The Shift: Go from “I’ll Deal With my Numbers Later” to “I Can’t Fix What I Can't See”
Nov 02, 2026
A lot of lawyers tell us, “I’m not a numbers person…that’s why I became a lawyer and not an accountant.”
Numbers feel like someone else’s job: the bookkeeper’s or the accountant’s.
Looking closely can feel uncomfortable, because maybe you don’t have access to the right numbers, or maybe you don’t really understand what they’re telling you.
And because it’s uncomfortable, you put it off.
But financial clarity is critical. Lack of visibility (or reluctance to even look) will ultimately cost you more than the discomfort of looking. You can’t make good pricing, staffing, or growth decisions without knowing your actual numbers.
The shift this month is to go from procrastination (I’ll deal with the numbers later) to action (I need to see the numbers, because I can’t fix what I refuse to look at.)
You can’t design a profitable firm around numbers you haven’t looked at.
As for which numbers to look at, we highly recommend Brooke Lively’s From Panic to Profit: How 6 Key Numbers Can Make a 6 Figure Difference in Your Law Firm. It’s a book we tell all our clients to read at the beginning of any coaching engagement with us.
Your numbers tell you the story of your firm, its health, and the next steps you need to take. It’s a story you can’t ignore.
Progress doesn't come from doing more. It comes from focusing on the things that truly deserve your attention.
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