VirtualOffiCenters’ Milestone Client for July is from Olympic Place OffiCenter, Attorney Michael Mjoen. Michael was one of the first Minnesota lawyers to focus on bankruptcy law as an area of concentration, helping people through sensitive and personal times in their lives. And he was one of our first virtual clients back in 1995 when virtual wasn’t even cool. This year Michael is celebrating 28 years of business, 17 of those years he has been a virtual client at OffiCenters! That is a milestone that any business would be proud achieve.
1) Who are you and what do you do? Mike Mjoen, I am a 28 year practicing attorney (one of these years I will get it right)!
2) Which OffiCenters location does your business call ‘home-base’? Olympic Place
3) How long have you been an OffiCenters client? Since 1995
4) What is your ‘elevator speech’? I save marriages and keep people from jumping off buildings! Seriously, although I am somewhat a general practitioner my main focus the last ten years for obvious reasons has been consumer and business bankruptcy. As with the areas of my prior focus, real estate and probate, you are taking a difficult situation and fixing it. Very gratifying when you see that the client can breathe again. I offer free initial consultations because people need to meet you, trust you and get answers to questions that scare them. Give them the information they need and you win them over in the end.
5) Where did you get the idea for your business? Going solo was an opportunity I was fortunate to take when the firm I was in previously disbanded. I was at a point in my life where I could live with the risk.
6) What makes your business unique? Unlike many firms that handle the areas I practice, I wear all the hats and clients appreciate that they work directly with me rather than assistants.
7) What are the keys to your success? The most important part of my job is making my clients comfortable and aware of their options. If they do not like you they will not hire you.
8) How has officing with OffiCenters changed your business? The virtual office concept was perfect for me when I started on my own. I enjoy my morning commute downstairs to my home office. Low overhead equals low stress.
9) What would you like people to know about you? Business wise, that I know my stuff. I have been dealing with bankruptcy, real estate, estate planning and probate for over 25 years. Rare to see something I have not handled. On a personal level, that I have been married for 29 years to Gretchen and have two boys, Kjel is 23, Kyle is 19, and my 10 year old Husky, Pasha. I have been lucky.
10) Do you use social media to attract clients? If so, which services do you use? I do not. Since I spend a lot of my time in front of a computer preparing documents and dealing with emails I have little interest in spending my free time on Facebook. I know there are advantages, but I have been fortunate that I do not have to market myself too hard. I have no interest in tweeting. I suppose that officially makes me old.
11) What is one of your favorite quotes? “You can’t always get what you want, but you get what you need.” M Jagger / K. Richards. Says it all.
12) Who has been an inspiration in your life, and how? My Dad. The most honest man I know.
13) When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you use it? Pick up a golf magazine, think about my round this week or plan my next round. Get the picture? I am a huge golf nut.
14) If you could be any fictional character, whom would you choose and why? I have been enjoying the exploits of Mitch Rapp in the books by Vince Flynn. I could see myself as a CIA operative in another life.
15) If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? I live wolves. Beautiful and dangerous.
16) What is your favorite restaurant in Minnesota? I enjoy the atmosphere at Buca for pasta and red wine. That is always a good date night with my wife.
17) What is your favorite place to visit in Minnesota? Every year I go on a golf trip to play the Giants Ridge courses in September. Playing there when the leaves are changing color is spectacular.
18) What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life? I am a real dinosaur when it comes to music. I still listen to the stuff that broke as I was starting to see the larger world. Gimme Shelter by the Stones, Rock and Roll by Zeppelin, Rebel Rebel by Bowie. Powerful memories.
19) If you could paint a picture of any scenery you’ve ever seen before, what would you paint and why? I have a place in Ft Myers, FL and like to go to the Gulf at sunset and watch the sun melt into the Gulf. Very relaxing and inspirational. A drink doesn’t hurt.
20) What is your favorite part of being with OffiCenters? It gives me what I need to appear professional. I have the presence without the cost that would be necessary for my own office setting. It is convenient to my home and I have always enjoyed the staff over the years. Nice people.