Though I am not naturally honest, I am so sometimes by chance. William Shakespeare
One of the biggest challenges of a lawyer is building trust. We build it with clients, judges, juries, and perhaps most importantly, with adversaries.
The practice of law, by its very nature, brings us to relationships where trust is low. The lack of trust presents a significant impediment to solving problems, and a significant cost to clients.
Many lawyers take great pride in showing their lack of trust for an opponent. Sometimes the lack of trust is justified and necessary to protect clients. Other times, it reflects the lawyer’s insecurity. Face it, who wants to look gullible in the eyes of a client?
The reality is that people tend to trust those who trust them. Clients come to us with problems that may be adjudicated in the legal arena, but the problems often call for restoring broken trust. Sometimes, that takes a leap of faith.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Plumbing
Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories: those that don’t work, those that break, and those that get lost. Russell Baker
I have acquired a reputation for my ineptitude when it comes to all things mechanical. It is especially painful because my father-in-law is a handy man. My wife grew up, spoiled by one who can fix anything.
This weekend, I got to test my plumbing skills. Our kitchen drain was clogged. To my wife, it was unthinkable to call a plumber for something so routine as a clogged drain. I was drafted into service, against my will.
I have always thought that the first thing they teach plumbers when they go to plumbing school is how to swear. I’m pretty good at that part of plumbing. After that, it gets dicey.
After several tries, my 15' drain auger successfully dislodged the blockage. The water flows freely again, and I have been crowned the house plumber. I am entitled to the full majesty of such a title.
I have acquired a reputation for my ineptitude when it comes to all things mechanical. It is especially painful because my father-in-law is a handy man. My wife grew up, spoiled by one who can fix anything.
This weekend, I got to test my plumbing skills. Our kitchen drain was clogged. To my wife, it was unthinkable to call a plumber for something so routine as a clogged drain. I was drafted into service, against my will.
I have always thought that the first thing they teach plumbers when they go to plumbing school is how to swear. I’m pretty good at that part of plumbing. After that, it gets dicey.
After several tries, my 15' drain auger successfully dislodged the blockage. The water flows freely again, and I have been crowned the house plumber. I am entitled to the full majesty of such a title.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Can Money Buy Happiness?
Money doesn’t always bring happiness. People with ten million dollars are no happier than people with nine million dollars.
Hobart Brown
GM filed for bankruptcy today. I do not know what the implications of that mean. I do know that people will still drive cars, and Americans will still make cars.
How did this company that has been in existence for 101 years go down the tubes? The short answer is easy- bad management. They crumbled from within.
For a number of years, they have made their money from car loans rather than the sale of cars. The people that ran the company were “finance” people instead of “car” people. The company lost its way to find that it was really in the credit business. Their cars reflected that loss of direction.
Maybe, Americans have lost their direction. Easy credit has led too many to buy homes too big, and products they don’t need. Collective belt tightening may not be good for the economy, but, in the long run, it may be good for us.
Hobart Brown
GM filed for bankruptcy today. I do not know what the implications of that mean. I do know that people will still drive cars, and Americans will still make cars.
How did this company that has been in existence for 101 years go down the tubes? The short answer is easy- bad management. They crumbled from within.
For a number of years, they have made their money from car loans rather than the sale of cars. The people that ran the company were “finance” people instead of “car” people. The company lost its way to find that it was really in the credit business. Their cars reflected that loss of direction.
Maybe, Americans have lost their direction. Easy credit has led too many to buy homes too big, and products they don’t need. Collective belt tightening may not be good for the economy, but, in the long run, it may be good for us.
Time
Do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.
Benjamin Franklin
I recently went to a family wedding. I saw many of my cousins that I have not seen in years. It was so much fun looking back and sharing childhood memories of vacations, holidays, and my grandparents.
We were also energized by the prospect that our children, now young adults, may continue the tradition of fun family gatherings. It was comforting to see that all appreciated the lasting value of time spent in each other’s company.
Each day, the Lord sees fit to give us 24 hours. It is up to us to decide what to do with it. We build our lives day by day. It is easy to fall prey to the notion that a day is just an insignificant pebble in the mosaic of life. Yet, every day is its own gift, full of possibility and surprise.
I am at a point in my life where the picture of the mosaic is well underway. Generally, I like the picture, but my inner artist is telling me to add more color and add more people. He won’t tell me how many pebbles I have to work with, so I must be careful not to squander them.
Benjamin Franklin
I recently went to a family wedding. I saw many of my cousins that I have not seen in years. It was so much fun looking back and sharing childhood memories of vacations, holidays, and my grandparents.
