In the competitive landscape of business, we often become consumed by working harder and longer than others as some type of badge of success. In the legal profession this comes in the form of billable hours, client demands, and the relentless pursuit of career advancement. Yet, a recent event has caused me to think about an uncomfortable truth about my profession and business in general: our time is fundamentally limited, and no amount of legal or business expertise can negotiate an extension on life’s most binding contract.

The unexpected passing of a 35-year-old attorney who was a friend of mine…
Continue Reading Work Hard, Play Hard: A Perspective on Life Balance

Many times when a new client walks into my office they’re avoiding something. Maybe it’s a tough conversation with a business partner, a challenging negotiation with a vendor, or that dreaded discussion about succession planning. Through those interactions I’ve observed a universal truth, which is that the conversations we resist most are typically the ones we need.

Hard conversations create clarity where ambiguity festers. In my practice, I’ve watched businesses fail because founders avoided discussing their diverging visions on important issues until irreconcilable damage had been done. I also have witnessed struggling businesses grow and succeed after partners finally addressed…
Continue Reading It’s so important to have hard conversations

Sometimes inspiration comes from interesting places. I heard the above quote last night spoken by a character in a movie. The quote is from Dolly Parton, and it struck me. It clearly encourages self-discovery and intentional living generally, but I looked at it in the context of the professional realm and finding your authentic business or professional self. By this I mean finding your competitive advantage(s). Dolly didn’t directly result in my finding my authentic attorney self, but her words speak to what my professional practice has become over time in profound ways.

When I first entered the legal profession,…
Continue Reading Figure out who you are and do it on purpose

In the high-stakes world of business, happily not all professional interactions are confined to conference rooms or phone calls. Sometimes, the most transformative conversations happen during something as seemingly casual as a walk through your building or your office. I’m talking about the strategic pedestrian encounter. Think of it as a nuanced art form that can reshape professional relationships in a subtle manner.

Last week, I was walking through the lobby of my building when I ran into an attorney from another law firm. What began as a chance encounter quickly evolved into a exchange of insights and a plan…
Continue Reading A walk with a friend: Networking beyond the conference room

A fundamental truth that separates successful ventures from failed ones is that when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, the only viable path forward is straight through the difficulty. This isn’t just motivational rhetoric. Instead, it’s a practical philosophy that acknowledges that significant business problems don’t disappear on their own and that you can’t get around them through clever maneuvering.

The business landscape is littered with cautionary tales of companies that attempted to sidestep fundamental challenges rather than addressing them directly. Whether it’s a product that fails to meet market expectations, a cash flow crisis that threatens operations, or a leadership conflict…
Continue Reading The Only Way Out Is Through: Navigating Professional and Business Challenges

A good work experience isn’t just a luxury. A good work experience is an absolute necessity. Businesses aren’t just purchasing labor. Instead they’re investing in human potential, and that investment requires genuine respect, meaningful engagement, and a workplace culture that recognizes the inherent dignity of every single member of their team.

The legal and ethical framework surrounding the workplace experience has evolved dramatically over the past few decades. What was once considered acceptable, such as toxic management styles, discriminatory practices, and soul-crushing monotony, is now viewed as a liability. At the same time, today’s businesses need to understand that employee…
Continue Reading Everyone deserves to have a good work experience

Every moment of every day screens and people are vying for our attention. When you are on the phone or sitting with someone and your phone beeps with a notification about a text or social media post it distracts you and your attention from the person you’re speaking with or sitting across a table from. This happens when we are at work, at home, essentially every waking hour. I recently heard someone use the phrase “continuous partial attention.” It struck me because it seems to be the current default state of being and it is a problem in our professional…
Continue Reading Living in a state of continuous partial attention is bad for business

The calm person wins is a truth I’ve observed during my professional career. When emotions run hot and tensions rise, if you maintain your composure you will inevitably gain the upper hand. You also will make better decisions, see opportunities others miss, and command respect by maintaining your demeanor.

I witnessed this principle a few months ago during heated settlement discussions with opposing counsel. While opposing counsel grew increasingly agitated and combative during each call, I did my best to remain calm. I didn’t react to provocations or raise my voice. And yes, it was difficult when speaking with someone…
Continue Reading The calm person wins

Let me tell you something about success that many people want to ignore: effort and working hard is not enough. I’ve spent my career practicing law and seen countless businesses rise and fall. Through this view I’ve noticed a peculiar misconception taking hold – this idea that if you put in the effort and hard work it undoubtedly will lead to success. There is more to success than simply putting in the effort.

Hard work is absolutely necessary to reach success, but it doesn’t guaranty it. I’ve represented brilliant entrepreneurs who worked themselves to the bone but still watched their…
Continue Reading Working hard is a requirement but not a guaranty of success

After years of practicing law, I’ve learned one immutable truth: compromise isn’t just a strategy, it’s what keeps deals and relationships alive. Every day, I watch business owners and leaders who think they can strong-arm their way to success crash and burn because they refuse to bend. The most successful leaders I’ve worked with understand that giving up the perfect solution to achieve a workable one isn’t weakness.

When I sit at my desk reviewing documents, I’m not just pushing papers, but orchestrating a delicate dance of competing interests. Company A wants ironclad protection on some legal issue, Company B…
Continue Reading Life and business is compromise is a hard truth worth embracing

Let me tell you something straight – mediocrity is a choice, and excellence is a habit. I’ve spent my career watching companies rise and fall, and the one constant separator between success and failure is the relentless pursuit of improvement. When you wake up each morning, ask yourself: “What’s one thing I can do better today than I did yesterday?” Maybe it’s tightening up a process, streamlining your team’s communication, or finally implementing that new project management system you’ve been putting off.

I see too many business leaders getting comfortable with “good enough.” But the truth is that “good enough”…
Continue Reading Try to be better every day

In the demanding worlds in which we all work, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by ambitious goals and high-stakes outcomes. Many professionals fixate on major victories—landing the prestigious customer, client, or sale, winning the landmark case, or securing that coveted partnership position. However, true success is not just these dramatic moments alone. Instead, it’s built through the accumulation of seemingly minor actions, decisions, and habits that compound over time to create extraordinary results.

In my professional world, think of the successful attorney who maintains an impeccable reputation in their field. Their achievement isn’t solely attributed to brilliant courtroom performances or…
Continue Reading Success is a series of small actions taken every day

At the start of a new calendar or fiscal year, business leaders and professionals face a critical opportunity to evaluate which practices, policies, and procedures drive value for their organizations. This is important to consider because many companies carry forward inefficient employees, inefficient processes, outdated technology, or obsolete business models simply because “that’s how it’s always been done.” The start of the year presents an ideal moment to conduct a thorough audit of what serves your business objectives and what doesn’t.

In the legal and professional services realm, this might mean reassessing your long-standing client relationships that consistently operate at…
Continue Reading Make hard decisions to improve your business by letting go of that which is not serving you