Sleep + Exercise + Positivity = Energy

Business Week had a terrific article recently that posed this question: Why do inspiring leaders have a seemingly endless supply of energy? What quality is it that they possess while the rest of us navigate bleary-eyed, coffee-starved, and distractedly through our days?

According to Carmine Gallo, who analyzed the behavior of successful leaders like Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and top executives from Google, Starbucks, and Cisco, these inspiring individuals routinely and without fail do these three things:

1. Get consistent quality rest. The amount will vary from person-to-person. Some individuals may need 4 hours others may need 9 hours. (If only my two-year-old could appreciate my requirement of 8 hours).

2. Exercise. Arnold Schwarzenegger exercises 90 minutes a day, six days a week. As Mr. Gallo so effectively put it, “If Schwarzenegger could work out for 90 minutes a day and still find time to run the world’s fifth largest economy, what excuse do I have?” Enough said.

3. Maintain a relentlessly positive outlook. (See Oprah Winfrey, Eckhart Tolle, et al)

I’m signing off now to go running and get some good sleep (sorry, Tivo). And I will LOVE every minute of it! Or at least I’m going to give it a try.

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Why every lawyer needs a dog.

Practicing law is a stressful occupation, especially for those attorneys working in law firms. In this day and age where lawyers are constantly seeking stress relievers in their lives, I offer up a simple suggestion- adopt a dog from a rescue or the local pound.

For those more logical minded folks- there have been many health benefits associated with owning a dog. Owning a dog has been linked to lowered blood pressure and cholesterol levels, increased happiness, decreased levels of depression, and better overall stress management.

Most of the lawyers I talk to everyday would greatly benefit from having a loving pet in their lives. Sharing your life with a dog means welcoming unconditional love into your life. It’s that simple. Your dog won’t care how many hours you billed that day or if you screwed up a major assignment. Dogs show friendship in its purest form, without judgment or ulterior motives. Dogs are happy to see you every minute of every day. Now what lawyer (or human being for that matter), doesn’t need more good energy like that in their lives?

If you really think about it, the term “rescuing a dog” is kind of a misnomor, because dogs so often rescue us and give us a better quality of life. If you have room in your heart, please strongly consider adopting a dog from your local rescue or shelter. As I look at my dog napping peacefully by my desk right now, I can honestly say that adopting him was one of the best decisions that my husband and I ever made. After all, as Charles Schulz put it- “Happiness is a warm puppy.”

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Put Down That Hot Dog and ….. Get Creative!

Over the course of the last two weeks, a few people have raised the issue of “female driven” law firms to me — which have been started in Manhattan, upstate New York, Atlanta and abroad. It seems odd — with the summer (and economy) as slow as it is — to see new firms sprouting up. However, I have found that a few people are taking advantage of the down market to “get creative” with new business models and new ideas for business generation.

A few weeks ago, Schroder, Joseph & Associates in Buffalo, New York, received a lot of press for their “unusual” add campaigns featuring slogans such as “Ever argue with a women?” and “Labor pains: Talk to us. (we’re women…we get it.)” Shortly thereafter, Ottawa-based Galldin Liew received some press over calling itself a “feminist law practice” and their refusal to take on male criminal clients. Last week, we saw female-run IP firm, Bates & Tyde, in Atlanta ringing its diversity bell — and big-time clients such as Coca-Cola and AT&T jumping on board for representation.

This is fascinating to say the least. When the economy gets rough, some folks get creative when it comes to generating business—and get a lot of press for it. Good for them! With Big Law topping out at billing rates, it’s no surprise that lawyers from these firms are getting frustrated and looking for ways to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. In fact, there may be a lesson in here for all of us. Don’t waste your summer sitting on a beach eating hotdogs and bemoaning what “was” or the “way things used to be” or wondering “how am I going to make my hours?” Instead, look for ways to differentiate yourself as a practitioner and make some rain! In this cash-strapped economy, clients want to see something new, different, —-and affordable. Leveraging gender to help your firm stand out is one real way to do it, but there are many other ways. What’s your angle?

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Weighing a Law Firm Offer?

A year or two ago, I happened upon an interesting questionnaire that NYU’s School of Law had on their website. The questionnaire was intended to assist associates contemplating full-time offers after their summer associate programs had ended. I thought it was a pretty useful tool and wished I could find something similar to send to my candidates who were considering a lateral move (because a lateral associate’s needs are often very different than those of a 3rd year law student)!

Then, last year, I was working with a patent litigation associate who had two offers from extremely different law firms (and to complicate matters, one was East Coast and the other West Coast). We talked at length about the two offers and ultimately revisited the initial reasons we had instituted the search to begin with. It was a very complicated decision for this candidate, and he spent a lot of time making pros and cons lists for each firm.

I realized my candidates could really benefit from a thorough offer analysis tool that would allow them to explore all aspects of the offer and their potential new firm. There are only so many moves that a lawyer can safely make in their career, and it’s important to look, look, look, before you leap.

Here is the article: Analyzing the Offer: A Questionnaire and Worksheet

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The Twice Yearly Period of Celebration/Mourning

A moment of silence. California Bar Results came out last Friday. I received a rush of emails on Saturday from candidates whose searches were on hold pending Bar passage. They are the happy ones! I wish that passing the Bar guaranteed them their dream legal position. Now, the work begins to get that offer! The market is tight but not impossible. Having the Bar is huge for out-of-staters.

I wonder about the silence coming from the other candidates who were also waiting for Bar results. Twice a year, I wait for a few days… then gingerly check their names against the “pass list.” Not passing the Bar can floor people. It takes time to regroup and come to terms with the implications. My heart goes out to these folks. It can be a pivotal moment in some one’s life.

I always want to tell these candidates about stories of persistence and success. I want to remind them that different Bar prep programs work for different people. One of the best and most admired stories of Bar Passage Success came from an out of state attorney with whom I worked as an associate. I watched him go through the painful process of studying and barely missing the pass cutoff two or three times. He never lost his sense of humor. We were scheduling an event and checking his availability. When questioned whether he would be busy on a certain day a few months away, he gleefully exclaimed, “No problem, that’s my Bar Study off-season.”

His survival skills and confidence amazed me. And fortunately, he passed the next time around. What a great party we had for him a few years back around this time in May.

Congrats to many and do not despair if you were disappointed!

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