Claim OwnershipThe Law Firm Owner Podcast
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The Law Firm Owner Podcast, powered by Velocity Work, is the go-to resource for law firm owners looking to take their business to the next level. Host and founder Melissa Shanahan shares insights and practical advice on how to organize your numbers, grow your team, increase your revenue, and achieve a better work-life balance. Through quarterly strategic planning, accountability, and coaching, Melissa shows listeners how to create sustainable success for both their firms and their personal lives. Tune in each week to join the community of law firm owners who are committed to taking their businesses from where they are now to where they want to be.
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How do personal challenges shape leaders and coaches? In this episode, Melissa sits down with Jeff Salzenstein to continue his deeply personal story. They explore how his experiences—from professional tennis to coaching, and from supporting his brother through intense struggles to building a high-performance business—have shaped the mindset, resilience, and perspective he brings to his work. You will gain insight into the experiences that influenced Jeff’s capacity to lead under pressure, maintain perspective in complex situations, and balance ambition with purpose. His story also highlights the importance of setting boundaries and learning from both personal and professional challenges. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/330 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Most people don't actually lose momentum. They never create it in the first place. This episode explores why excitement alone isn't enough and what it really takes to build momentum that delivers results. Law firm owners often feel energized after retreats, masterminds, conferences, or coaching sessions, but without a system, that energy fades. The difference isn't willpower or discipline. You'll learn simple but powerful steps to turn potential into action, how to focus on the right priorities, protect time for what matters, stay connected to your goals, and execute consistently even when motivation dips. These strategies make the difference between ideas that fizzle and results that stick. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/329 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Are you pushing yourself toward high performance at the risk of burnout? In this episode, Melissa sits down with Jeff Salzenstein, a former top-100 tennis player turned high-performance coach. Years as a professional athlete pushed Jeff to his limits. His body eventually forced him to stop, revealing the cost of pursuing excellence without alignment. That experience shaped the mindset and frameworks he now uses to help others navigate pressure, setbacks, and transformation. Jeff shares how facing extreme challenges, personal setbacks, and the isolation of elite competition taught him lessons about resilience, focus, and alignment. Through his story, you’ll discover how capacity under pressure, intentional practice, and deliberate coaching can turn struggles into sustainable growth. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/328 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Are you investing in the long game, or just chasing quick wins? Over the past 12 months, Melissa faced some of the biggest challenges and investments of her life—in business, health, and personal growth. As she reflected, she realized that all of the lessons tie back to one central theme: the difference between short-game and long-game investments. In this episode, she shares eight lessons that illustrate why thinking long-term changes everything. Melissa breaks down how long-game investments create transformation that goes beyond temporary fixes. She explores why consistent, intentional effort compounds over time, how identity shifts are at the core of real change, and why the people you surround yourself with can make or break your long-term progress. These lessons are designed to help you approach your firm, your work, and your life with clarity, patience, and strategy. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/327 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Are you creating your law firm's future intentionally? Every firm owner faces the challenge of turning vision into reality. The real work comes in bridging the gap between your goals and the daily actions that make them happen. Too often, firms get stuck in the chaos of day-to-day operations, leaving their bigger goals on the back burner. In this episode, Melissa breaks down how Velocity Work’s Aim, Plan, Honor framework aligns with Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s proven approach to scaling. After working with hundreds of private practice owners, Melissa has learned what truly drives growth: clarity about your future, a deliberate plan to get there, and the discipline to follow through. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a concrete framework to transform your firm from a job you work into a business you lead. Let's talk! If you are a law firm owner looking to talk with us about partnering on your personal and professional growth, book a short, free, no-pressure call with Melissa here: https://velocitywork.com/calendar Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/326 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Most law firm owners think scaling means working harder, hiring more people, or pushing through the chaos—but why does growth still feel unsustainable? They're pouring energy into complex systems, tolerating mediocrity, and wondering why progress is so slow. The truth is, they're making the same three fundamental mistakes that quietly sabotage their ability to scale. In this second part of the series, based on The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Melissa breaks down exactly what those mistakes are and how they show up in your firm. From avoiding goal setting altogether to pursuing conflicting priorities, these errors keep you stuck in linear growth patterns. She explains the psychology behind why your brain needs clear goals, what happens when you aim too low, and why having multiple competing objectives guarantees you won't scale. