Velocity Work

How can attorneys help shape the future of psychological evaluation guidelines in immigration proceedings? In immigration court, psychological evaluations play a crucial role in establishing credibility when clients can’t provide traditional documentation of their trauma. However, unlike criminal or civil courts, immigration court lacks formal guidelines for how psychologists should conduct these evaluations.   In this episode, Melissa is joined by Dr. Andrew Rasmussen, a psychologist with 20 years of experience in conducting evaluations for immigration proceedings. He explains how he and his colleague are gathering feedback from immigration attorneys to create the first-ever professional guidelines for psychologists. These guidelines aim to help attorneys ensure psychological evaluations are both effective and credible in court.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/323   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

Are you thriving as a founder, or just surviving? In this episode, Melissa is joined again by Tara Gronhovd, founder of Align. They dive into Gallup’s Net Thriving Score, a simple but powerful tool for measuring overall well-being as a business owner. Tara explains why emotional well-being is critical for success and how it impacts decision-making, business growth, and leadership effectiveness.   Through this conversation, you’ll learn how to shift from survival mode to thriving. Tara also outlines why the majority of behavior change fails and how to overcome that by building sustainable habits that align with your long-term goals. This episode offers actionable insights for founders who want to create better lives for themselves and their teams, not just build successful businesses.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/322   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

Are you ready to turn your firm's vision into a clear, actionable plan? For Rebecca Deming, getting her vision out of her head and onto paper wasn’t just an exercise—it was the turning point in her law firm’s growth. With the help of Velocity Work, Rebecca created a Vivid Vision that provided clarity for both herself and her team, outlining exactly where her firm, ProVet Legal, is headed. This process gave her the confidence to boldly declare her ambitions, including becoming a top-five nationally recognized veterans disability law firm.   In this episode, Melissa talks with Rebecca about how creating her Vivid Vision transformed her leadership and firm strategy. While Rebecca always had a general sense of purpose, it wasn’t until she wrote down her vision that everything clicked. The process forced her to get specific about her goals, giving her team a clear direction and a shared understanding of success. Rebecca also shares the critical step of rolling out the Vivid Vision to her team and how their buy-in

Numbers don’t lie, but sometimes we wish they would. When the truth about underperforming team members becomes impossible to ignore, tough leadership decisions are inevitable. Paul Willman knows this firsthand. For over a year and a half, Paul struggled with the reality that an attorney on his team wasn’t covering her expenses, let alone contributing to profitability. His story highlights the difficult balance between being a compassionate leader and maintaining a healthy, profitable business.   In this episode, Paul joins Melissa to share his journey of facing the financial reality of his firm and making the tough decision to let a team member go. Through this conversation, you’ll learn the importance of financial clarity and why getting crystal clear on the numbers can transform difficult personnel decisions. His story is a must-listen for any firm owner who knows something isn’t working but needs the facts—and the courage—to act.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.vel

When operating a law firm, there's a clear difference between running at full capacity and moving forward with purpose. The distinction is between being busy and being productive, between working harder and working smarter. Many law firm owners believe they’re performing at their peak, but in reality, they’re stuck in a cycle that’s holding them back from the growth they want.   In this episode, Melissa dives into the concept of gears—what gear law firm owners are operating in and what gear their firms are running at. You will learn how to evaluate your current gear and identify the shifts needed to get your firm consistently running in high gear. Most importantly, you will gain actionable strategies to eliminate the habits that keep you stuck and create sustainable momentum for long-term success.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/319   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

What happens when every decision in your firm relies on you? Founder, attorney, and C.P.A. Claudia Revermann faced this exact challenge and discovered that no amount of grinding could break through the growth ceiling she hit.   In this episode, Claudia opens up about how she transformed her firm from a one-woman operation to a thriving team, all while gaining more freedom and revenue. She shares how she’s learned to let go of control, hire strategically, and shift her mindset to lead the firm—not just work in it. Claudia’s story is a must-listen for law firm owners who are ready to stop being the center of their business and start leading it.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/318   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

What happens when high-achieving professionals, like law firm owners, are asked to list their strengths? In this episode, Melissa and CEO and expert on team dynamics and communication Tara Gronhovd discuss how subconscious "broken soundtracks" can prevent even the most successful individuals from acknowledging their own abilities.   Tara leads an insightful exercise where participants struggle to list their strengths, revealing how ingrained self-doubt and limiting beliefs, like "I'm not good enough," can influence our self-perception. This episode provides actionable insights for identifying and disrupting limiting beliefs, allowing law firm owners to move past their mental blocks and make more confident, strategic decisions in their careers.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/317   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@velocitywork

Law firm owners often find themselves stuck between two pressures: the growing workload that requires more hands, and the burden of existing debt that seems to consume every available dollar. This creates a paralyzing cycle where growth feels out of reach, even though the work is there and waiting to be done.   If you’re ready to stop letting debt dictate your business decisions and want to learn how to leverage strategic hires for growth, this episode is for you. Melissa walks you through how to turn debt from a controlling factor into just another element of your strategic planning, helping you make empowered, calculated decisions for your firm’s success.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/316

Are you letting the highs and lows of your business dictate your leadership? Many law firm owners over-index on both good and bad news, allowing it to drive their emotional state and decision-making.    In this episode, Melissa explores the concept of emotional neutrality and why it’s crucial for effective leadership. By learning to stay steady between successes and setbacks, you can make decisions based on what your business truly needs. Emotional neutrality doesn’t mean shutting down your feelings, but rather creating enough space between the event and your response to lead with clarity, consistency, and thoughtful decision-making.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/315

