Ari Witkes

Vision

  • Witkes Law Firm is a fully compliant, turn-key, profitable law practice that runs on its own and has constant growth. 

  • My team is dedicated, loves to work at WLF and lives by our Core Values  

  • WLF is LOVED by our clients, the consumers we serve – We make a positive impact

Purpose

  • Build a law practice that provides, not just intelligent, but meaningful representation 

  • Be a generous leader. 

Unifying Strategies: 

  • Build law firm that has clear OPUS; Runs on EOS & utilizes Strategic Coach 

  • Create solid core processes then market and network like crazy 

  • Constantly seek ways to improve as a person, attorney, and leader. (Build competence in Creditors Rights, Corporate Law, Trust and Estate, M&A, A/R financing – know the industry inside out. Build competence in finance) 

  • Delegate, elevate, make leaders within WLF 

  • Make deep connections with business owners in Cleveland and larger community. 

  • Increase revenue of clients:  

  • Leverage technology – utilize and innovate the newest technology  

  • Prevent lawsuits through strict compliance standards 

  • Consistently meet with mentors - “Master Mind” 

  • Give generously – Give more than your get. *Letters/notes to people/Financial literacy training courses/Give time and compliments to companies/people.  

  • Provide clients with end to end legal business services 

  • UPSTART FOUNDATION

Scorecard

  • Deep relationship with clients 

  • Lawsuits filed throughout Ohio 

  • Built efficient turnkey systems. 

  • We attract new clients, from current client’s referrals.  

  • WLF has a team that lives with purpose. Goals/OPUS. 

  • We offer more than just debt collection services (Contracts, Trust & Estates…). 

  • I’ve recovered 100k (DONE), 500K (DONE), 1M (DONE), 20M, 100M+. 

  • First 25k to charity (DONE), 50k (DONE), 100K, 500K+.  

  • WLF has licensed to practice law in other states  

  • Law firm awards / records / recognized as law firm that exceeds expectations. 

My Purpose

To make a positive impact on every person that interacts with WLF. To support my team in an all-encompassing way. To provide for my family and community abundantly. To give a lot of charity. 

My Scorecard

  1. Everyone on my team has an OPUS and is working towards achieving personal and professional goals. 

  2. WLF has reviews from clients / debtors acknowledging our impact. 

  3. WLF has given 100K, 200K, 500K … to Charity. 

  4. WLF has annual fees over 500K, 750K, 1M, 2M. 

1. Worldview/Life Philosophies: I believe ... 

  • G-d is ONE.  

  • G-d is actively creating the world at every moment. 

  • G-d is with me. My soul is a piece of G-d and has unlimited capacity. 

  • G-d is Good. 

  • My purpose is to reveal G-d in the world by living as a channel for G-d's will.  

  • The world was created for me. I was created to serve my creator.  

  • Every person is a world. One small act or smile to another can change the world. 

  • The world is on a balance-scale; Doing good tips the scale and perpetuates good. Do good, refrain from bad. 

  • Everything has a time and place. Everything happens for a reason. Everything I experience is a lesson in life and in serving G-d. 

  • By nature, the mind controls the heart. I have control and can choose my thoughts, speech and actions. I control my destiny. A person is where their desire/will is. Change your will, change your life. All choices and actions have consequences. Level Up. 

  • Love your fellow as you love yourself. Treat others the same way you would want to be treated. 

  • Speak another's praise and positive traits, never their negative ones. 

  • Love peace and pursue peace. Lead with empathy. 

  • Our body keeps the score – tune in and take care of it; My body is the vessel for my soul. A hole in the body makes a hole in the soul. 

  • Ego is the enemy. Be a channel. Choose to lose your sense of self for something greater. 

  • I am a work in progress. Building self is a never-ending process. 

  • Greatness over time is in direct correlation to growth over time. Never stop learning. 

  • Man was made to toil. Talent x effort = skill. Skill x effort = achievement. Effort counts twice. 

  • Embrace pain. Mental toughness is proceeding past discomfort. 

  • If you would like to achieve great success, plant in your mind a great motive.  

  • The intensity of your focus will determine the range of your accomplishment. I get from life what I demand from it. 

  • We act consistent with who we believe we are. 

  • Don't be a complainer. Excuses are weak. Never be a victim. Do something. An act is worth more than a thousand sighs. Action and doing is most important - “Maasah hu ha’ikar.” 

  • There is no measure of anger that is good. 

  • Think good and it will really be good. Be biased towards positivity. 

  • Live each day as if it is the most important day of your entire life, because it is.  

  • There is no such thing as ultimate failure, only lessons. Don’t worry about making mistakes, it’s the best educator. Fail forward.  

  • Life is transient – don’t take personal problems too seriously. It’s a blessing to be alive. 

  • Every person has something to teach me. No one is beneath me. 

  • Bad thinking is the problem, challenge your thinking. 