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/325 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Are you ready to scale your law firm strategically? In this episode, Melissa kicks off a short series based on Dr. Benjamin Hardy's book The Science of Scaling. After attending Dr. Hardy's workshop, she was inspired by his fresh take on scaling and his focus on building capacity for the future. Unlike the typical "hype" around scaling, his approach emphasizes intentional, strategic moves that help law firm owners transform their businesses in a sustainable way. Melissa discusses the real meaning of scaling: increasing results without a proportional increase in effort. She explains why law firm owners often optimize things that shouldn't even exist and the difference between linear growth and strategic scaling. By following Hardy's framework, you'll learn how to make better decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and scale your firm with intention—without unnecessary stress and burnout. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/324 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
How can attorneys help shape the future of psychological evaluation guidelines in immigration proceedings? In immigration court, psychological evaluations play a crucial role in establishing credibility when clients can’t provide traditional documentation of their trauma. However, unlike criminal or civil courts, immigration court lacks formal guidelines for how psychologists should conduct these evaluations. In this episode, Melissa is joined by Dr. Andrew Rasmussen, a psychologist with 20 years of experience in conducting evaluations for immigration proceedings. He explains how he and his colleague are gathering feedback from immigration attorneys to create the first-ever professional guidelines for psychologists. These guidelines aim to help attorneys ensure psychological evaluations are both effective and credible in court. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/323 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Are you thriving as a founder, or just surviving? In this episode, Melissa is joined again by Tara Gronhovd, founder of Align. They dive into Gallup’s Net Thriving Score, a simple but powerful tool for measuring overall well-being as a business owner. Tara explains why emotional well-being is critical for success and how it impacts decision-making, business growth, and leadership effectiveness. Through this conversation, you’ll learn how to shift from survival mode to thriving. Tara also outlines why the majority of behavior change fails and how to overcome that by building sustainable habits that align with your long-term goals. This episode offers actionable insights for founders who want to create better lives for themselves and their teams, not just build successful businesses. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/322 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Are you ready to turn your firm's vision into a clear, actionable plan? For Rebecca Deming, getting her vision out of her head and onto paper wasn’t just an exercise—it was the turning point in her law firm’s growth. With the help of Velocity Work, Rebecca created a Vivid Vision that provided clarity for both herself and her team, outlining exactly where her firm, ProVet Legal, is headed. This process gave her the confidence to boldly declare her ambitions, including becoming a top-five nationally recognized veterans disability law firm. In this episode, Melissa talks with Rebecca about how creating her Vivid Vision transformed her leadership and firm strategy. While Rebecca always had a general sense of purpose, it wasn’t until she wrote down her vision that everything clicked. The process forced her to get specific about her goals, giving her team a clear direction and a shared understanding of success. Rebecca also shares the critical step of rolling out the Vivid Vision to her team and how their buy-in helped solidify her role as the firm’s leader. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/321 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Numbers don’t lie, but sometimes we wish they would. When the truth about underperforming team members becomes impossible to ignore, tough leadership decisions are inevitable. Paul Willman knows this firsthand. For over a year and a half, Paul struggled with the reality that an attorney on his team wasn’t covering her expenses, let alone contributing to profitability. His story highlights the difficult balance between being a compassionate leader and maintaining a healthy, profitable business. In this episode, Paul joins Melissa to share his journey of facing the financial reality of his firm and making the tough decision to let a team member go. Through this conversation, you’ll learn the importance of financial clarity and why getting crystal clear on the numbers can transform difficult personnel decisions. His story is a must-listen for any firm owner who knows something isn’t working but needs the facts—and the courage—to act. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/320 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
When operating a law firm, there's a clear difference between running at full capacity and moving forward with purpose. The distinction is between being busy and being productive, between working harder and working smarter. Many law firm owners believe they’re performing at their peak, but in reality, they’re stuck in a cycle that’s holding them back from the growth they want. In this episode, Melissa dives into the concept of gears—what gear law firm owners are operating in and what gear their firms are running at. You will learn how to evaluate your current gear and identify the shifts needed to get your firm consistently running in high gear. Most importantly, you will gain actionable strategies to eliminate the habits that keep you stuck and create sustainable momentum for long-term success. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/319 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
