December – Success
Phyl Bean, Family Law Attorney and VirtualOffiCenters client at Olympic Place, is our Success client for December. She has been practicing law for 20 years, the last 15 specializing in divorce, custody, child support and alimony. Phyl has also recently written a book, Lawful Entry. This fictional novel revolves around a divorce attorney who finds herself in the middle of her own divorce and features a lot of fun twists along the way. For more from Phyl, read on.
Every business has a story, tell us yours.
When I was a child, I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian, a firefighter, or a lawyer. I realized that I couldn’t stand the sight of blood, so that took veterinarian off the list. I thought I’d look cute in a firefighter hat, but then someone mentioned that I’d have to go INTO burning buildings, so that and the fact that they wouldn’t let me wear the hat all the time made me choose law school.
You were chosen as this month’s Success Client. Tell us about your most recent Success.
I am the proud author of the fictional novel, Lawful Entry. It’s about a female divorce lawyer and mother of two, Bernie Michaels, who gets divorced, and starts publishing erotica in order to make some additional money. Of course, she needs to keep her sideline a secret from her children and her vindictive ex-husband, which turns out to be a little harder than she thought. Lawful Entry is slated for release December 15, 2014 at www.henschelHAUSbooks.com or on Amazon.
No one likes to brag about their business, but if you HAD TO . . .
I am different from many lawyers in two major ways: I promptly return phone calls and emails, which, sadly is different from what I hear many people say about their former attorneys. Secondly, I have a sense of humor. It’s not most lawyers’ fault that they don’t have a sense of humor—there is a mandatory humor-removal surgery scheduled before every law school graduation. I accidentally slept in the day of my appointment and missed the surgery, and just never got around to rescheduling. I live in fear that one day someone’s going to audit the paperwork for my graduating class and realize that they’re a sense of humor short.
We learn from our mistakes, especially in business. Give us some words of wisdom.
Never take on a high-maintenance, difficult client because you “need the money.” It will rarely be worth it and in the end you’re probably going to end up with an unpaid bill and a bad taste in your mouth.
Share the best advice you ever received.
“If you’re going to spend time on someone’s children and not get paid for it, make it your own children you’re spending time on.” This is why I don’t do pro bono work. I will probably take on some cases when my kids are grown, but for now, my unpaid time is reserved for them and my amazing husband.
Describe your perfect day off.
Umm…What is this newsletter rated? ‘Cause my perfect day off might not be appropriate for small children and the faint of heart.
What might someone be surprised to know about you?
I was the youngest of nine children and I grew up on a tobacco farm in Southern Maryland.
Together we are stronger. Tell us something you like about being our client.
You guys are always so friendly and accommodating. Even when I do derpy things, you never make fun of me to my face. And FREE PARKING!!!
If you could work anywhere under the sun, where would you choose?
Mars. Definitely Mars.
How can people CONNECT with you?
By email: phylbean@gmail.com; by phone: 612-384-9062 or just shine the Bat Signal in the sky—I’ll be there.
