The Signals of Success

I recently read an article featuring a law firm that leased expensive cars as a way to signal the firm’s success. This got me thinking about what signals I want to use—and which ones to I wish to avoid.

While I can certainly appreciate anyone’s desire to drive an expensive car, I think I want people to associate my firm’s success with something more substantial. A flashy car may make a good initial impression, but it doesn't demonstrate my experience or skill as an attorney.

I think Albert Einstein was right when he said, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” I believe success comes from the satisfaction of the people you serve.

In fact the greatest affirmation of success, to me, is a referral from a client.

A referral is the tangible result of someone else’s trust. Once you earn a client’s trust, that person becomes an advocate for you. And you can’t put a price on that kind of success. It doesn’t come easily, but success rarely does.

For the last 8 years I have worked hard to cultivate a firm where clients are confident in our abilities and know we have their best interests at heart. It isn’t about what we drive or how big our building is. It is about the relationships we build with our clients simply by providing superior service at a reasonable price.

Sure, I could lease a Mercedes. Maybe that would impress some people and, possibly, lead to a few new clients. But instead of getting a fancy car and increasing my fees to pay for it, I think I will drive my GMC and continue building strong partnerships with my clients—my signal of success.