Greetings Everyone:
Hopefully, many of you are in the holiday spirit and ready to ring in 2009. I know I am. After the economic meltdown of 2008 and seeing the legal recruiting market practically dry up, I am ready for 2008 to leave and 2009 arrive. Maybe I am being overly optimistic, but I truly feel that it cannot get much worse and all we have to go from here is up.

During this last quarter of 2008, I took a leave of absence from my blogging. With everyday of bad news, I just couldn't get my creative juices flowing. With MSNBC and CNN reporting everyday about the collapse of Wall Street and the law firms crumbling along with their clients, I retreated into a cocoon. I questioned whether as a legal recruiter I would survive what is being pegged the worse downturn since The Great Depression. However, I am re-emerging from my cocoon folks, more optimistic than ever.

Why you ask? I have taken the bull by the horns. I have left my old firm, SouthSearch, for Major, Lindsey & Africa, who was better positioned to whether this nasty storm. But most importantly, because this is a great opportunity for me to truly nurture relationships with my clients. I have time now to truly get to know my clients. I have time to meet them in their offices and gain true insight into their practices and employees. We can sit and talk to one another without the fear of interruption or having to rush to another meeting. This is a wonderful time to bond with existing and new clients. On the flip side, I can the do the same with my candidates. I have the time now to truly focus on what their saying and really look for their perfect job.

In the age of email and Blackberrys, we have a chance to go old school and develop the human component of our business. Nothing replaces the insight gained from have a discussion face to face. You learn so much about people when you can speak with them in person. The human element and bonding is lost in emails.

This is a great time to work on marketing yourself. Whether it is returning calls that we normally don't have time to return in a busy market, writing articles, doing speaking engagements or taking time to develop a relationship with a potential client that probably will not need your services until 5 years down the road, this is the time to do it.

So I am embracing these slower times because I know I will emerge from this downturn as a better recruiter with stronger connections and relationships in my business. During this slow period, I can work on improving me, which in turn my clients and candidates will happily benefit from, which in turn will benefit me.

With that said, see you in 2009. Everyone make sure you get your rest, I have a feeling 2009 is going to be one heck of a ride!! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!