”Just spit it out”, my mentor Reed Williams exasperated with my hemming and hawing finally declared.

“I’m leaving and going to start my own firm in January” I finally was able to get out of my mouth.  The words hung out there like an open hand in the wind to a stranger – either to be ignored, high-fived, or smacked. 

I had only been at Reed’s firm for about a year and half and was already leaving. He unexpectedly had a life epiphany that led him to retire from the active practice of law after 30+ years about 6 months ago and left me to man his side of the ship, with James Mills rocking and rolling in his criminal practice.

There was a brief period of silence – not for judgment to stew in – but going through the practical implications – where would you go? Jay Kerr had cleared out some space for me?  What about Karen (his paralegal)?  She can come with me if she’d like.  Is your wife and family supportive (my kids were 5 and 3)?  As much as you can without knowing exactly what you are getting into.

We talked the rest of the night about the ins and outs, but also a self-assessment as to why I wanted to leave.  Although his vote wasn’t mandatory, his approval and confidence meant the world to me.  He also knew a lot about being a solo practitioner.  Reed had always marked me as a hustler for business and knew that my wife was one of the most understanding wives an attorney could ever have (1st or 2nd).  But, he heard me that I wanted to work on my craft more, I needed someone day in and day out to help me, and indirectly my clients, with being the best personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney.  While Reed’s door was always open, it wasn’t the same as being in the trenches with questions popping up.  Working alongside one of the best in the practice area would be an amazing opportunity for me to see how great PI and WC attorneys practice, take care of their clients, and run their business.  Making more money, the ability to create my own schedule, being my own boss, and those sort of traditional benefits of running your own show – those considerations never entered the equation.  In looking back, the question on the table was – What’s best for the clients and can you do it? 

I left that night with a huge weight off of my shoulders as the answer was evident to both myself and the man I respected and trusted with my livelihood – follow your heart, open your firm, learn the craft and take care of those that have entrusted you with solving their problems.

So, in making this post and on reflecting on that night in October 2015 a decade later, I would say that making sure your heart is in the right place has to be your North Star in directing you on where to go and what to do.  Knowing and also feeling that what you are doing is the right thing will keep you going further than any extrinsic carrot or stick out there.