Lawyer and Blogger
Self-help books are a lot like cults: tremendous followings largely attributable to master orations, exciting taxonomy, baiting titles and promises of getting a lot while doing not much at all. Most of their claims are questionable and only one or two books are every likely to work for you. But last year, I read a... Continue Reading →
January was your break from it. Now you're back at it. The invitations are pouring in and will continue for the rest of the year. I used to hate meeting people. The fear of looking like an idiot. The pressure to be interesting. The precarious, multi-layered canapes that seem destined to topple down my new,... Continue Reading →
So you're fresh out four-plus years of law school. It's true, you're smart. If you got a job at a big law firm, you might be very smart and are almost certainly very lucky. I felt lucky. I remember getting the offer that I really wanted and feeling embarrassed. "Obviously they've made a mistake", I thought, "their records must... Continue Reading →
Welcome to the new year. Around this time, billions of people take new oaths to make 2018 different, better and maybe even extraordinary. That alone is cause for celebration. Cynics and spoilers say new year's resolutions are shallow, arbitrary and likely to come undone by February. I disagree. If the new year enlists even one... Continue Reading →
One New Year's Eve, I had an idea. I wanted to see the future. I still do. I'm sure that you want to do. Wouldn't it be good to know where you'll be one year from now? More importantly, what would you tell yourself? The choice of New Year's Eve as a date wasn't arbitrary... Continue Reading →
One Christmas party, years ago, I was chatting a partner whom I have come to respect tremendously. It was a conversation that only Christmas parties facilitate: candid, personal and adorned with outrageous costuming. We talked about family. He had two kids, young but not infants. We talked about hobbies. He had a few, but none... Continue Reading →
You know the story: clumsy Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole. You probably don't remember it contains one invaluable lessons on life and career. I grew up with the dodgy TV version where Whoopi Goldberg plays the Cheshire Cat. Where some turn to religion or philosophy for answers, I look to Ms. Goldberg in equal... Continue Reading →
We've all seen it before: A few weeks ago, I was at the supermarket unloading my haul onto the conveyor when there was a temporary pause in proceedings. A savvy, middle-aged shopper, eyes scrolling through his freshly printed receipt, had identified an error. "You've charged me twice for the celery", he said to the cashier,... Continue Reading →
You're in the elevator and catch the eye of a colleague. You greet a teammate in the line up for your caffeine fix in the breakout room. You and your boss arrive early to a team meeting and you exchange pleasantries. How are you? What's happening? How's work going? How's things? You know the response.... Continue Reading →
As I get older, a life of pulsating dancefloors and 5am finishes has given way to more measured social pursuits. One pastime never to be underestimated is the humble board game. My favourite? It's called Pandemic where players attempt to defeat a deadly virus spreading rapidly across the fold out, cardboard world. Uniquely, all human players work together to... Continue Reading →
