Business clients don’t like lawyers because we are risk averse to the point of cowardice.

For reasons beyond my ken or skills, the lawyer personality in general, in the eyes of most of our clients, needs to grow a pair.
Even we fire-breathing litigators. And that may be a nice thing; I’ve read lately that the vast majority of lawyers are non-confrontational, peace-loving, relationship-oriented conservatives who would rather be right, safe, prudent and “smart” than confrontational, power-wielding, unpleasant and reckless. And for centuries people have laughed and ridiculed us for holding onto what we believe is the “prudent course” as a pretext for rank wimpiness-raised-to-an-art.