Success & HappinessJim Chester

TILA Sane & Successful Lawyer Summit – July 8, 2016

Success Defined

S&H Link: Life and Work

• You can’t “turn off” a negative career and have a happy personal life (and vice-versa)

• But, professional success doesn’t necessarily lead to personal success & happiness

• Must define professional success by first defining personal success

• In other words, the professional goals must help fulfill the personal goals

S&H Link: Lawyers Struggle

• Studies show that lawyers are

three times more likely to suffer from depression than other professionals

the suicide rate for lawyers is nearly sixtimes higher than for the general population.

The American Bar Association estimated

that up to 20% of U.S. lawyers suffer from substance abuse.

Success Defined

• The internet, TV, and media have lots of definitions and ideas about success

• What is a successful person?

• What is a successful lawyer?

Success Defined

Success is the progressiverealization of worthwhilegoals & dreams

“Don't just make

a living, make a

life worth living”

• What Success Isn’t:

The absence of failure

A final destination

Achievement

A public decision

Success Defined

Opinion vs. FactOpinion1. a belief or judgment that rests on grounds

insufficient to produce complete certainty.

2. a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.

A Fact is a statement that is true and can be verified

objectively, or proven.

Success is an Opinion.

Objective vs. Subjective success• Objective success is externallydefined It is what we think others will perceive

as success

Or, what others define as success and we adopt as our own belief

Is RELATIVE

Objective vs. Subjective success

• Subjective success is internallydefined It focuses on accomplishing what is important to us, not to others

Is FIXED

Pitfalls: “Objective Success Mindset”

• How do we get caught up chasing other people’s definitions of success?

• Marketing/Culture drive “consumption” and “acquisition”

• The problem with lawyers feeling successful: Most humans are somewhat “goal oriented”

Lawyers are typically very goal oriented and high-achievers

Law school is based on competition

Pitfalls: The Achievement Illusion

• Goal setting is essential for success

• Need to figure out what we want to do (e.g., the “why” of marketing )

• Most independents ran “from” not “to” something

Problem: no success without a goal

Achievement isn’t success unless it gets you closer to your goals

Goal setting

• Achievements

Where most people start

• Goals

If any, are objective or relative (e.g., “more,” “better,” etc.)

• Fundamental Goals (i.e., “purpose”)

Start with Fundamental Goals & then set Goals to accomplish them

Goal setting• Set Personal FGs First.

• What is really important to you?

Family relationships?

Community service?

Other hobbies/pursuits ?

Health?

Financial security

Goal setting• ACTIVITY:

• List 4 Material Items/Things most important.

• List 4 people most important to you

• List 4 past events/memories that are important to you (made you who you are)

• List 4 goal for the future

Goal settingHOMEWORK:

Draft your eulogy - what five things do you want to be remembered for?

What five things, if taken from you, would be the hardest to live without?

If you won $25 million in the lottery, what would you do? Change careers? Relocate?

Goal setting

Goal setting

• Set Professional Goals based on personal FGs

• Set goals, both short and long term

• Goals should be at the limit of what you really think is attainable (goals are limits)

Don’t be afraid of failure

Pursue your Goals

Once FG’s and Goals are Set –

develop specific PLANS to

accomplish them.

Break goal into steps, working backwards

from where you want to be to where you

are now.

- Revisit the Productivity Presentation

Pursue your Goals

Stay focused on YOUR FGs –

- Don’t get side-tracked by Objective Success Mindset

- Nor by struggles/failures

Check your Progress

Remember: Success is a journey – not a destination.

Periodically check status

- Acknowledge achievements and failures

- People often focus on failures

- (forgetting the successes on the way)

- Avoid OSM comparison

- Re-evaluate goals

Still relevant? Still important? Need new ones?

Successful Traits

Additional Suggestions

• Surround yourself with “successful” people

• Enjoy the moment

“Retire” a few hours a week

• Want to feel valuable – help others

• Practice gratitude

“I’m not who I am because I’m a lawyer. I’m a lawyer because of who I am.”