Christopher Anderson: Creating a Law Practice That Aligns with Your Goals, Time and Values

BE THAT LAWYER

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Christopher Anderson discuss:

• Urgency and intentionality in how professionals approach time and life decisions
• Operational and structural challenges faced by small and large law firms
• Personal clarity and value-driven goal setting in legal careers
• Misalignment between perceived business needs and actual areas for growth

Key Takeaways:

• Many law firms suffer from an inefficient cycle of over-marketing when caseloads are low, followed by frantic hiring when they surge, resulting in chronic instability.
• The most common and damaging mistake lawyers make is hiring help in areas they enjoy, rather than where they truly lack capability, such as fixing the "butterfly stroke."
• True work-life alignment comes from clearly defining three things: how much income you need, how much time you're willing to trade for it, and what you're trying to accomplish personally and professionally.
• Holding on to underperforming team members not only hurts your business but also deprives them of the opportunity to thrive elsewhere, and it's often best addressed through a third-party assessment.

"Too many people just go after the money, and then they realize, okay, I’m trading time for money. So the more money I want, the more time I trade, and that leads to misery." — Christopher Anderson

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About Christopher Anderson: Christopher T. Anderson is a lifelong entrepreneur and attorney with a deep passion for helping law firm owners build practices that align with their goals, values, and vision. With nearly 30 years of experience, he draws from both wins and lessons learned across his ventures—including New Leaf Family, AndersonDodson, and Sunnyside Services, where he remains actively involved.

Known for testing every strategy on his firm before advising others, Christopher combines business acumen, legal insight, and a pilot’s clarity of focus to help law firm owners take control of their time, teams, and trajectory—on their terms.

Connect with Christopher Anderson:

Website: http://www.sunnysidelaw.com/

Email: [email protected]

Show: Un-Billable Hour: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/un-billable-hour-business-management-strategies-for/id335971413

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawfirmbusiness/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunnysidelaw

Twitter: https://x.com/LawFirmBusiness

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLeafFamily

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newleaf.family/

Connect with Steve Fretzin:

LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin

Twitter: @stevefretzin

Instagram: @fretzinsteve

Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.

Website: Fretzin.com

Email: [email protected]

Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!

YouTube: Steve Fretzin

Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.