6.3.2024 Billable Hour Check In
June 3, 2024--the first business day of the month, so my unromantic billable hour breakdown is here.
But first: 11 years ago today I drove from Oxford, Mississippi to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I had never been to Wisconsin before. I thought I'd be here for, at most, my two-year clerkship. Alas, best laid plans and all that.
The date is memorable because it was also the day I turned 27. I've learned so much over the last decade. Including how to embrace being much more unapologetically me.
So, here is my unapologetic monthly check-in with my billable hour requirement.
As a partner, I'm expected to hit 2400 hours all in (billable and investment time). I had a big March and April, but a slower May. Even so, I'm still just slightly ahead of that 200/month goal.
This month, I need to hit 190 hours.
Looking over the month, I have no half-billing or zero-billing days. So, I hope to take advantage and rack up some extra hours along the way.
I worked a little yesterday, but, not including that time, I'll have 20 full working days in June 2024.
190 / 20 = 9.5 hours each working day.
With 9.5 as my daily goal, my weekly goal is 47.5.
Some days, I'll bill more than 9.5, so I'll subtract those extra hours from the next day, the rest of the week, or the rest of the month.
Some days, I'll miss the goal, so I'll add those missed hours to the next day, the rest of the week, or the rest of the month.
When the billable work is slow, I lean heavily on investment time: business development, networking, brand building, professional writing, mentoring, and more. That way, I show my firm, I'm still working at it--investment in the firm, in myself, and in my career.
The ebbs and flows in this job are very real. But, after 8 years, I have learned to ride those waves--even walking away and taking naps or going to Target when time allows (or scheduling my tennis lesson for 830 AM instead of 630 AM).
And like everything else in life, unpredictable things are bound to come up--like a sick pet, a mental-health day, or chats to catch up with my colleagues. That is part of life--of our shared human condition.
I am not special in any of this. You can do this too--if it works for you, of course. Also: this isn't a positive or negative in my life. The billable hour is a requirement of my work--a neutral, like clocking in and clocking out. Shifting that mindset has brought a lot more positivity into my personal and professional life--even if others cannot believe it is possible, I promise it is.
🔥❤️✌️