We were also energized by the prospect that our children, now young adults, may continue the tradition of fun family gatherings. It was comforting to see that all appreciated the lasting value of time spent in each other’s company.
Each day, the Lord sees fit to give us 24 hours. It is up to us to decide what to do with it. We build our lives day by day. It is easy to fall prey to the notion that a day is just an insignificant pebble in the mosaic of life. Yet, every day is its own gift, full of possibility and surprise.
I am at a point in my life where the picture of the mosaic is well underway. Generally, I like the picture, but my inner artist is telling me to add more color and add more people. He won’t tell me how many pebbles I have to work with, so I must be careful not to squander them.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Education
Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.
Malcolm Forbes
I just saw a feature from a CBS morning show on, “Why dogs chase their tails.” Can we not watch dogs chase their tails without having to probe the psyche of the dog? I have this notion that some school’s veterinary science department received a large grant to explore this probing question.
The conclusion was that the dogs that chased their tails had much higher cholesterol than those that did not chase their tails. What a bummer! I thought they did it because it was fun. Maybe fish don’t chase their tails because they have all that fish oil?
My brother has very high cholesterol. Would he chase his tail if he had one? I like to think he would do it for the sport of it, and not because he eats too much bacon.
This important study raises more questions than it answers. Do people who enjoy Sudoku puzzles eat more legumes?
Malcolm Forbes
I just saw a feature from a CBS morning show on, “Why dogs chase their tails.” Can we not watch dogs chase their tails without having to probe the psyche of the dog? I have this notion that some school’s veterinary science department received a large grant to explore this probing question.
The conclusion was that the dogs that chased their tails had much higher cholesterol than those that did not chase their tails. What a bummer! I thought they did it because it was fun. Maybe fish don’t chase their tails because they have all that fish oil?
My brother has very high cholesterol. Would he chase his tail if he had one? I like to think he would do it for the sport of it, and not because he eats too much bacon.
This important study raises more questions than it answers. Do people who enjoy Sudoku puzzles eat more legumes?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Crazy
Being crazy used to mean something. Now, everybody’s crazy. Charles Manson
In September, Merrill Lynch and Bank of America agreed, prior to an acquisition, that Merrill could pay $3.6 billion in performance bonuses. Merrill lost $25 billion in 2008.
While Merrill was struggling for its financial life, its CEO spent $1.2 million redecorating his office. My favorites were the $87,000 spent on two guest chairs and the $1,400 spent for a trash can.
Every day, it seems like more stories are coming forth about “performance bonuses” paid by failing companies and other extravagant expenditures from companies receiving bailout money.
These actions reflect that our country’s real crisis is not economic, but moral. How many people looked the other way in the process of approving $3.6 billion in performance bonuses? Was there no one to say, “This is crazy!”
Charles Manson was right, being crazy used to mean something.
In September, Merrill Lynch and Bank of America agreed, prior to an acquisition, that Merrill could pay $3.6 billion in performance bonuses. Merrill lost $25 billion in 2008.
While Merrill was struggling for its financial life, its CEO spent $1.2 million redecorating his office. My favorites were the $87,000 spent on two guest chairs and the $1,400 spent for a trash can.
Every day, it seems like more stories are coming forth about “performance bonuses” paid by failing companies and other extravagant expenditures from companies receiving bailout money.
These actions reflect that our country’s real crisis is not economic, but moral. How many people looked the other way in the process of approving $3.6 billion in performance bonuses? Was there no one to say, “This is crazy!”
Charles Manson was right, being crazy used to mean something.
Friday, January 30, 2009
What counts
Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. Albert Einstein
My son recently turned 18 years old. My children are adults now. Wow! I feel like I have passed through a door through which I will not return. There is a measure of sadness in this passing, but this is the way it must be.
My role as a protector and provider is rapidly shrinking. They just don’t need me like they used to. It pleases me to see them grow and mature, but it comes at the expense of my perceived importance.
Will my children turn to me for guidance and advice as they become young adults? Probably not. They will learn by doing, not by lecture. Always have. Always will.
I count myself lucky for the journey my children gave me, and I think they feel the same way. That is what counts.
My son recently turned 18 years old. My children are adults now. Wow! I feel like I have passed through a door through which I will not return. There is a measure of sadness in this passing, but this is the way it must be.
My role as a protector and provider is rapidly shrinking. They just don’t need me like they used to. It pleases me to see them grow and mature, but it comes at the expense of my perceived importance.
Will my children turn to me for guidance and advice as they become young adults? Probably not. They will learn by doing, not by lecture. Always have. Always will.
I count myself lucky for the journey my children gave me, and I think they feel the same way. That is what counts.
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