the problem with traditional advice about how to succeed...
I remember the advice I received when I was starting out as a baby-faced lawyer at my big firm. Ultimately, most of it boiled down to: "Say yes to everything, do it all perfectly, and keep it up as long as needed."
Now, this advice can work for you, but it also might not.
It comes from a good place. Too many people say no to the wrong things or say no too often, and they can miss out on the right opportunities or be branded as "not a team player". Too many people treat practice like they did school, where they think it's okay to mail it in on an assignment (i.e. aim for a B) because it's not worth that much of the grade. And too many people start full of enthusiasm and treat it as a sprint when it's really a marathon.
BUT, there are pretty serious traps.
Some traps are obvious (like the pitfalls the advice is helping you to avoid - don't miss your opportunities, squander a chance, or give up too soon). But there are some hidden pitfalls too:
Saying yes to everything only works if the right types of files are offered to you at the right time in the right order, and not too many of them.
Doing it all perfectly only works until it doesn't (there is no objective standard of perfect).
Keeping it up only works until it doesn't (burn out is real my friends).
So, if the traditional advice isn't necessarily reliable or sustainable enough, what works instead? That's what I'm aiming to discover and share with my Successful Junior Lawyer project.
In mid-January, I'll be launching the Successful Junior Lawyer Academy. If this sounds like something that might be interesting, hit reply and let me know and I'll be sure to make sure you know when the founding is happening.
Best,
Paul
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