Every December, managing partners make promises.
“Next year, I’ll delegate more.”
“Next year, I’ll take a real vacation.”
“Next year, I won’t be the answer to every question.”
By February, those promises are forgotten.
Not because you didn’t mean them. Because something deeper pulled you back into the same patterns.
The Real Problem
The problem isn’t your goals. It’s that you don’t know what’s actually stopping you.
There’s a technique called the 5 Whys. Ask “why” five times until you find the root cause.
Example:
Why didn’t I delegate the Morrison matter?
“Nobody else could handle it.”
Why?
“They don’t have my experience.”
Why?
“I’ve always handled it myself.”
Why?
“Faster than teaching someone.”
Why does speed matter more than building capacity?
“Because if I’m not producing, I don’t feel valuable.”
The obstacle wasn’t time. It was identity.
The Patterns That Keep You Stuck
After working with dozens of firm owners, certain root causes repeat:
- “If I’m not producing, I’m not valuable.”
- “Nobody can do it as well as I can.”
- “I don’t know who I am if I’m not needed.”
- “What if they don’t need me anymore?”
These patterns made you successful—until they became the trap.
What To Do
Before you set goals for 2026:
Pick one promise you made for 2025 that you didn’t keep. Ask yourself why—five times. Follow the thread until you hit something true.
You can’t outrun a root cause with better goals.
For the complete exploration of debugging what’s keeping you stuck, read this week’s Beyond the Practice Grind on Substack. https://substack.com/@dougbrownjd
Year-End Debrief
I’m holding a few slots in December for year-end debrief sessions—for firm owners ready to be honest about what’s actually in the way.
If that’s you, email me: [email protected]
—Doug Brown, JD
The Law Firm Leadership Coach
