We had the good fortune of connecting with Connor Throckmorton and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Connor, what do you attribute your success to?
I think passion for your craft and your own business is the most important thing. If you have the passion, everything else will fall into place; the hard work you put in, the tough decisions you make, and the delivery of a high-quality product or service will come much easier to you.
Without a passion for what you do, you will struggle with owning a small business because all of the essentials will be a chore rather than a journey to greatness.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I opened Throckmorton Law Firm in November of 2020 at the height of COVID-19 pandemic. As an associate attorney, I had incredible mentors at two law firms and enjoyed my time at both places. But, I wanted more. I also came to terms with a character trait that could not be ignored: I don’t like being told what to do.
There are always challenges with being a small business owner, especially in the beginning. I knew I was a capable attorney, but the practice of law is different from running a business. Everything was new territory. Instead of just worrying about deadlines and my boss, I had to start worrying about how to rent an office space, set up phone lines, and deal with disasters that are beyond my control. I realized that as a business owner, regardless of your intentions or involvement in various catastrophes, everything is your fault.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned as a small business owner is to be careful of how you take advice from others on how to run your business. Every person on the planet is different, and no two businesses are alike. If you worry too much about what others think of you, your goals, or how you run your business, you will lose your sense of direction. You will not please everyone. There will be a peer, colleague, competitor, or loved one that won’t hesitate to share criticism and discouragement based on their own life experiences.
Listen, process, self-examine, and be mindful of any advice you receive, but be yourself without apology.
Throckmorton Law Firm focuses on fighting discrimination and unlawful employment practices. There are many incredible lawyers that do exactly what we do, but one thing that makes our firm different is that we acknowledge that the public is generally intimidated by lawyers. We understand that people only come to us under bad circumstances, so it is very important that our clients feel comfortable when they come in to share traumatic, private, and/or embarrassing things with a stranger. We believe that a relaxed environment with minimal austerity usually associated with lawyers is the best way to serve our clients.
Finally, we make it clear that we do not “sell” clients on our services. Many law firms will push clients to sign on as if they’re buying a used car, but that is not our model. The best clients are the ones that hire us knowing exactly what to expect and the risks involved with litigation. People today shop around for lawyers, so our best marketing strategy is high-quality service rather than mere “optics”.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Houston is the most diverse city in the world. I tell visitors that in Houston, anything your heart desires is a 15-30 minute drive away. Whether you are searching for the highest-end luxury, a museum, beautiful scenery, African cuisine, or a vegan brewery, you will find it here in Houston.
I always recommend the Galleria and a drive up and down Westheimer Road to find a shop or restaurant because there is something for everyone.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Having good parents is a blessing that not everyone receives. It certainly takes a village, but I owe much of my success to the love, support, encouragement, and training I got from my mom and dad.
Website: www.throckmortonlaw.com
Instagram: @throckmortonlawfirm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/throckmortonlawfirm/
Image Credits
Chris Gillett