While most firms have some sort of mission statement, or what they consider a vision, as to who they want to be, executing on that vision means asking hard questions, making potentially unpopular decisions and having a keen sense of self-actualization when it comes to knowing what the firm is all about and where it wants to go.

The term "vision" can sound hokey. Or corny. Or like some sort of business babble-speak that uses a whole lot of words to say absolutely nothing. It's hard to have been in the workforce for any serious period of time and not had a giggle at the expense of a mission statement or vision at some point. But it matters. And in the law firm world, if applied properly, can lead to real revenue growth.