Mass Murder in My Town: Why Creating Happy Lawyers Isn't Corny or Trite

My daughter and her husband live in Squirrel Hill, which is the neighborhood in our beloved Pittsburgh that has been in the news since that Saturday morning in late October 2018. It's where I go to the dentist and buy whitefish salad and lox. It's the same neighborhood Mr. Rogers lived in and where he raised his children.

Mr. Rogers was about love, kindness, and inclusion and that's how we sought to raise our three children. When the horrible happens, as it did that Saturday, I ask myself if I'm doing enough. Should I change my career? Should I be doing something else?

Even though I still ask those questions, my answer is that I am on the right track. When a layperson asks me what I do, I explain that I help lawyers protect more people. My professional mission is to create happy lawyers because happy lawyers do more good in the world. Lawyers are helpers. And as Mr. Rogers says, "Look for the helpers." 

Our profession takes on battles and challenges daily for our clients and that's a challenge. It's challenging abiding my the limits of our rules of responsibility and building a business at the same time we're practicing our craft. It affects our health and well-being, our relationships, or world-view - our happiness.

I ask you to consider every once in awhile what you really do. I've recently had two women come up to me and express thanks for helping lawyers - not because of something I've done but because of what those lawyers have done. Both women professed that those lawyers saved their lives, literally.

I teared up both times. Though there are assholes among us who think advocacy and assholery are synonyms, most of us are remarkable human beings dedicated to tilting the universe toward good and protecting those who entrust us with their lives, property, and future.

Acknowledge what you do at least to yourself. You save and change lives. You give people a second chance. You protect legal rights. You are a a helper - even a superhero - to someone - likely a lot of someones and I honor you for that. 

I’ve led two law firms way past the million-dollar mark and several more firms are on their way. Interested in working with me to create YOUR million-dollar law firm AND the life you love? Here’s your next step. 

~If your current annual revenue is under $500k, enter The Vault here! 

~If your current annual revenue is over $500k, then here’s where you go for private strategic consulting with me! 

I’m a 15-year veteran of the practice of law, a former senior executive for a large attorney organization, a published ABA author, and the founder of the private consulting firm, Million Dollar Attorney? where I serve as a Master Law Firm Business Strategist, Certified Success Trainer, and Mindset Mentor for Entrepreneurial Attorneys. 

I help solo and small firm attorneys like you build million-dollar law firms that give you the life you love via my “Operation Best Life Signature System.”