Opportunities stare people in the face every day but unless you are watching and listening for them, they will be missed.
With over 27 years of legal expertise on his resume, Donald Kindwald is well versed in many practices within legal world. These practices include Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, Insurance Law, Small Business, and Real Estate Law.
Donald Kindwald founded Kindwald Law Offices, P.C. 15 years ago, growing the Chicago based firm under the guarantee that each and every client will be given the best legal representation possible. His well-informed and unique approach at Kindwald Law has given Don the chance to combine two of his passions to give great service; experience in litigation and dedication to client service and development.
When Kindwald Law opened it’s doors in 2003, Don set out to do his part in helping others. He soon found that he had a kinship with another industry seeking to serve others and building their successes from the group up. Small businesses. Finding this connection, Don realized that he could help these businesses to take control of their success and futures by empowering them with building a solid legal foundation to protect their company. Don offers one free session for legal advice to small business owners in the hopes that they can see the benefits of a collaboration together and to quickly address struggles that can be fixed quickly.
Donald Kindwald proudly graduated from Loyola University (Chicago) in 1987. Knowing he wanted to pursue his law degree, Don attended John Marshall Law School, earning his J.D. in 1990. Early in his career, Don worked as a Capital partner of Moltzen & Kindwald, Ltd, as well as working with a diverse group of partners in other law firms. Being an entrepreneur at heart, Don always knew he wanted to build his own success and ultimately left his endeavors to start his own firm.
Being the Principal in his own firm has not been the only way that Don has given back to his law community. By conducting extensive research in various law topics, and publishing his own works in law review journals, Donald Kindwald quickly became a recognized legal expert in Chicago. His contributions to law practices in the city of Chicago earned him a nod as one of Chicago’s Top Lawyers.
In addition to practicing law, Don has always strived to serve his community in helpful ways. He stays active as a member of llinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, the Board of Advisors for Catholic Charities of Chicago, and the Small Business Advocacy Council. Don has spoken regularly at Small Business Advocacy Council events as well as various business and construction related trade association events. His passion towards the law and the helping of others has fueled Donald Kindwald’s successes over the years, and through his work he hopes to inspire others to do the same.
Where did the idea for Kindwald Law come from?
My idea to start my own law firm came from what I perceived were other’s mistakes in running their law practices. I believe that clients and the law should be treated in a certain way and not all other lawyers see it that way. At Kindwald Law, we respect and appreciate the law and our clients which we believe is the only way to practice law.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
Every day is crazy. I start the day with a set plan and soon the dynamic of the practice takes my plans and turns them on their ear. I have learned to be productive by setting three “must accomplish” goals every day so even when the day turns crazy, I can still accomplish the essentials.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I bring ideas to life by getting clients on board with my ideas to solve their legal issues. Clients come to me with problems. Some can be solved quickly and others require a longer term strategy. When I can get clients to buy into my ideas and see the longer term effects, my ideas come to life.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Tablet technology. I have been a laptop guy forever but now I have added tablet computing which allows me more flexibility which translates into more productivity.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Getting up early. My day begins every day at 5:00 AM. Starting the day early means less distractions and more productivity.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Keep your eyes open for every opportunity around you. Opportunities stare people in the face every day but unless you are watching and listening for them, they will be missed.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?
Most people hate to get up early because they feel that more sleep rather than a quiet and focused work environment makes them more productive.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Never quit chasing. Chasing the client. Chasing the answer. Chasing the experience. Chasing the knowledge.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
Never quit marketing and looking for new clients. Too many lawyers say that they are too busy to market and have too many clients. For me, it’s just the opposite. Every business has a cycle and if the pipeline is always full, there are no down cycles.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Bad hires and misplaced trust. My own personal flaw is that I place too much trust in some of the people that work for me. While it is okay to delegate, you must follow up to make sure that tasks are really getting done as promised. Trust, but verify.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Virtual assistants are the wave of the business future. Hire a few competent people in any field and their skills can be parlayed into a successful business.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100 that I recently spent was on dinner with my two girls. We got a chance to catch up and my youngest shared her thoughts on entering college while my oldest shared her thoughts about her final year in college and then entering the working world.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I recently discovered Microsoft onenote. It has allowed me to get rid of my paper binder and keep my files and to-do list even more organized.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
“Cold Calling Techniques,” by Stephan Shiffman. This book teaches the most basic but most effective skills in business: how to sell. While the book focuses on telephone sales, the techniques can be transferred into any sales environment.
What is your favorite quote?
Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.
Connect:
Kindwald Law Offices on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kindwaldlaw/
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.