Because this is the start of something big.
But it’s just a start. A small start. As I may have mentioned before, I am a proponent of taking baby steps. I learned this from Aaron Ross, a good friend of mine and founder of Predictable Revenue. When I was beginning Leave Law Behind back in 2009, I would always ask “How will I make money off of this leave law idea?†and “How do I market this?†and “Why am I doing this anyway?†and “Will everyone laugh at me?â€Â And Aaron would always say, “Don’t worry about making money. Don’t think about what might go wrong. There are people who want to hear what you have to say. Don’t worry about the ‘how’. Just take the next baby step.â€
He meant to not be overwhelmed by all that was running through my head (good and not-so-good). He meant to begin by sharing this quirky idea with family and friends. He meant to go (mostly) with my gut. He meant to follow with what interested me (leaving the law, how to use technology productively) and what I enjoyed (writing, public speaking, meeting people). He meant to then begin talking it up with my lawyer friends. Do some informational interviews. Maybe then start blogging. Do some guest posting. Write some articles. Then focus on some in-person events. And then . . . and then . . . and then . . .
And last night, as I was writing this post, kids were asleep, wife out with friends, ruthless fog enveloping the house, all was quiet and I found myself mired in doubt. Yup, that little voice of anxiety and hesitation and concern telling me that this is all a crazy idea, a stupid idea. I’m not considered an expert, I’m not a celebrity, so why should anyone pay attention? Why do I think I can even help anyone?
And this self-doubt must have been evident in an email about Leave Law Behind I had sent to a friend earlier in the evening, because my friend emailed me back, at 10.46pm, and without any sugar coating, brought me out of my funk, out of my doubt.   And he said “Casey. Stop right there.  Do.  Not.  Doubt.  Yourself.â€Â His words, exactly.  I’m not sure how he was able to read my mind, through email no less, but he is smart and intuitive and he cares and he did. Sometimes you just need a friend to pull you out of it. I did.
And so, I’ve taken their advice with Leave Law Behind. It’s been three years now, and we are having an event. On Tuesday October 2nd from 6pm to 9pm in the Mission View Room on the third floor of the San Francisco Bloomingdale’s (845 Market Street). It’s been three years of building up the courage to publicly blog and write and speak and help about what I think is something very important: How to motivate attorneys who are looking for something else, who are looking to create a legal practice that meets their needs and wishes, or who are looking to leave the law altogether for more promising careers and lives.
And who better to positively change the world than smart, motivated, happy, successful, confident doing-what-they-want-to-do-and-enjoy (former and current) attorneys.
I will not be selling anything. I don’t have anything to sell (yet . . . that’s another, future step). This is just a free intimate event where the members of a like-minded community can get together, free of distraction and meet to discuss, share, inspire and motivate. To begin to learn the steps it takes to live an inspiring, motivated, productive life. To be friends to pull each other out of the doubt.
Our industry is going through a huge shift at the moment. And technology is making so much easier what was once so difficult. Big changes are occurring. Come see some of them in action on October 2nd. Come find support and help and partnership. I sure have.
Sign up here to attend the free live, in-person Leave Law Behind event on Tuesday October 2nd at 6pm in the Mission View Room on the third floor of the San Francisco Bloomingdale’s (845 Market Street, 415.856.5300)
And if you’re not in the San Francisco Bay Area, send me a note if you’d like to organize a Leave Law Behind event in your city.