you would like to learn more about and with whom you may or may not be connected. To make this first step easy, start by checking the networks of your friends and colleagues and see if there is anyone in their network you may be interested in meeting.

As a second step, once you have a good idea of who you want to reach out to, email your friend (i.e. your shared connection with this person you want to meet). The goal is to have your friend make an intro, if possible.

And remember: You’ll face some no-responses, or some rejections. That’s okay. Baby step after baby step.

This fifth step in leaving the law behind provides an easy to follow, step-by-step, warm way to meet new people in order to find an opportunity that meets with your Unique Genius. Networking requires us to get over our aversion to meeting people and it takes a lot of hard work. But it allows you also to put the hypothetical into play.

You’d be surprised how much help you can get once you get out there. As Woody Allen points out, 90% of life is just showing up.

I hope this helps.

And, if you’d like to watch the video I put together on this Fifth Step, click above.

Again, I am so happy to have you. I’ll be back in touch via email soon.

Talk soon,

Casey

PS Questions? Thoughts? Just want to vent? Hit reply or email me at casey@leavelawbehind.com.