Here’s the line every lawyer gets told, explicit or implied, and most still believe:
“Your reputation is everything.”

Sounds reasonable.
But it’s the line that keeps a lot of barristers and lawyers cautious, stressed, and walking on eggshells for no good reason.

Most of the time, we’re not protecting our real reputation.
We’re protecting the version of ourselves we think people want and will stop them whispering about us.

And that version runs the show more than anyone admits.

I’ve seen it many times.
Barristers who are solid in court continually agree to solicitors’ requests because saying no feels too risky, even when it derails their day.

And yes, it's true, people do judge you when you set boundaries.
The profession will take whatever you let it take.

But people also notice when you back down on things you shouldn’t.

It shows up in the small moments:
❌Saying yes when your day is full; that’s how you end up exhausted and behind.
❌Letting people interrupt you whenever they feel like it; that’s why you don’t get to your own work till later in the day.
❌Putting up with behaviour that crosses the line; that’s the one that drains you and makes every interaction with them something you brace yourself for.

And here’s the shift no one talks about:
The moment you stop backing down from the things that matter to you, things change. 
🔥You get through more work. 
🔥Your time stops disappearing. 
🔥And people respect you and deal with you differently, not because you’ve changed, but because you’re no longer the automatic ‘yes’.

Your reputation isn’t built by keeping everyone happy.
It’s built by how you behave and perform when the pressure’s high.

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