I'm okay, you're okay.
Cheryl Wilson Griffin
I help smart people get cool things done | Legaltech Expert | Startup Growth and Strategy | Law Firm Innovation | Legaltech Advisor | Strategic Due Diligence and Market Analysis
My colleague hosted a webinar today discussing “Navigating an Unorthodox Legal Career Path ” with several impressive legal professionals. I expected the session would be a good one, but I did not expect such raw, open, and troubling questions from the attendees. We heard questions about racism and unfair hiring / firing -- none of which I’ve ever heard in a legal-centric session. People are clearly struggling, even as unemployment drops. And it made me think about how I represent myself to the industry.
To start, let’s file this paragraph under, ‘Humble Brag.’ I get a lot of compliments on my pedigree, my CV, and the things I have done. Apparently, people find it impressive.
The thing I want to share is that it has not been perfect.
I have had severe, soul-crushing disappointments. I have been treated unfairly and missed out on opportunities I felt like I had earned. I have seen friends let go and pushed out. I have also questioned myself in almost every role I’ve been in.
Here’s the thing – it’s okay. Well, maybe not the discrimination, judgment, and all the illegal things. But you will be okay.
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You are not your job, your role, or the money you bring in. And if some jerk company doesn’t see your value, that doesn’t mean you’re not valuable. In fact, I’d argue that if you successfully navigate one of these horrid experiences, you will be a better human, boss, colleague, friend. For those who know me well, you know I’m not the ‘turn the other cheek’ type of person – so don’t think that’s what I’m saying.
Even those of us who may seem to have drafted and executed a perfect career path have struggled, are struggling, and are willing to help. You are not alone. There are a lot of us who care, who want to help, who want to listen and share feedback. Don’t be afraid to reach out. No one does this alone.
Who's with me? Have you struggled? Are you struggling? Are you willing to help? How will people know you're out there if you don't raise your hand? Comment below! And don't forget to connect!
Legal Tech Due Diligence & Growth Marketing Expert | Marketing That Leads to Sales | #SaaSMarketing | Sales Operations & Training | #GenAI | Legaltech News, Law Journal Newsletters, Legal Business World
2 年Poignant and raw and real. So real, Cheryl. Thank you for addressing these inequalities and allowing us to talk about them openly.
Paralegal Manager at Mayer Brown
2 年Great to "see" you on LinkedIn!
Technology Adoption and Experience Expert | Technology Training & Development | Legal Technology | Lean Change Agent
2 年Thank you for sharing, Cheryl. As you mentioned, we are definitely not just our jobs, roles or the money we bring in. We are so much more and we bring so much more to the table through our personal experiences. My motto is "Keep Going, Keep Growing." There is always something to learn from a negative experience that you can apply to help yourself move forward. It's sometimes hard to see it in the midst of the struggle, but it's there and it can help you be ok and decide what you do next. When I was younger, I went through a very nasty divorce that left me feeling broken and unsure of who I was. As much as I tried to hide them, the feelings began to affect the quality of my work. When my boss called me into her office one day, I was sure that I had lost my job. Instead, she had seen me struggling and offered to help me get the support I needed as well as became my mentor. She shared lessons from her divorce and with her help, I began to come back to myself and my career. It was a dark place but the lessons I learned from a kind person helped me realize my worth and move forward. I remain always here to listen, to offer feedback and provide a safe space for those who feel alone in their struggles.
In-house Counsel | Data | Privacy | Technology | Erie Insurance
2 年We attended the same Zoom meeting yesterday. I thought it was incredibly helpful, enlightening, and authentic. The guidance provided was what I needed to hear and very useful for me. I am going to "put on my positive pants" every day. I 100% guarantee that I will not be able to flawlessly execute that, but those words (and many, many, many, many more) will resonate with me and bring me back to center, so I can keep going and try to be positive about while I am on this journey. THANK YOU!!! P.S. This was at 7:00 a.m. for me yesterday...and I still LOVED it.
Strategic Growth Leader | Legal Tech Enthusiast | Expert in Go-to-Market Strategies & Customer Success | Passionate Relationship Builder | Powered by Creativity, Karaoke, & Turning Ambitious Ideas Into Reality ??????
2 年This resonates. People look at me and they see all the fun things, the exciting things, but only a small few get to see behind the curtain. The struggles, the heartbreaks - no one sees my feet kicking furiously under the water. This is why I try so hard to normalize just being human. A person who has a job to do but also has a million other stressors adding constant pressure to her life. In my mid-twenties, I was given a promotion and a raise on a Friday afternoon. It was the best weekend ever. I had the position I wanted and I was so excited to move up at the company. The following Monday morning I was fired without cause. They wouldn't give me any feedback at all. Totally shut me out. Deflated and confused, I packed up my desk. My officemate, slightly younger and full of fire, stood up and quit. Instead of job hunting, we went to the beach. At first it felt like a setback...but it was actually a stepping stone to something even better.