As a believer, I see coincidences as evidence of something greater at work reminding me once again, He is still there behind the wheel. For those that have fallen along with my Ten Lessons over 10 Years, an easy conclusion is that Brian just got slack as this project was supposed to be done in January and here we are in March. It turns out, as you will read, that we were on His timing all along, not mine. Read on for a special announcement and conclusion to the lessons.

When I got out of college, my first job was a claims adjuster doing workers’ compensation claims for a major insurance company. I remember putting on my Brooks Brothers corporate issued polo, dress khaki’s and clocking in for the 8 hour day working claims like I was in Office Space. I was surrounded with some really neat people, with some friendships still intact and appreciate them more than I share. But at the end of the day, clock out and life began. I couldn’t believe life was that compartmentalized – 8 hours of Liberty Mutual Brian and then go from there. I knew or hoped that I could live my life to the fullest by working and being around folks that I wanted to be around instead of paid to be around.

In an earlier post, I referenced Steve selling the house. He had said that over the years, he had tried to fill it up with lawyers, but it just never happened for him, and now it was time to pass it on for someone else. He told me that he hoped that I would be able to, which I could pick up on was not only was he telling me this as his hope for me, but sort of the price to pay for him giving me the opportunity with the house. It made sense to me that Steve wanted the house he was passing on to go to someone that could hopefully turn it into a place of camaraderie and fellowship for attorneys.

Without any of my doing, the house is filled with some of the most genuine, caring, compassionate attorneys you could ever hope to work alongside– Scott Best, Wiley Westall, Laura Hooks, Doug Tate, Christie, George Currin and Jenna Jarrett. Each of these individuals contribute to not just each other’s the practice of law, but quality of each other’s life.

I have known Corey Atkins, a fellow attorney in the local bar, for more than a decade. Great attorney and an even better person. I cannot say, however, that it was ever in my plans that we’d eventually work together. Indeed, I was actually going to model my practice after one of my mentors and just have myself, Jenna and another paralegal.

However, a series of unconnected events led to an opportunity for he and I to join forces, I found myself going back to the first lesson of following your heart. The ability to work with Corey, excellent attorney with life and experiences that can changes lives, was as clear to me as a rainbow appearing after a storm. There was no choice. In following my heart, which is to help our clients by working with a like-minded, driven, hard-working attorney like Corey, I am excited to share that the lessons will continue with Corey joining the firm. If you are reading this, please join me in welcoming Corey to Brian Elston law and changing this world together.