Billable Hour Check In — February 2024

February 1, 2024 -- time for (you may have guessed it or you may run away) my billable hour check in.

As a partner, I need to hit 1750 base billable hours and 650 investment hours in 2024.

I fell a little behind the billable target in January, but banked so many investment hours.

All in, I'm still right at 200 hours per month for the rest of 2024.

In February, I will have some travel, meaning: weekend work will be required. That's okay, because it means I get to see my family when they visit Chicago, I get to visit my parents in Atlanta, and I get to travel to Houston for the Rodeo and to see a dear friend.

It'll be a good month, including: 10 half days of work and 15 full days (19 days all in).

Meaning: On each full day, I'll need to aim for about 10 hours of work and on each half day about 5 hours of work.

That's a tall task, and I know: some days I'll beat the goal, some days I'll miss the goal, and I have 10 more months (some of which will be very long, and very busy) to keep on top of my hours.

Keeping my hours in mind, each day and week and month, helps me avoid getting to the end of the year and having to overextend myself to hit my requirement.

Keeping my hours in mind, each day and week and month, helps me plan for and around days I'll travel, days I'll only work a half day, and days I'll complete check out.

I can be more present at work and outside of work because I know where I stand. I can be strategic when times are slow--banking investment hours or banking time to myself.

By tracking all my investment time, I show my firm that I'm committed to the firm, as well as to my professional and business development.

The ebbs and flows happen. This planning helps me make the most of both the ups and the downs.

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