There was a time in my legal career when my inner voice said “I hate what I do” at least three or four times a day. Sometimes I even found myself saying the words out loud. Obviously, something was wrong. I was making good money, volunteering with the bar and law schools, and had a […]
When someone tells you to “think positive,” what is the first thing that pops into your mind? The answer is different for everyone, but many people react with skepticism or disdain. This is not surprising. Science shows that we are wary of negative outcomes due to a hard-wiring in our brains. As our ancestors evolved, […]
Some people thrive on small talk. They find it easy to share details of their lives with total strangers. They love the thought of attending a party and telling stories to brand new people. Then there are the rest of us. We despise small talk. Maybe we think it’s shallow and banal. Maybe we are […]
For years I told myself “someday I’m going to get out of my practice and do something I am passionate about.” It started almost immediately out of law school. “Once I pay off my student loans, I’m outta here.” Then as I paid those off, another arbitrary goal justified my staying in a career of […]
Helping lawyers navigate a career. That’s what I do. It is an amazing job in that I positively work with others in a normally adversarial industry. Through my work with lawyers, I have found a coach can be beneficial in a number of career stages. Navigate the Steep Learning Curve The first stage is […]
In the #MeToo era, Meredith Holley’s book Career Defense 101 is a book that all should read. Ms. Holley is an attorney that specializes in Sexual Harassment cases. She is also a coach that works with her clients to overcome the trauma that results from sexual harassment so that they can reclaim their lives. The […]
Have you ever set a goal for yourself, only to find that as the days goes by you get no closer to achieving your goal? You feel like you are just spinning your wheels and accomplishing nothing. This happens to almost everyone. Oftentimes the difficulties stem from the goal being too large. I’ve written before […]
What is your leadership style? Are you authoritative, bureaucratic, or innovative? Many of us have never thought about it. If we have, we say we are only one style and forget the rest. But in reality, your leadership style can change depending on the circumstances you are in. For example, being a rule following bureaucrat […]
One of the greatest fears for aging attorneys is Alzheimer’s. We spend our entire lives using our mind to advance our careers. The thought of the erosion of our memories due to this disease is alarming. Luckily, neuroscience has shown that there are effective ways to battle the onset of Alzheimer’s at any age. Professor […]
The year that I passed the bar exam, the economy was tight and there was a glut of new lawyers. My wife and I were responsible for two teenagers in High School, and could not relocate without uprooting them. I hung out my shingle and took a contract attorney position to earn a small amount […]
