Glen Levine is a Founding Senior Partner at The Law Offices of Anidjar and Levine, a 3x INC 5000 honoree who has won over $450 million for their clients. The personal injury firm has offices across Florida including Naples, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, and their headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. Glen has been recognized by numerous prestigious societies and publications for his achievements, including the Elite Tier of America’s Top Lawyers by the American Law Society in 2017, the Legal Elite by the Florida Trend Magazine in 2017, and the Top Rated Lawyers by the Miami Herald in 2015, to name a few.
Please tell us a little bit about your company
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine is a law firm specializing in personal injury litigation – we represent people who become injured due to others’ negligence. In the past several years, we have expanded to all across South Florida, including Naples, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, and our headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. We’re also a bit different from other firms because we believe our clients are like family. We love our clients, and we want them to focus on their businesses while fighting the big fight for them.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
I got my bachelor’s from Tulane, then my law degree from Nova Southeastern University. I started as an associate attorney in Hollywood and then moved on to another firm where I could handle many cases. Marc and I decided to start a firm together one day when we met for lunch. We were both complaining about how our cases were being handled by our respective bosses. We then decided that together, we could create a firm that treated its clients like family. In 2005, my dad gave us some free space in his office, and we grew from there and never looked back.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
One skill is discipline. I’ve been able to improve my discipline through my marathon and triathlon training. I’ve learned to use my athletic mindset for my business as well. Getting to the next mile marker is exciting but getting there too fast can lead to problems later along in the race. Whether it’s running a marathon or running a business, focusing on the end goal is the most important thing.
Another skill is creativity. Finding a way to connect with your clients in a new way can be a challenge, but a little bit of imagination can help.
Another skill is resiliency. Bad things happen in business all the time, and the ability to bounce back is a necessity. Hanging onto one challenging situation can drag your efficiency down, which in turn hurts business. It’s okay to be upset about something but recognize what needs to be fixed and fix it.
What are your plans for the future? How do you plan to grow this company?
We are a three-time INC 5000 honoree, and we want to continue the fantastic progress our firm has achieved. We are thinking of opening more offices across Florida on top of the five locations we have already established. We cannot confirm any quite plans yet, but the future is bright in Florida for our firm!
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
Many firms try to take on as many cases as possible and turn them around in the shortest amount of time. The speed of running through cases can lead to a lack of communication between client and attorney. We give our clients our cell phone numbers and make communication a number one priority. We do our best to guide the client through everything from making medical appointments to dealing with the insurance company. Being involved in a legal dispute can be stressful so we take a holistic approach to ensure that all of the client needs are met.
What were the top three mistakes you made starting your business, and what did you learn from them?
One lesson I learned in the beginning was to practice better work-life balance. I was spending a lot of time on the business, which is need when launching a new company, but you cannot do it to the detriment of your inner peace. You need to take time for yourself and fill your own cup, before you can pour out onto others.
Another lesson was to let certain things go and learn to trust in the people that are delegated tasks. To see growth in your business you need to work on the business and not constantly be working in the business.
Lastly, I had to learn to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. You are going to need to do things you have never done to help your business grow.
Tell us a little bit about your marketing process; what has been the most successful marketing form for you?
We have an omnipresent type of approach for our marketing. We love using social media, radio broadcasting, internet ads, and television commercials. We want the clients to know who we are, and we want them to know what we stand for. Part of our outreach to our community is to give back. We believe if people see us take care of the community, people will trust us to also take care of them.
What have been your biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?
One of my biggest challenges is balancing growth and quality services. In 2016, we opened our flagship location, and we had to hire over 70 people. We did all of this without ever sacrificing the quality service and care that our clients deserve. It’s a very fine balance of helping more people while maintaining the customer experience integrity. Growth is significant, but it needs to be strategic.
What is the one thing you wish you knew before starting your business?
Just because you build a strong business, it doesn’t mean that people will use your services. It takes so much work to build a network. From marketing to operations, it’s all essential to build a customer base.
Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs?
Atomic Habits is a great book. It discusses how to build constructive habits and break bad ones.
If you only had 1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
I would spend it on marketing. Social media has become more and more necessary for businesses to promote their services, and it can reach a business’s target audience, down to the local area and age group. Social media marketing is becoming more and more sophisticated, and it’s something every entrepreneur should implement in their business.
What is your favorite quote?
If it is to be it is up to me.
I love this quote because of how simple it is. 10 two letter words that really say it all. If you want to make a change in your life, there is only one person who can effectuate that change. Don’t wait for someone else to do it for you, go out and make it happen.
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
Put time aside to spend with family. Being an entrepreneur is a 24/7-time commitment, so it’s important to remember your reason for getting up each day. It’s essential to balance your work and home life because not only will it benefit you, and it will also help your employees. It will increase morale and increase the likelihood of employees staying with the company longer.
How can we get in touch with you?
You can find me by visiting my website anidjarlevine.com, also on social media via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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