Last Week Was Tough

Do you ever get tired, drained, and exhausted from dealing with the never-ending barrage of professional and personal adversity? Do you struggle to balance your career’s demands with your loved ones’ needs, leaving you feeling like you’re constantly falling short?

For me, last week was a prime example of that. The picture above depicts how I felt.

I was faced with complicated court cases, demanding clients, and difficult opposing counsel. At the same time, I was helping a family member in a time of need.

It was and is a tough road, but one that taught me valuable lessons about myself, my profession, and what it takes to be successful in both the law and in life.

With the above in mind, I wanted to share some thoughts with you.

The first lesson I learned was the importance of resilience. No matter how difficult the battle, it’s crucial to keep pushing forward, to keep fighting for what you believe in. As a lawyer, this means being tenacious in the face of adversity and never giving up, no matter how challenging the opposition. At the same time, this also means being resilient in the face of personal struggles, whether supporting a family member in need or dealing with the ups and downs of everyday life. Rarely is life presented to you in a vacuum with single-issue challenges.

The second lesson I learned was the power of self-reflection. When faced with adversity, it’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and react impulsively. But taking a step back, reflecting on your actions, and examining your thought process can help you gain a clearer perspective and make better decisions. This self-reflection allows you to grow and learn from your experiences, making you stronger and more capable of handling similar challenges in the future.

The final lesson I learned was the value of perspective. In the midst of a difficult battle, it can be tempting to focus solely on the outcome and lose sight of the bigger picture. But having perspective means being able to see the situation from all angles, including the impact it may have on others, and making decisions based on what’s best for all involved. This approach leads to more well-rounded, holistic solutions that consider all parties involved and lead to more successful outcomes.

So, how do you put what I went through and the lessons I was reminded about into practice in your own life? How do you become more resilient, self-reflective, and focused on perspective, despite the adversity you may face?

For me, the answer is simple: double down and focus on hard work, determination, and a willingness to face my challenges head-on. It’s not always easy, but it is always necessary.

How about you? How do you deal with adversity? What tips can you share with our community?

1000 Miles!

Mitch standing on a running path smiling with dark blue sunglasses on and wearing a blue cap

After two years of running, I hit the 1,000-mile mark during yesterday’s 5.6-mile run on July 4, 2022. At 64 years of age, this number didn’t come easy, but it was a good reminder that small, consistent daily steps, over time, can lead to some pretty interesting outcomes.

I grew up on a ranch outside of Tucson, Arizona. The state capital, Phoenix, is about 111 miles away up Interstate 10. If you were to tell me back in the early days that in 50 years, I’d run the equivalent from Tucson to Phoenix 9 times in two years, I would have said you were crazy.

Fast forward back to this week.

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It’s Saturday Night and I Need to Get This Off My Chest- “Real Talk About Becoming The Best At Anything”

I was chatting with a couple of young lawyers earlier today about some of my videos they were watching. Their take-a-ways are not congruent with the message I intended to give.

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