I have watched the conversation going on today concerning whether we should call it hanging your own shingle or something else. Chuck Newton over at the Spare Room Tycoon had a post today called, Spare the Shingle, Reward the M-Theory. Carolyn Elefant had a post called, You be Trendy, I’d Rather Run My Shingle at her blog, My Shingle.
I have read both, including a third post by Robert J. Ambrogi, Shingle-Minded Devotion at Legal Blog Watch.
I am not quite sure what the problem is with either approach. In fact, I view my own practice as hanging out my own shingle. But, it is more. Recently I have been writing about “The Connected Lawyer.” And, I have even gone so far as calling my blogs, “my shingle.” Being a connected lawyer could be considered trendy. But, being a “Connected Lawyer” enables me to hang MY OWN shingle and work out of my home.
How many years ago would we have to go back to, to get raised eyebrows about the technology some of us trendy lawyers use in our law offices? In my case, I could go back to this morning in a court hearing I had. Even today, in 2006, some lawyers can not accept the fact that we no longer use the IBM Select typewriter. Again, the technology I use in my own practice enables me to have the opportunity to hang my own shingle, be a solo, and work out of my home. Does it really matter what we call it? I don’t think so. Whether we call it “Third Wave Lawyer”, “M-Theory”, “The Connected Lawyer”, or Shingle, aren’t we all looking at the same thing. Ambrogi mentions in his post:
“Rather than hang shingles, Third Wave lawyers should pursue the M-Theory. This is a principle of physics that somehow translates into “doing what you love, while keeping your sanity, your earnings and your clients happy”
And what is wrong with “keeping your sanity, your earnings, and your client’s happy?” Which is actually my new slogan on this blog. And all three go hand in hand. In addition, for me and as Carolyn states, solo practice is not a trend to me, but reality and a lifesaver. In fact, even more for me, being a solo working out of my home is a reality and most definitely a lifesaver.
Without hanging my own shingle, being “Connected”, part of the third wave, trendy and pursuing the M-Theory and of course BLOGGING, I just don’t think I could do what I do. And they all work together to allow me to keep my sanity, more of my earnings and hopefully my clients happy.
Beer: It's Not Just For Breakfast Anymore
I found this interesting take on Wired.Com that I hope provides insight into this Shingle vs. M-Factor (and now Connected Lawyer) debate: Nothing happens until somebody sells something. Not war, not peace, not the adoption of fire or the wheel.
I think I went off the deep end a little when I put up my post. We’re really all doing the same thing, different ways, doesn’t matter what we call it. I like Chuck’s blog and did not want to create a debate.