  • There are more than two solutions to solving a problem, develop alternatives. 

  • When you take care of others, G-d takes care of you. Always be ready to give. 

  • Do something to make another's life better. Take care of those closest to you first. 

  • Wisdom comes from deep learning, experiences/application, unrelenting curiosity, and self-reflection. 

  • Everyone desires ‘connection’ - greet others first. Be curious and vulnerable. 

  • Everything I have is a gift from G-d. G-d deposited it to me to utilize it for good. 

  • Embrace being hard on self without being down on self. The highest performers create internal dissonance intentionally. 

  • There are two ways to live life: You can see what you want or see what’s standing in the way of what you want. Focus on wants and make them musts. Any obstacle can be overcome. 

  • Sacrifice the perfect for the good. Done is better than perfect. Adopt a bias towards action 

  • Procrastination leads to regret. Eliminate excuses and take action. If it can be done now, do it. 

  • Be your own authority. Know what you believe with crystal clarity. Say ‘no’ more. 

  • Truth in love. Sometimes you have to be ‘cruel’ to be kind. 

  • Power is organized knowledge, expressed through intelligent action. 

  • Do more than what you get paid to do. Focus on creating value for others. 

  • Be – Do – Have. Think right, then act, then you will have. Most people do the opposite. 

  • Train your mind to see what your eyes cannot. Embrace vision over visibility. 

  • Don’t ask if it can be done, ask if it should be done. If it should be done, do it – Hashem will take care of the results. The main thing is to take action. 

  • The things that are good for me don't always feel good. 

  • The facing of death brings an invaluable gift for life. Face death in order to live a more authentic life. 

  • Teshuva is available at any moment and for any person. Do Teshuva right away because you don’t know when your time is up. 

  • Hurt people, hurt people. Don’t take anything personally. Let go even if someone does wrong to you. 

  • Don’t make assumptions. Assumptions are made and most are wrong. If you can discover the facts, do so.  

  • The pain of change is much less painful than the pain of staying the same. 

  • You must have discipline to succeed at anything. Don’t be swayed by your heart or eyes. Take possession of your mind. 

  • Never be satisfied, Contentment is the enemy. The journey is the destination. 

  • Reading and studying are two different things. Always be a wise student. “Talmud Chacham”. 

  • A truly happy person is one that is happy with his lot. Celebrate others wins, never be jealous. 

  • Don’t talk about people, talk about ideas. 

Identity: Who I am becoming as I live and work.  

  • I am a Jew. [I know and believe G-d is One. I trust G-d. I love and fear G-d.] 

  • I am a Ben Melech. I am light. I am a Master of Kindness. I do right.  

  • I earnestly strive to be constructive in every thought, speech and deed. 

  • I am a Husband - committed to Love, Peace, Fun and Growth. 

  • I am a father - Present, Loving and Caring. A Father that sees the full potential of my children and pushes them to put in the effort and keep practicing. I provide the emotional and intellectual support to my children, so they are confident, humble, diligent, resilient, responsible and achieve maximum success. 

  • I am a Constant student. I am a work in progress.  

  • I am an Optimist. I believe everything is Good.  

  • I am a Giver.  

  • I don’t settle for mediocre; I challenge the status quo and raise the bar. 

  • I am Truthful. I stand up for the truth.

Principles

  • Be Here Now: Embrace each Moment. Don’t worry. Slow down. “Bli Lachatz” 

  • Strive for Peak Performance: Give Your All 

  • Chase Greatness: Pursue Excellence 

  • Radiate Love: Love out Loud  

  • Model the way. 

Passions

  • I love to challenge and expand my mind/thinking (read, think, write, learn deeply). 

  • I love to connect to my G-d through learning the Torah (G-ds gift and blueprint), Mitzvot, Tefilah, Acts of Kindness.
 

  • I love to give Tzedakah, Contribute, Help Others   
 

  • I love to connect deeply with others (especially those closest to me)
 

  • I love to appreciate the beauty of nature (walks/hikes) 

  • I love to challenge my body to its limits  

  • I love to play competitive sports with a team
 

  • I love to play active sports  
 

  • I love to challenge myself and others  

  • I love to disconnect and rejuvenate (go on vacation / reset) 

  • I love to feed my curiosity (explore - new places, try new foods,) 

  • I love to feel put together (dress nicely, wear nice clothes) 
 

  • I love to write
 

  • I love to share wisdom with others 

  • I love to listen/play to music  

 

  • I love to brainstorm  

 

  • I love to learn from others 
 

  • I love to bring people together  
 

  • I love to challenge and fight dogma 

 

  • I love good quality things  
 

  • I love to learn about the best leaders and top performers 
 

  • I love enjoying memories. 

 

Process

  • Sunday Discipline: Review WIP-PPP, plan out/schedule week, set PA’s 

  • Spend 15-30 min in Upbase organizing day 

  • L10  

  • Email Management 

  • Time management / Calendar management