What happens when every decision in your firm relies on you? Founder, attorney, and C.P.A. Claudia Revermann faced this exact challenge and discovered that no amount of grinding could break through the growth ceiling she hit. In this episode, Claudia opens up about how she transformed her firm from a one-woman operation to a thriving team, all while gaining more freedom and revenue. She shares how she’s learned to let go of control, hire strategically, and shift her mindset to lead the firm—not just work in it. Claudia’s story is a must-listen for law firm owners who are ready to stop being the center of their business and start leading it. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/318 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
What happens when high-achieving professionals, like law firm owners, are asked to list their strengths? In this episode, Melissa and CEO and expert on team dynamics and communication Tara Gronhovd discuss how subconscious "broken soundtracks" can prevent even the most successful individuals from acknowledging their own abilities. Tara leads an insightful exercise where participants struggle to list their strengths, revealing how ingrained self-doubt and limiting beliefs, like "I'm not good enough," can influence our self-perception. This episode provides actionable insights for identifying and disrupting limiting beliefs, allowing law firm owners to move past their mental blocks and make more confident, strategic decisions in their careers. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/317 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork
Law firm owners often find themselves stuck between two pressures: the growing workload that requires more hands, and the burden of existing debt that seems to consume every available dollar. This creates a paralyzing cycle where growth feels out of reach, even though the work is there and waiting to be done. If you’re ready to stop letting debt dictate your business decisions and want to learn how to leverage strategic hires for growth, this episode is for you. Melissa walks you through how to turn debt from a controlling factor into just another element of your strategic planning, helping you make empowered, calculated decisions for your firm’s success. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/316
Are you letting the highs and lows of your business dictate your leadership? Many law firm owners over-index on both good and bad news, allowing it to drive their emotional state and decision-making. In this episode, Melissa explores the concept of emotional neutrality and why it’s crucial for effective leadership. By learning to stay steady between successes and setbacks, you can make decisions based on what your business truly needs. Emotional neutrality doesn’t mean shutting down your feelings, but rather creating enough space between the event and your response to lead with clarity, consistency, and thoughtful decision-making. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/315
What is the ROI of your mindset? In this episode, Melissa explores the critical difference between positivity and negativity in law firm leadership and why understanding the ROI of each mindset matters for your success. Building on last week's mindset discussion, she shares how your thought patterns directly impact your firm's performance and culture. She also breaks down practical strategies for auditing your mental inputs, choosing productive thought patterns, and creating a culture that drives growth. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/314
How do your thoughts shape your reality as a law firm owner? The soundtracks playing on repeat in your mind - those persistent thought patterns about leadership, time management, and growth - directly impact how you run your firm and the results you achieve. In this episode, Melissa dives into the concept of "broken soundtracks," the limiting beliefs and unhelpful thought patterns that may be holding you back without you even realizing it. Drawing from insights by Jon Acuff, Melissa explores how to identify these thoughts and, more importantly, how to rewrite them in ways that serve your growth as a leader. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/313
Are you struggling to get your team on board with new initiatives? Building a successful law firm isn’t just about launching new ideas – it’s about gaining genuine buy-in from your team. When things don’t go as planned, it’s natural to feel defensive or take things personally. In this episode, Melissa shares how shifting from frustration to curiosity is essential in transforming these situations into growth opportunities. Whether you're updating systems, introducing incentive programs, or sharing strategic plans, the reception from your team provides essential data. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/312
Are you unknowingly sabotaging your productivity by confusing intentional planning with procrastination? Many law firm owners fall into a common trap of delaying tasks, but not all delays are created equal. Understanding the difference between virtuous procrastination and sagacious delay can transform how you manage your time, decisions, and momentum. In this episode, Melissa explains how virtuous procrastination disguises itself as productivity but ultimately undermines self-trust and progress. By contrast, sagacious delay is a strategic, intentional pause that honors your commitments while allowing you to reschedule tasks thoughtfully. Melissa breaks down how these two approaches impact your ability to stay on track and build momentum in your firm. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/311
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