The Masks We Wear: A Halloween Reflection on Authentic Lawyering

Halloween Mask

When you stop to think about it, Halloween is a curious holiday. It began as an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and a night when the spirits of the dead roamed the Earth. Centuries later, Christians transformed it into All Hallows’ Eve, a prelude to All Saints’ Day, which was…

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Counterclockwise Lawyering

Nautilus Shell Counterclockwise

Most people have never heard of Ellen Langer’s 1979 Counterclockwise study where a group of elderly men were asked to live for one week as though it were 1959. The retreat center where they stayed for one week was redesigned to make it appear that they were living in the year 1959. I’ve referenced the study before,…

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Just Do It: Action Before Motivation

Motivation - girl accomplishments

This morning, I tried to convince my wife to go on a walk with me. Twice. She said no. Twice. To be fair, she didn’t need a morning walk. We always walk in the evening. In Apex, we call it the Walking of the Spouses. But I’m on a mission to increase my steps, and…

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Breathe. Hum. Speak.

breathe hum

 Let’s be honest–most lawyers aren’t pacing courtrooms in dramatic cross-examinations. We’re in Zoom meetings, mediations, closings, and client conferences. Whether you’re presenting to a board, explaining complex terms to a client, or just speaking up at a firm meeting, your voice matters more than you might think. A recent article on TED Ideas introduces a surprisingly simple…

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The Incubation Effect: Stepping Back to Find the Solution

silhouette of a person on the shore of the beach contemplating a beautiful sunset

Several years ago, we lost the charger to our son’s beloved scooter. We turned the house upside down, retraced steps, and questioned whether it had somehow disappeared into thin air. Eventually, we gave up. Life moved on. Then, this past weekend, we found it, tucked away in a place we had long stopped looking. It…

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