I don’t have an MBA. I just got started.
I was recently coaching a fellow solo who kept saying, "Well, I can't do that."
We were discussing shifting to value-based pricing, and every time I suggested a strategy, she had a reason why it wouldn't work for her practice. Eventually I asked, "What's the real fear here?"
After a long pause, she admitted: "I don't know how to price that way. I don't have a business background. What if I get it wrong?"
And there it was – the fear that keeps so many brilliant attorneys stuck in place.
The "I Don't Know How" Trap
How many times have you thought about trying something new in your practice, only to back away because you "don't know how"?
Maybe it's implementing a new client intake system
Maybe it's creating content on social media
Maybe it's automating your document drafting
Maybe it's shifting to value-based pricing
The legal profession thrives on tradition. We're taught to follow precedent, to rely on what's been established. But here's the uncomfortable truth: the "old way" isn't working anymore – not for our clients and certainly not for solo attorneys who want to build profitable, sustainable practices without working themselves to death.
If you're waiting to feel 100% ready before you make a change, I hate to break it to you – that day will never come.
Nobody Handed Me a Roadmap
When I started my practice right out of law school, I had exactly zero formal business training. No MBA. No business mentor. Just a law license and a determination to figure it out.
My first divorce case? I charged a $1,200 flat fee, start to finish. 😳😩🫣
I lost my shirt on that case – the case took way longer than I anticipated, and what I ultimately earned would have made a fast food worker wince.
But you know what? I learned more from that one case than any business course could have taught me. I figured out what worked, what didn't, and how to price the next one better. Now I have a pricing framework with double-digit profit margins that I teach other attorneys how to implement.
The same pattern has played out across my practice:
AI and automation – I didn't understand how to build custom GPTs - or even what a GPT was. I just dove in, made mistakes, and now use tools like ChatGPT and Claude to dramatically reduce my workload.
Marketing – No background in content creation or social media strategy. I just started creating and posting videos and learned what resonated with potential clients.
Value-based pricing – I have never billed by the hour. Not once. I had no idea if my model would work, but I knew the billable hour wasn't for me. So I experimented until I found what did.
Did I flail around? Absolutely. Was it messy? You bet. But I figured it out – and so can you.
The Solo Advantage: Jet Skis vs. Tankers
Ever try to turn a cruise ship? It takes miles of ocean.
Big firms are like tankers – institutional, slow to change, bogged down by committees and bureaucracy.
But you? You're on a jet ski. You can pivot on a dime. Try something today, evaluate it tomorrow, and change course the next day.
Your agility is your superpower – but only if you use it.
While BigLaw is still debating whether AI is ethical to use for document review, you can implement and master three different tools before their committee schedules its first meeting.
The ability to experiment without layers of approval isn't just convenient – it's your competitive advantage.
What's Your One Bold Step?
What's one thing you've been avoiding because you "don't know how"?
Is it switching to flat fees or subscription pricing?
Is it creating your first video on social?
Is it automating your client intake process?
Is it learning to use AI for drafting routine documents?
Whatever it is, I challenge you to stop waiting until you "know how" and just start - or as one of my favorite works of street art here in Denver reminds me every time I see it…
Was my pricing perfect the first time? Nope. Were my videos polished? Absolutely not. Did my automations have hiccups? You bet ‘cha.
But taking that first imperfect step led to the next one, and the next one after that.
The point isn't perfection – it's action.
Your Challenge: Just Start
You don't need an MBA. You don't need a certificate. You don't need permission.
You just need to start.
What's one bold move you'll take this week? Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear what you're working on and provide any encouragement or insights I can.
Here’s to jumping anyway,
Lauren
P.S. Remember that the perfect time to start something new is right now. If you're hesitant about taking that first step alone, joining my Office Hours might be just what you need – a place to bounce ideas, get feedback, and find the encouragement to move forward. Sometimes all we need is someone who's been there to say, "You can do this!”