the [non]billable hour

So you think you can dance?

For no other reason than to waste as much of your time as I just wasted of mine: The Pipecleaner Dancer. Enjoy!

LexThink 08: October 6 and 7 in Chicago

If you're an innovative lawyer and want to find ways to make the Practice (and not just your practice) better, please mark October 6 and 7 on your calendar for LexThink 08. I'm putting all of my thinking about ways conferences can be better into this one. Just a peek into what's in store:

• It takes place at the incomparable Catalyst Ranch.
• The theme for the event is: THINK, LEARN, SHARE, DO.
  
• Though it will not be invitation only, we are limiting paying attendees to 75, and every attendee will be expected to contribute to the experience in a meaningful way. We'll also open up 25 slots to students (law, business, design, etc.). They will come for free, but will have to earn their keep.
  
• It will be a "name your price" event. Attendees will put down a deposit when they register, but will ultimately pay a price that matches the value they received once the event is over. There will also be a money-back guarantee.
  

It is going to be a really intensive collaborative and amazing experience. More details (and the cool website) to follow. I can't wait to see you there.

You Always Have to Say "I'm Sorry."

Want to keep your unhappy clients from suing you? Apologize. Bob Sutton writes about the Virtues of Apologies and shares a NY Times article about how doctors and hospitals are reducing malpractice claims (by a sizable amount) by simply apologizing. Read the article and the post for some of the reasons why you should apologize.

What I want to share, though, is this gem from Bob's post:

[T]he best single diagnostic question for determining if an organization is learning and innovating as it moves forward is: What Happens When People Make a Mistake?

What's the answer for your firm?

Title Tips for Better Slides

Want to write better titles for your PowerPoint slides (and nearly anything else for that matter)? Frank Roche gives five tips to help you Write the Best Damn PowerPoint Headlines Ever:

Make it good enough to print on a t-shirt. The word Introductions isn’t good enough for a t-shirt. Say hello to my little friend is. Not every headline has to be t-shirt worthy, but that’s not a bad goal.

Make it fit on one line. Hey, what you lack in quality, you can’t make up for in volume. Read the really great headline writers. I like the New York Times and USA Today, but CNN and the New York Post write the killer headlines. They’re short. Often two words. But two killer words.

Say what’s on the slide. Obscurity is great for the CIA, but we’re talking about PowerPoint and communication. If a single word will do, then please be my guest. Otherwise, write descriptive headlines. (And if you violate the “fit on one line” rule, it had better rock.)

Forget headlines. If you can’t think of a great headline, then maybe you shouldn’t have one. Steve Jobs doesn’t need headlines.

If your slide is filled with bullet points, even a killer headline won’t help. You see that little key on your computer that says DEL? Go ahead, push that one. Watch your presentation magically get better.

How many of your titles would look good on a t-shirt? Open up that last presentation and get to work!

Use "You, We, I" to Jumpstart Difficult Conversations

Steve Roesler at All Things Workplace shares this great "You, We, I" tip for starting difficult conversations. It works like this:

When you approach someone to talk, you're asking for their time and their attention. Your topic might be interesting, it might have some tension attached, or maybe it's about something you want to change. Regardless, the other person wants to know that you are thinking of them.

The next time you need to engage someone--especially if it's a difficult conversation--approach it by thinking this way:

You are important to me and this conversation.

We are in this together.

I (hope, need, want) ...

Visit the post above to see some examples, and think about starting your next difficult client conversation the same way.

Only the Shadow Shows.

Now, for something completely non-legal, but completely useful (and yes, I know that's redundant). From Rules of Thumb:

The fastest way to find a small object on [the] floor is to look for its shadow. Roll a flashlight around on the floor. The object may be tiny but its shadow will be big and easy to spot!

Photo Phorensics

Via Photojojo comes a pointer to this Scientific American article titled Digital Forensics: 5 Ways to Spot a Fake Photo. Worth a look if you regularly deal with photographic evidence in your practice.

Word Up!

This Lifehacker post rounds up some pretty neat word tools. Definr (lighning fast, search as you type dictionary), Confusing Words (pretty obvious, actually) and the Visual Dictionary (to connect words with images) will find a home in my writing toolbox.

LexThink Coming Really Really Soon!

The new LexThink site goes live late tonight (though you can probably find it if you look hard enough) and I'll have some more cool stuff to announce by Friday.  For now, keep October 6 and 7 free on your calendars.  Here's a peek:  let me know what you think. 

UPDATE:  Having some template problems.  Looks like Friday for the unveiling.

Think Learn Share Do

LexThink 08 website will be up Monday. There, I've said it. Don't visit until then.