Stress ≠ Success

You don’t need a 90-hour workweek, a fancy corner office, or an army of paralegals to have a successful law practice.

I’ve been thinking about this quote from Brianna Wiest lately:

Her words hit home because they perfectly capture what I see happening in our profession. We’re chasing someone else’s definition of success – the endless billable hours, the constant client demands, the expectation to look a certain way, the pressure to always be “on.”

But what if we took a different approach? (See what I did there ☺️)

Go find:

• Your own rhythm – maybe that’s working intensely Tuesday through Thursday and taking Mondays and Fridays for deep work and family time
• Your ideal client profile – the ones who value your expertise enough to respect your boundaries and pay your rates
• Your version of “enough” – perhaps that’s a practice that gives you both financial security and the freedom to close your laptop at 3 PM for your kid’s soccer game

As Wiest reminds us, “life can only grow outward in proportion to how stable it is inward.” The same is true for your practice. The foundation of a truly successful solo practice isn’t built on exhaustion and sacrifice – it’s built on intentional choices that align with your values and vision.

Think about it: What if your practice could be both profitable AND peaceful? What if success meant having both impact AND balance?

Here’s my challenge to you this week: Take 15 minutes to write down what a “simple life you are proud of” looks like in your law practice. Not what the big firms are doing, not what your law school classmates are posting on LinkedIn – but what would make YOU feel fulfilled and successful.