Staffing & Recruiter Training Podcast

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love welcomes back Kevin Wheeler, a seasoned business development consultant with over 30 years of experience advising law and professional services firms on strategy, marketing, and client growth. Together, they explore “Growing Key Clients: The Low-Hanging Fruit of Business Development.” Kevin explains that most firms overlook their most lucrative opportunities—their existing clients. Rather than constantly chasing new business, firms can achieve greater profitability by deepening relationships with key accounts and institutionalizing client management. Kevin outlines the major barriers preventing firms from capitalizing on these opportunities, including compensation structures that reward origination over collaboration and a lack of leadership support for client-focused strategies. He provides a roadmap for building a strong key client program: secure buy-in from firm leadership, appoint dedicated client relationship partners, conduct regular client listeni

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love welcomes Jordana Confino, founder of JC Coaching and Consulting and author of the blog Chronicles of a Recovering Type A+ Perfectionist, to explore “The Perfectionist Paradox.” Jordana explains that perfectionism is not about high standards—it’s a fear- and shame-based mindset driven by self-doubt and the need to prove worth. She reveals how this approach undermines both mental health and performance, blocking creativity, risk-taking, and authentic business development. Drawing on neuroscience and positive psychology, she describes how to replace the inner critic’s harsh voice with self-compassion, rewiring the brain through neuroplasticity to enhance confidence and performance. Jordana shares practical strategies to help high-achieving professionals and lawyers break free from destructive perfectionism. These include “drawing your critic” to externalize self-judgment, practicing compassionate self-talk, and identifying core values to shift from fear-base

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love welcomes David Freeman, award-winning consultant, best-selling author, and founder of Lawyer Book Builder, to discuss how laterals can thrive when joining a new firm. Drawing from over 30 years of coaching thousands of lawyers, David shares actionable strategies to help partners integrate quickly, build internal allies, and accelerate business development. He likens lateral transitions to being “the new kid in school” — success depends on taking ownership of relationship-building rather than waiting for the firm to do it. David explains how laterals can identify internal allies across practice groups, collaborate with marketing and BD professionals, and proactively offer value to colleagues through what he calls “gifts.” He introduces practical tools like the Memory Matrix—a simple spreadsheet to track and maintain relationships—and emphasizes consistency, visibility, and giving before asking. The conversation closes with three key takeaways: create a det

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews Jim Camp Jr., retired Air Force Major General, author of Lead From No, and principal at the Camp Negotiation Institute. Jim shares his systematic approach to negotiation, which combines mindset, structure, and behavior to help professionals achieve stronger outcomes without unnecessary compromise. He explains why most people mistakenly equate negotiation with giving something up, and instead reframes it as “the effort to bring about an agreement with all parties having the right to say no.” Jim outlines practical tools like the negotiation checklist and journal, emphasizing preparation, emotional control, and asking the right questions to uncover an opponent’s true concerns, vision, and decision-making process. He highlights how avoiding pressure and welcoming “no” builds trust, lowers tension, and leads to more durable agreements. With stories from both business and military contexts, Jim demonstrates how negotiation skills are essential acros

In this legal-focused edition of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Randy Peck (CEO) and Jordan Peck (VP of Business Development) of Peck Financial about the crucial but often overlooked issue of partner benefits during law firm transitions. Under the theme “Rainmakers Without Umbrellas”, they discuss how many high-earning partners neglect their own financial protection, leaving themselves and their families exposed when changing firms or going through mergers. From life insurance to disability and long-term care coverage, the Pecks explain how benefits often don’t keep pace with rising compensation—and why partners must treat themselves like their own clients by proactively evaluating their protection. They also highlight specific risks such as assuming new firms will provide sufficient coverage, overlooking portability of benefits, and ignoring international complications. With stories from decades of advising AmLaw 100 and 200 firms, Randy and Jordan stress that the biggest pitfall is simply l

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with social media strategist and LinkedIn expert Kait LeDonne about the shifting landscape of LinkedIn. Kait traces how the platform has evolved—from being a digital résumé hub to today’s creator-driven space optimized for knowledge and advice. She explains why vulnerability posts surged during the pandemic, how LinkedIn adjusted its algorithm to emphasize value-driven content, and what professionals should focus on now: consistency, storytelling, and educational insights. Kait also provides practical guidance for professional services providers who want to turn LinkedIn visibility into real business opportunities. She highlights the power of newsletters, personal branding, and using story as a bridge to credibility and trust. With actionable strategies—posting at least twice a week, engaging meaningfully with comments, and adding strategic connections daily—Kait shows how professionals can build influence, grow their networks, and convert visibili

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews Gavin Sharpe, former lawyer, global legal search firm CEO, and now performance and leadership coach, to discuss the blind spots of rainmakers. Gavin explains that blind spots are unconscious behaviors others see but we often miss—like interrupting, failing to delegate, or hiding vulnerability. Left unchecked, these blind spots create limiting assumptions such as “I’m not a natural rainmaker” or “asking for help is weakness,” which can undermine success and stall growth. Gavin shares how lawyers’ personalities and the pressures of perfectionism often reinforce these blind spots, creating a cycle of stress and missed opportunities. He offers strategies for uncovering and challenging limiting beliefs, from seeking peer and client feedback to reframing outdated stories we tell ourselves. By identifying, examining, and dismantling these beliefs, professionals can unlock untapped potential, build stronger teams, and become more effective rainmakers.

