The Third Wave In Exile

Sorry I have not been available on my blog of late, but this is how I feel.  I am stuck in a cheap motel with my wife, youngest son and beagle having sold the home office and awaiting the renovation of a new home and office.  But, the experience is teaching me much as to the practical aspects of running a virtual style practice.

First, no matter how disruptive this process is for me and my family, it is possible to run a Third Wave law firm from a very small extended stay motel room.  All I really need is wireless.

Second, no matter how much progress we have made in going paperless, I realize we are still clinging too tightly to the world of paper and there is more that we can do.  We need to give greater thought to keeping all aspects of our practices online and available.  For me especially, I still have tons of files.  I created paper files before heading toward a paperless world, and I have felt compelled to hold on to them over the years, as I did not go back and try to digitize. However, given the space they consume (I am moving to a smaller place) and the difficulty in moving files, I note my folly.

Third, my home and home office has always been serviced by cable.  When I moved into my last home that was Time Warner.  My past relationship with Time Warner was not always pleasant, but recently Comcast has taken over.  I thought it would be an easy process to transfer the service from my old house to the new house, in that is what Comcast advertises and since I was moving within Comcast's system and only a couple of miles away from the house we sold.  But, what I am finding out is that what they promote as Comcastic is really more bombastic.  I cannot seem to get the service hooked up in my new home because Comcast is so worried about what I want to do with the signal when it enters my home.  So, they refuse to hook the cable up until my entire system is in place.  For me, I want the damned modem hooked up and running and the pipes opened so I can add TVs later and wire the house with Cat 6. Since the home in which I am moving had cable service from Comcast, including broadband and TV before I purchased the house, the transfer does not require them to come into the house.  The transfer is all accomplished outside of the home.  Comcast also employs technologies that intentionally slow certain services, such as VoIP, from what I understand.  As a result, broadband is still not established at the future property and I am considering other options, such as DSL.    There are trade offs with either choice.  The bottom line is that Comcast's employees have been rude, obstructionist and in no way helpful.  It reminds me of the Ma Bell days when the phone company had no competition.  Having service oriented, helpful and polite employees is a leadership issue which Comcast apparently does not have. AT&T, before its reincarnation recently, killed itself and as the options multiply Comcast will come to suffer for its bad practices.

Fourth, and maybe the most important, is that when I was trying to grow a traditional Big Law firm I was required to focus all of my energies and money into office growth.  This included design and decorating issues.  After all, if this was the motive you could not be caught working in a slum.  You had to be surrounded by marble, mahogany, glass and the other fine appointments so everybody would know I was successful.  Firm logos had to be placed everywhere in brass.  As a result, no energy or money would be put into my home.  Now that I work from home, the design and appointment suits me and is not intended to impress anybody.  And, I can spend my money in a way that makes my whole life and my family the most comfortable and happy.  So, for the first time we are instituting major changes in the new home/office.  We are laying 8 pallets of slate floors.  Not for my clients, but it is what we want.  We are adding flat screen TVs and surround systems throughout our home to make our lives better and not as a selling device.  We are working extensively on the back yard and covered porch to relax from work.

I will try to keep you better informed as we go alone.

Comments

[Susan Cartier Liebel]

I feel your pain, Chuck. I have Comcast and they are just not a good company. I have no choices, however, where I live and I'm constantly reminded about that everytime I have a problem with this horrible, horrible company.

[Peter Olson]

Susan,

My wife and I want without TV for over a year strictly in protest of Comcast...I feel your pain.

Peter