Feature Article: Law Practice Management Series
by Mary G. Anderson, Life Management Consulting Group
Have you ever considered how much of your time is spent mulling over the way things went south in court last week? Or why the one client you really wanted to help out didn’t show up for their appointment? What could have happened? Of course, there is the regret over the past– words said or unsaid, things that could have been handled that weren’t, maybe an entire day was ‘wasted’ at an off-site seminar with no apparent value to your current workload.
Wishing, hoping, worrying, thinking, wondering, wishing some more– living in the past does absolutely nothing to move you into a bright future. Spending time rehashing what might have been is similar to thinking about working on your business, planning on working on your business, organizing ideas to use in your business, etc. All of these activities center in head and they can send you into an endless circle of wasted time.
“Never let yesterday use up too much of today.”
~Will Rogers
Try to catch yourself when your living in the past, consider these questions:
- Ask yourself:
“What is it about this situation that I can do something about right now?”
- Ask yourself:
“At this moment, is this the best use of my time?”
I know that there have been times that I have jumped straight up at 3 a.m. fussing over whether I had the right room reserved for an upcoming seminar presentation, or if there would be a way to keep my 4:00 p.m. Friday appointment and still make it to my daughter’s basketball game…hmmmm. Let’s see living in the future, worrying about things that haven’t happened, maybe could happen, probably won’t happen– that’s my specialty.
The biggest part about living in the future is that we are usually obsessing about it during the times (in the car, while running, in the shower, etc.) that we can’t really DO anything about it. Worry. Stress. Anxiety. Let it go and remember this:
“Worrying is like paying on a debt that may never come due.”
~Will Rogers
So I encourage you to begin to manage your time in the moment by being focused on the here and now by listening and really hearing, writing and really thinking through the words and taking focused action filled with intent. This is a practice, a skill that is developed and it is definitely something that you work toward every day.
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
~Will Rogers
Good luck learning to manage your thoughts as they may linger in the past and jump toward the future unknowns! In conclusion, remember this practical wisdom:
About the Author:
Mary G. Anderson, is the Program Director at Advanced Legal Training Institute. She also provides client service programs through her company, Life Management Consulting Group. Many estate-planning attorneys have clients that are in need of guidance and support as they manage their elder years. Mary offers 1-on-1 coaching support for families that are facing some of the challenging aspects of end-of-life/eldercare such as choosing/evaluating a nursing home/assisted living center, professional organizing of important papers and documents, estate settlement and support with funeral planning, grief and loss. These consulting services assist clients who are either in
1) the midst of handling a death of a loved one and executing their estate and/or 2) a client who has decided to get organized and plan ahead by completing their will, organizing their important papers, completing a checklist of final wishes and creating a legacy will. Mary is the author of “My Estate Management Guide“, “Pet Protection Legal Care Plan: Financial and Legal Planning to Protect Your Companion Pet” and a Certified Mediator & Estate Settlement Agent.
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