From Adversity to Advocacy

"Why do you need to be the one to write this book?"

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That's the gist of a question Tyson Mutrux asked me when I asked him about writing the forward.

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And to be clear (for anyone who doesn't know him), he meant it in a genuinely curious and supportive way. Not to be an asshat.

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Thankfully, I have an easy answer.

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I've wanted to write a book for a very long time and am finally getting it over the finish line. (true, but not deep enough).

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Because in my 3 years as a prosecutor, and then my next 3-4 as a criminal defense attorney, I had more colleagues die by suicide, stroke, heart attack, or just straight abandon their firms and leave the practice of law than those who retired.

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I'm not going to lie and put myself close to that category. Nor am I vain enough to know I can change everyone headed down that path.

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BUT...I know that I can make a difference...for at least a handful of people, and that's more than enough.

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Whether it's because some of the stuff I did is so obviously stupid that you know, "if he can come back from that, so can I!"

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Or whether it's because you listen and learn from my mistakes and don't dig that sort of a hole for yourself...

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Or whether it's something totally different that I said that helps you be a happy lawyer, then awesome!

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As much as I love the emails, we get from clients about them having their biggest month ever or (because my clients have the same weird sense of humor as I do) their worst tax bill ever...

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The ones that REALLY get me. That TRULY touch my heart are the ones that say something like

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"Took my first family vacation in five years," or

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"Got to take a weekend off for the first time all year," or 

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"Got to see my kid's first baseball in person."

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THOSE are the ones that make my day.

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There are only two genuinely adversarial professions, sports, and law. During a surgery, another doctor doesn't run in and try and screw it up.

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So if we can be better to each other, AND better to ourselves, and put what we truly need first...then we are better positioned for those we care about (and our clients).

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And seriously, you can do it. I truly believe everyone is capable of being happy, having a firm they can be proud of, and an even better life.

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You just need to DO it.

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And that's what I hope my social media, this newsletter, and this book will do for anyone who reads them.

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Don't worry. Next week, we'll be breaking down ads and getting more specific on how you can pay for eyeballs.

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Wishing all my Florida friends safety and speedy hurricane recovery.

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So stay safe, stay happy and stay in touch!

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Until Next Friday

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