Sending 250 Connection Requests a Week to Escape Big Law - with Megan Senese
A human approach to business development for lawyers who hate business development
This week on The Wellness Esquire Podcast, I chat with Megan Senese about her journey from being an in-house legal marketer to co-founding stage, a consulting firm that helps lawyers build books of business by being, well, human - and not all perfectly together. At stage, Megan welcomes her clients to show up exactly as they are. Whether suits and networking events are your thing, or you’d prefer to meet with Megan in pajamas and a tiara and you’d rather never set foot in a freezing cold convention center again, she would treat you exactly the same and help you figure out how to do “bus dev” in a way that works for you and allows you to achieve your goals.
Megan and I met up on a rough day. It was September 11, and neither of us were totally on point, and I think that was perfect - because it opened us about to be super real. We talk about the “stupid little spreadsheets” we use to distract ourselves from global chaos, the trauma-bonding that happens in high-pressure firms, and the specific LinkedIn strategy she used to escape the golden handcuffs and build a community of 20,000+ followers.
What We Cover
In this conversation, Megan and I chatted about:
The 250-connection-request-a-week strategy Megan used while still employed to build a platform in “stealth mode”
The “support staff” vs. “lawyer” divide and how it creates a culture of hostility and assumed stupidity
Whether “balance” is really a thing
The retraining of the brain required to realize that silence from a client doesn’t mean they are mad at you
Designing your personal brand around your real life and values instead of golf courses and late-night cocktails
Memorable Quotes
“I was terrified that I was going to become a vendor and that people wouldn’t want to talk to me anymore.”
“If you’re going to work this hard, let’s surround yourself with clients that you actually like and you enjoy being around.”
“Sales gets a really bad rap for lawyers. If you give more than you’re taking, it always comes back.”
Listen to or watch our conversation on The Wellness Esquire Podcast anywhere you find your podcasts!
About Megan Senese
Megan Senese is the co-founder of stage, a marketing and business development collective that helps lawyers build sustainable, authentic practices by reclaiming their humanity. Megan is also the co-host of the So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast For People.
The Wellness Esquire Podcast
The Wellness Esquire Podcast is hosted by me, Ariella Cohen Coleman. I chat with lawyers and other professionals in our industry about all the things - well-being, burnout, anxiety, depression, imposter syndrome, addiction, alcohol, health (physical and mental), and how we can build impactful careers that fit into the lives we want.