Summary: Attorneys that remove their ego from the picture will see greater happiness in their job and success in their career.
Read Why the Best Attorneys Are So Hard on Themselves and Others to learn more.
Attorneys are extremely hard on themselves, their work, and the work of others around them. Harrison Barnes explains, “The most successful and wealthiest people are the most demanding and the hardest to work for. They are also wealthy (most likely) because of their high standards and because they are able to see so much of what is going on around them.”
Read Why Most Attorneys Are Unhappy.
Prestigious law firms represent some of the most powerful people and companies, who are also some of the most demanding. They are also hard to get jobs with, are not openly friendly place, and will suck you dry with all their demands for hard work.
Read An Attorneys Competitiveness Can Turn to Anger to learn more.
It may seem like the easier route to avoid working for a prestigious law firm or the wealthy clients but they are what help create the best attorneys. Some attorneys may gravitate to in-house positions or positions are smaller firms to avoid the harshness and have some happiness in their job, which for some works. Desiring positive feedback is a natural need so constantly being criticized can wear attorneys out.
See Two Things Attorneys Must Do to Be Successful.
Barnes continues to discuss how the statements “I finally feel like I made it” and “not having to worry about whether I am keeping up” affect attorneys and the happiness they find in their careers. Attorneys are judged left and right by bosses, clients, judges, and opposing counsel. In one sense attorneys are stomped down into the ground but expected to stand higher than everyone else.
Barnes ultimately suggests that attorneys adopt a sense of not caring about what others think of them in order to prevent all the negativity from taking control of their happiness.
Source: https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/900046561/How-to-Be-Happy-Practicing-Law/
Photo: blogs.wsj.com