The 95% Rule: Building a Culture of Accountability with Todd Stanton
💡 Episode Summary
What if 5% of your employees are creating 95% of your problems?
This week, Cannon and Claudia sit down with Todd Stanton, founder of Stanton Law and author of The 95% Rule: 29 Employment Law Axioms for Owners, Execs, and HR. While the title suggests employment law, this conversation goes much deeper — into the heart of leadership, ownership, and building a culture of accountability.
Todd explains how a victim mentality in both leaders and employees erodes company health — and how reclaiming agency and responsibility leads to a high-performing, self-led team. He discusses the mindset shift from lawyer to entrepreneur, why “failure to fire” is leadership malpractice, and how running a law firm like a business can set a model for every professional service leader.
🔑 Key Takeaways
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5% cause 95% of your problems. Recognize and address the small percentage of employees that drain time and culture.
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Ownership starts at the top. If problems persist, management allowed them to exist.
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Run your firm like a business. Lawyers — and all service professionals — thrive when they embrace leadership and accountability.
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Clarity saves time. The 29 axioms in Todd’s book serve as heuristics for better, faster decision-making.
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Victim mentality kills progress. Both leaders and employees must reject entitlement and embrace agency.
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Build a business that outlives you. True success is creating sustainable and fulfilling lives for both employees and clients.
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Engage legal counsel early. Don’t wait until a crisis to involve your attorney — use them proactively as a strategic partner.
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Leadership is letting go. The founder’s job is to empower, not control; to make themselves increasingly unnecessary.
👤 Guest Bio
Todd Stanton is the founder and principal of Stanton Law LLC, a forward-thinking employment law firm based in Atlanta. With 17 attorneys and a mission to create sustainable and fulfilling professional lives, Todd has built a firm that operates like a business, not a bureaucracy. He’s also the bestselling author of The 95% Rule: 29 Employment Law Axioms for Owners, Execs, and HR, a practical and insightful guide for leaders who want to cultivate high-performing teams and avoid costly HR mistakes.
📘 Learn more at stantonlawllc.com
Resources
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🌐 Website: https://cannon-carr.com/
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