You provide value

You provide value now, as a lawyer.  You guide clients, you assist colleagues, you affect policy.   And even if you feel dissatisfied with the practice of law altogether, or just with something specific about how you do it day in and day out, you still likely have the moments of joy and satisfaction that come with providing value to someone.  It brings results, it feels good, it validates.   Yesterday, in a great post, Chris Guillebeau of The Art of Non-Conformity (a web site and blog that aims to help people live unconventional lives and make money online) writes how providing value is really the same as just helping people.  “Value means helping people,†he writes.  “Provide something valuable and people will be eager to support your work.†  With this in mind, to leave law altogether, or just markedly change how you currently practice it, take a small baby step and just focus on how you create value.  Or, in other words, just focus on how you help people.   Because the skills you use to help people through your practice of law can likely also benefit a larger audience beyond it.  There are a lot of people seeking help of some kind.  There are a lot of people who will pay for help.   And you are particularly positioned to provide help, as anything you want to be.