Video: Are you listening to the cheap seats or courageously striving in the arena?

Winning in court has made you less courageous.

Not more.

Somewhere along the way, your title stopped being something that hangs on your door and on your website... and it became who you are.

So when it takes a hit, it feels like you did.

It didn't.

The title took the hit.

The real you was never exposed.

The cheap seats are full: criticism, rejection, judgment, all free to hand out from a safe distance.

Brené Brown, drawing on Theodore Roosevelt's "man in the arena" speech, talks about the ones working hard in the arena versus the loud ones hurling criticism in the cheap seats.

The credit goes to the ones in the arena.

Not because they always win.

Because they showed up as themselves, tried, learned and were willing to fail in front of everyone rather than sit safely in the crowd.

Get in the arena.

Practice showing up authentically, without relying on the title to hide behind.

Have that difficult conversation.
Give credit for good work
Share an authentic unpopular opinion.
Call out a wrong, even though it may cost you.
Own a mistake and learn from it.
Share an imperfect video with your name on it.

This video is just that. ↓↓
It's not perfect.
I'm not perfect.
I recorded it, I'm posting it, and I'll do better next time.

Judge me, criticise me, unfollow me, reject me.
I'll still be here next week, improving.
That's the whole practice of high performance.

I've written down exactly what it costs lawyers to keep listening to those in the cheap seats... in the guide "The Cost of Being The Lawyer Who Can't Get It Wrong."

It comes down in 24 hours; I'm replacing it with something new.

Link to download HERE