What is the ROI of your mindset? In this episode, Melissa explores the critical difference between positivity and negativity in law firm leadership and why understanding the ROI of each mindset matters for your success.   Building on last week's mindset discussion, she shares how your thought patterns directly impact your firm's performance and culture. She also breaks down practical strategies for auditing your mental inputs, choosing productive thought patterns, and creating a culture that drives growth.    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/314

How do your thoughts shape your reality as a law firm owner? The soundtracks playing on repeat in your mind - those persistent thought patterns about leadership, time management, and growth - directly impact how you run your firm and the results you achieve.   In this episode, Melissa dives into the concept of "broken soundtracks," the limiting beliefs and unhelpful thought patterns that may be holding you back without you even realizing it. Drawing from insights by Jon Acuff, Melissa explores how to identify these thoughts and, more importantly, how to rewrite them in ways that serve your growth as a leader.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/313

Are you struggling to get your team on board with new initiatives? Building a successful law firm isn’t just about launching new ideas – it’s about gaining genuine buy-in from your team. When things don’t go as planned, it’s natural to feel defensive or take things personally.    In this episode, Melissa shares how shifting from frustration to curiosity is essential in transforming these situations into growth opportunities. Whether you're updating systems, introducing incentive programs, or sharing strategic plans, the reception from your team provides essential data.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/312

Are you unknowingly sabotaging your productivity by confusing intentional planning with procrastination? Many law firm owners fall into a common trap of delaying tasks, but not all delays are created equal. Understanding the difference between virtuous procrastination and sagacious delay can transform how you manage your time, decisions, and momentum.   In this episode, Melissa explains how virtuous procrastination disguises itself as productivity but ultimately undermines self-trust and progress. By contrast, sagacious delay is a strategic, intentional pause that honors your commitments while allowing you to reschedule tasks thoughtfully. Melissa breaks down how these two approaches impact your ability to stay on track and build momentum in your firm.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/311

Are you holding your firm back by being too frugal with your business tools? Many law firm owners fall into the trap of cutting corners on essential tools, forcing their teams to cobble together inefficient processes that ultimately create drag throughout the entire organization.   In this episode, Melissa explains the difference between “expense thinking” and “investment thinking.” Expense thinking focuses on saving money right now, keeping firms stuck in reactive survival mode. Investment thinking, by contrast, considers what the business needs to operate at a high level both today and in the future.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/310

How can data-driven decision-making transform your law firm? Melissa sits down with Mastery Group member Chelsea Riekkola, who went from not knowing what a KPI was to confidently setting and achieving ambitious revenue goals for her firm.   Learn how Chelsea's firm exceeded their revenue targets through intentional goal-setting and team engagement, her unique approach to Monday Map using digital tools, and how she maintains extraordinary productivity despite juggling partnership responsibilities, board work, and family life. If you've been struggling to implement systems, Chelsea's practical insights will show you what's possible when you commit to the process.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/309

Are you holding yourself back with limiting beliefs about your law firm? In this episode, Melissa dives into the psychology behind these self-imposed limitations and why your brains is so good at finding evidence to support your negative beliefs.    She shares a practical framework to break free from these limiting narratives by actively hunting for disconfirming evidence. By challenging your assumptions with real data and others' experiences, you can make decisions based on facts rather than feelings. This isn't about forced positive thinking, it's about expanding your perspective to see the full range of possibilities available to you and your firm.    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/308

Have you been struggling to create effective bonus structures that actually motivate your team without compromising the health of your firm? Today, Melissa wraps up this mini-series on bonuses and incentives with some crucial clarifications that could make or break your compensation strategy.   In this final installment, she addresses the most common questions and misconceptions that have emerged from the previous discussions. These insights will help you create compensation structures that align with your firm's goals while keeping your team engaged and motivated.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/307

Are you struggling to create a bonus structure that rewards your team while protecting your firm's financial health? Many law firm owners implement incentive plans that end up hurting their business or creating resentment.    In this episode, Melissa builds on the previous discussions about incentives by focusing specifically on group bonus structures. She shares why revenue-based incentives can be problematic and offers a more sustainable approach based on profit after owner distributions and taxes. This method ensures the business remains healthy while still providing meaningful rewards when the firm is truly thriving.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here:https://www.velocitywork.com/306

Is your law firm's incentive structure actually hurting your business instead of helping it? Many bonus systems are fundamentally broken—either paying out too much or making it impossible for team members to succeed.   In the second part of this deep dive into incentives and bonuses, Melissa walks you through how to calculate proper baselines, set up tiered structures that protect your firm's profitability, and ensure you're not giving away too much when team members exceed expectations. If you've been struggling with incentive structures that feel unfair or unsustainable, this episode provides the roadmap to fix them once and for all—while keeping your business healthy and your team motivated.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/305

Have you been struggling to create an incentive plan that actually works for your law firm? The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. What works brilliantly for one firm could be disastrous for another.   In this episode, Melissa walks you through how to establish smart baselines using the "true average" method, the critical differences between expectations and incentives, and the pros and cons of group versus individual incentive structures. This is part one of a deep dive into creating incentive plans that are sustainable, motivating, and aligned with your firm's values.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.velocitywork.com/304