In this legal-focused edition of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Camille Stell, co-author of Respect: Insights to Attorney Compensation Plans. Together, they explore why compensation is more than just numbers—it’s about respect, transparency, and culture. Camille explains how lawyers often interpret pay as a measure of personal value, which can make compensation discussions emotionally charged. She shares insights into the complexities of law firm compensation, including the influence of multiple committees, the challenges of integrating laterals, and generational expectations around transparency. Camille also highlights how compensation strategies shape firm culture, impact collaboration, and affect retention and succession planning. She outlines emerging trends, such as rewarding team contributions, expanding non-equity career paths, and building transparency into comp systems. For law firm leaders, Camille suggests auditing current systems, aligning compensation with strategic goals, and in

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews Sue Heilbronner, executive coach, speaker, and author of Never Ask for the Sale: Supercharge Your Business with the Power of Passionate Ambivalence. Sue explains why many professional services providers resist selling themselves and how to shift that mindset by embracing authenticity and confidence. She introduces the concept of passionate ambivalence—the ability to be genuinely excited about opportunities while remaining unattached to the outcome. This approach helps professionals appear more credible, command higher fees, and attract long-term clients. Sue also addresses common challenges such as imposter syndrome, over-eagerness, and desperation in sales. She emphasizes qualifying prospects, presenting yourself as the product, and building thought leadership through strong digital presence and meaningful contributions. With practical strategies for pricing, follow-up, and conference networking, Sue provides actionable insights for profession

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love sits down with Patrick Morin, CEO of Transact Capital, to discuss how rainmakers can maximize their time at conferences. Patrick shares proven strategies that have generated millions in business, from doing research and segmenting attendees before arrival, to positioning yourself in the right places—like across from registration desks or in the front rows of sessions—to build meaningful connections. He emphasizes preparation, authenticity, and focusing on relationship-building rather than selling. Patrick also highlights post-conference follow-up tactics that strengthen client development, such as sending short, thoughtful notes and sharing industry intelligence without expecting anything in return. He stresses the importance of speaking opportunities, attending offsite events, and maintaining high energy throughout the conference to create loyal connections. His practical insights show how professionals can turn conferences into powerful rainmaking oppor

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews Catherine MacDonagh, a legal industry consultant and author of Lean Six Sigma for Law. Catherine explains how process improvement—defined as analyzing and refining repeatable, describable steps to achieve better outcomes—can significantly enhance client service, profitability, and rainmaking. She notes that while lawyers often resist by saying every matter is unique, many steps in legal work and firm operations (like intake, billing, or onboarding) are recurring processes ripe for improvement. By using tools such as scorecards, impact/ease matrices, and stakeholder analysis, firms can identify high-impact areas, streamline workflows, and improve both client and employee experiences. Catherine shares real-world success stories, including a global law department that collaborated with a law firm to reduce billing inefficiencies and deepen their relationship. She stresses the importance of involving cross-functional teams, listening to the “voice

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Jeff Brandeis about how professionals can use webinars as a powerful tool for rainmaking. Jeff explains that too many webinars fall flat because they are one-sided PowerPoint presentations that disengage audiences. Instead, he emphasizes creating interactive experiences—adding music, visuals, polls, and live engagement to keep participants interested. By building rapport with attendees—just as one would in a networking conversation—presenters can foster the know-like-trust factor essential for winning new business. Jeff also highlights the importance of asking the right questions, adapting content based on audience responses, and using storytelling to create authentic connections. The discussion also touches on practical strategies to elevate webinars into true business development platforms. Jeff advises presenters to avoid “death by PowerPoint” by limiting slides to a few bullet points and keeping themselves on screen to maintain presence. H

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews sales performance expert and coach Walt Crosby about how introverts can excel in business development. Walt explains why introverts often have an advantage: their natural tendency toward active listening allows them to truly understand client needs, peel back the layers to uncover the emotional drivers behind decisions, and build deeper connections. He stresses the importance of mirroring tone and cadence, setting upfront agreements to control meetings, and using curiosity and empathy to create trust. Walt also outlines how skepticism—politely pushing back for clarity—can strengthen credibility and uncover real issues. The conversation explores practical strategies for networking and client engagement, especially for introverts who may feel uncomfortable initiating contact. Walt encourages professionals to develop a clear picture of their ideal client, focus on learning about others before sharing their own story, and have clear next steps afte

