I’m currently working on an exciting series of CPD-verified courses for law firms — programs that are educational, inspiring, and highly engaging. While pushing through a big project deadline last Friday, I paused and asked myself a simple question: “How did I get here?”
That’s when I had a realisation.
It all began with one small “hello”!.
While flying to Athens with my family last August, I met the owner of a well-known law firm in Cyprus. Let’s call him Andreas, of Andreas Ioannou LLC. I had always found him a bit intimidating, but something inside me said, “Just say hello.”
“Mr Andreas, hello! I’m Philippos Aristotelous—” He smiled and interrupted me mid-sentence:
“Yes, yes, I know who you are! I watched you on the LegalMatters podcast with Christophoros Christophi I want you to come to our firm and present your seminars!”
We followed up after the holidays, met, and agreed on a full program — an X-Ray review of the firm, interviews with all team members, and a workshop with everyone from partners to paralegals.
After the seminar, Andreas told me he’d recommend me to another respected founder, Ioannis, of Ioannis Michael & Co LLC. Not sure if he actually had, I decided to take initiative. I reached out to Ioannis directly, mentioned my recent work with Andreas, and requested a meeting. The result? Another booked program the following month.
Then something interesting happened. A friend — Marios Georgiou, of Marios Georgiou & Partners LLC — who had once been skeptical about what I do, saw me one morning while I was taking my kids to school.
Marios had worked for years at Ioannis Michael & Co LLC before setting up his own law firm, and he has always spoken of Ioannis with deep respect. When he later saw social media photos from my recent workshop at Ioannis’s firm, that connection sparked genuine curiosity. So when we met for coffee, he leaned in with real interest.
That short meeting led to another, then a proposal, and soon after… another confirmed program.
During the Marios Georgiou & Partners workshop, the senior clerk handling HRDA paperwork asked whether the program could also qualify for verified CPD units by the Cyprus Bar Association. I explained that it currently counted as unverified. She mentioned that, from this year (2025), lawyers can only collect 12 verified units — which must come from registered training centres meeting specific criteria.
My talk with her on the CPDs motivated me to research the new CBA rules carefully. I discovered that there are now new categories and caps for courses — including skills, self-improvement, AML, and others — creating wonderful opportunities for designing, marketing, and delivering valuable, future-ready training programs.
That realisation led me to meet with a senior lawyer who designs CPD-qualified courses, and we’re now collaborating on new, exciting projects — ones that could make 2026 a truly marvellous year.
The Lesson
All of this began with one small act: 👉 saying hello to Andreas on a plane.
Taking that step opened a chain of opportunities I could never have planned — three law firms, new collaborations, and the start of something bigger.
So, talk to that person. Show them you’re real, curious, and trustworthy.
It shortens the distance between cold contact and warm trust more than any sales trick ever could.
Take it from someone who has faced plenty of silence and rejection:
Business development begins with small, brave steps — the courage to act, to speak, and to show up.
Are you ready to take that step — from good to marvellous?
Philippos
P.S. Most names are fictional.