"Turn the key on maybe tens or hundreds of thousands or more in business..." Praise for ORIGINATE!

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This month we offer several articles with ten ways you can get better at your business development, plus a few fives and threes thrown in as well. Don't wait till things get worse in today's climate; take these suggestions so you can become a perfect 10 - or even an 8 or 9 - in your business development, and thrive.

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It’s not comfortable for most lawyers to adopt new methods even when major crises demand it. But good client service today requires a new responsiveness. Barry Schneider reviews how one firm got moving to address its clients’ pressing needs and six ways you can become the lawyer your clients now need you to be.

There’s a secret shared by those firms that want to hold onto their best clients and gain more business through them. It’s called “great customer service.” According to Larry Bodine, Esq. here are the ways you can practice great service, keeping clients happy by doing what clients like and avoiding what they hate.

Marc Weintraub, Esq. joined as an associate with a new firm in a new city. In five years, he had built powerful relationships, brought in significant business and made partner. He did it by gaining the support he needed, building relationships effectively, and following his personal interests toward their business development possibilities. As profiled by Michael Cummings, here’s how he made it happen.

Many law firms are shying away from investing in these tough times. Others accept that that these are the best times to spend money on marketing and business development. But they still must select wisely between the ideas to bury and the ideas to green light. With ten suggestions, Darryl Cross examines the best and worst of these so you can build for your future.

While many consider networking a dose of castor oil, you’ll gain a lot in your personal life and career if you build relationships as you would drink a fine wine. Thom Singer reminds us how to stay alive to possibilities, savor the moments, and share the riches. Here's to your professional health!

In a further response to subscriber questioning, Larry Bodine, Esq. notes five obstacles that other lawyers said are their biggest ones in business development, from too little time for business development to fear of harming personal relationships. If you follow these suggestions, maybe these won''t seem such big obstacles after all.

According to the most successful, it’s the habits and consistency of business development activity that makes rainmakers. But changing behavior to act this way is often very difficult for lawyers. What can you do? Start with these ten habits, advises Michael Cummings, and you’ll be on your way.