The question.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Author: Hirsch, Stewart
• Date: 01 August 2012

In order to have diverse points of view for this month's question, we have reached both within and outside LMA and the legal profession.

I got into legal marketing to make a difference in the profession. However, day-to-day life in my firm is difficult, where support and appreciation can be hard to come by. How can I stay motivated and maintain my vision when it seems like my contributions are of little value to my firm?

RESPONSES:

Lisa Smith

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Life at a firm can be challenging when it feels like an uphill climb. If lack of support for significant initiatives is preventing you from realizing your vision, start small. Find a piece of "low-hanging fruit" to show your value. Get a small group together just to plan an initiative, launch a thought leadership piece or put together a panel for targeted clients. When well executed, the simplest things can generate the most buzz. I've seen more positive feedback from getting one or two things done than from having a huge strategy session that generates an overwhelming list of tasks.

Once partners see forward-moving...