The North American
International Auto Show is a site to be seen around the country, but in
the Detroit area it is a chance for the millions of local auto workers
that live here to see what they may be producing and take pride in their
company's name. Every year in January, the Cobo Center hosts the Detroit
version of the Auto show and every year well over a half million people
make the trip to the venue to take in the glory. This is a show for
everyone, even the little ones. This years event took place from January
19 thru January 27th. It was a week of beauty, style, and concept. If
you are a people watcher there is something here for you. If you are a
car aficionado this is your dream, and if you are just looking for your
next vehicle this is the place to start.
"Look here". He said.
"The first thing you need to learn is to never bite into a green chile.
When we test in the field, we never do that. Look here".
The Internet was an invaluable tool, used in our restoration
project. The new engine was found, and ordered online from a company in
Arizona. He found the best buy on "Fatman" suspension by being able to
shop all over the country, with just the click of the mouse. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_S-10
Truly the only thing Hannah's
was good for was drinking, and despite our ages we ordered up and were
served the working man's traditional shot-and-a-beer. In fact we were
served a lot of tradition that night, and by two in the morning we were
beginning to feel our oats. I quickly came to a startling conclusion: people
will sing along to anything. The content of the song doesn't matter.
Politics simply don't enter into it. People are really singing along to
the melody, or the bass line or something. What the words actually mean
is immaterial.
If your firm were a car what would it be? Strong and tough
like a
buy truck mud
flaps? Sleek and
fast like a Ferrari? Sophisticated and state-of-the-art like a Mercedes
S-Class? How about an ice cream flavor? A beverage? A movie genre? All
of these exercises not only make for a lively discussion, but work to
help define your firm personality. Once that emerges, look for ways to
incorporate it in your firm's daily business- from answering the phones
to your letterhead. In order to stand out in a sea of law firms you must identify
and then market what makes your firm unique. Are you focused on personal
attention? Have a 100-year history in a certain region? Employ attorneys
who speak multiple languages? Bringing together partners, associates and
staff can quickly bring about a clear vision of what makes the firm
different and how that fits with what your clients need. You can then
use that as part of your law firm marketing and business development
plan. The end of the story is
we were able to get the lawyer for Ford Motor Credit to accept a much
lesser amount because he was trying to get a default judgment on his
fees. That was illegal here in Florida, so with his hands in the cookie
jar, he just wanted to get it over rather than have his name placed in
front of the Florida Bar Assn. Divorced folks really do not have any place to go
for guidance. Sure a good friend offers a shoulder to cry on, but the
tragedy of having personal credit destroyed from a broken marriage is
serious. In another article we deal with authorized users of a credit
card. This is important after a divorce also.