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Troy Korsgaden, insurance industry consultant and business development expert, about how professionals can avoid common pitfalls in client development. Troy emphasizes that the biggest mistake professionals make is failing to be intentional. He shares how building habits—like stopping for brief, purposeful introductions during daily routines—can generate long-term business success without requiring large time investments. His “stacking” method, combined with calendaring time for outreach, ensures that business development becomes a natural part of the day, not an afterthought. The conversation also explores the importance of follow-up, with Troy reinforcing that consistent communication is more impactful than any one-time pitch. Troy also introduces the concept of being a “discussion partner”—someone clients turn to not just for services, but for strategic conversations and trusted advice. He encourages professionals, including introverte

In this Legal Tuesday episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Lana Manganiello, law firm growth leader, business development coach, and lateral integration strategist, about why business development is career development. Lana explains that the skills and activities required to grow a book of business—building visibility, cultivating credibility, and developing strategic relationships—are the same ones that create career options, whether an attorney wants to make equity partner, move firms, or transition in-house. She emphasizes that investing in business development not only generates autonomy and control over your practice but also increases leverage within your current organization, allowing you to shape your role into something more fulfilling. Lana offers practical guidance on developing both internal and external strategic relationships, highlighting the value of connecting with colleagues, mentors, and professional staff inside the firm, as well as clients, referral sources, and

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Tony Gray, author of The Business Development Body of Knowledge and founder of the Global Business Development Association, about how professionals can lead with trust in business development. Tony shares a neuroscience-based model of trust built on three pillars: purpose, empathy, and truth. He explains how these elements activate specific brain chemicals—oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin—that foster genuine connection and credibility. Rather than rely on anecdotal tactics, Tony advocates for a scientific, principle-based approach to building long-term business relationships, emphasizing that aligning with a prospect’s purpose and being candid—even when it means saying you’re not the right fit—can create lasting trust and unexpected referrals. The conversation also explores the differences between empathy and sympathy, how to build the “muscle memory” of candor, and why referrals are the most scalable form of business development. Tony i

In this Legal Tuesday episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Steve Seckler, attorney coach and author of Think Like a Lawyer, Act Like an Entrepreneur. Steve shares how lawyers can overcome their aversion to selling by reframing business development as an authentic, relationship-based activity. Drawing from his own journey as a risk-averse skeptic, Steve offers practical tools for lawyers who want to grow their practices without feeling like salespeople. He emphasizes the importance of listening, curiosity, and small, consistent actions that build trust—like sending follow-ups, maintaining light touches with contacts, and showing up at live events. Steve also outlines the value of identifying a niche to become more memorable in a competitive marketplace. He encourages lawyers to engage in business development activities that feel natural and aligned with their personalities, whether that’s bar association involvement, speaking engagements, or nonprofit service. Key takeaways include a

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Andy Buyting, author of Double Sales, Zero Salespeople, about how professionals in service industries can gain a competitive edge by strategically researching the competition. Andy breaks down a detailed, data-driven approach using platforms like SEMrush to analyze traffic sources, keyword effectiveness, and competitor performance—distinguishing between direct and aspirational competitors. He emphasizes the value of identifying non-branded keywords (those not tied to a specific company name) to capture inbound traffic from prospects searching for solutions to existing problems. Andy also shares compelling examples of companies that unlocked untapped markets by targeting overlooked search terms, such as “landlord insurance” or “how to write an RFP for a firetruck.” He encourages professionals to think like their prospects and align website messaging with customer fears and motivations. Key action steps include analyzing competitors, getting cre

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Neil Barrow, a business development consultant for professional services firms, about how partners can generate more revenue through laser-focused relationship-building. Neil challenges the common notion that business development requires chasing every shiny new tool or tactic. Instead, he emphasizes the power of deepening relationships with a select group of key clients and referral sources. He introduces a practical “tiering” system to segment clients based on relationship strength and strategic value—encouraging professionals to identify their top 15–20 clients and focus on creating intentional, value-based conversations with them. Neil also discusses how to apply the same tiering strategy to referral sources by identifying where past business came from and nurturing those relationships systematically. He walks listeners through actionable steps, including reviewing your book of business, categorizing contacts by relationship level (f

In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, host Scott Love speaks with Dr. Megan Lyons—Harvard grad, former consultant, and board-certified clinical nutritionist—about how high-performing professionals can optimize their health without sacrificing productivity. Dr. Lyons shares that the goal isn’t perfection, but performance with minimal health compromise. She identifies common obstacles faced by rainmakers, including adrenal dysregulation, poor nutrition habits, and the misconception that prioritizing health equals losing your edge. Using relatable examples, she explains how small changes—like eating 20–30 grams of protein at breakfast and avoiding “naked carbs”—can create immediate improvements in energy, focus, and long-term well-being. Dr. Lyons provides tactical recommendations tailored for professionals under pressure: building nutrient-dense meals using her VVFP model (veggie, veggie, fat, protein), managing caffeine and sugar intake strategically, and planning meals like a crustless quiche to save ti