What gets you going in the morning? The answer should guide your law practice to help you decide the best use of your time.
I’m a huge coffee drinker. Have been ever since my dad gave me a cup half filled with milk and the other half with java, back when I was 6. A little early by most measures, but it sealed the deal for me. And to this day, coffee remains part of my daily ritual.
That doesn’t mean coffee is what gets me going, though. In fact, I’ve been known to drink a cup just before bedtime and sleep like a baby.
What gets me going – and keeps me going – is caffeine. But not the sort found in coffee. My caffeine is of a different sort.
We all know that it’s found in coffee, but what is it? Caffeine is a psychotropic drug, a stimulant that affects our central nervous system to keep us awake, alert and focused. Studies have called it useful and harmful, beneficial and detrimental to our well-being. It’s all a matter of your perspective and moderation.
So, too, is your life. Taken in light doses, something may be exciting and wake up our senses. A beautiful day in the park with friends, for example. Or a complex motion that stretches our boundaries.
We All Need Caffeine
We all have our own caffeine, of course. That which gets us up in the morning, fresh-faced and ready for our day. We smile at the family, go through our routine and get out of the house with a spring in our step. We’re excited to get to work, and our productivity remains high until the day’s end.
It’s a natural rush of endorphins, that feeling of exhilaration which allows us to punch through a task that might seem impossible. Without that excitement and energy, it’s impossible to get through the day. We’re sluggish, mopey, and contemplate taking a nap under the desk.
We’re all charged with finding our own caffeine in order to find fulfillment in our jobs. Given the fact that most lawyers are in solo or small-firm practices, that challenge is heightened because without caffeine our coffers are empty at the end of the month. No enjoyment yields no clients, which in turn yields no income.
For me, caffeine is derived helping to connect prospective clients with solutions to their problems. I do this through creating content online and offline, talking to people, and answering questions. But I recognize that some lawyers find this to be nothing short of hell; they prefer to draft pleadings, go to court, or handle some other aspect of the process. That’s cool, so long as you recognize those leanings and account for them in your office.
If I were to be conscripted into another aspect of the bankruptcy practice then I’d be inefficient and unproductive. It wouldn’t suit me well (though I can easily handle any part of the process), so I wouldn’t be engaged. There would be no spring in my step, and I wouldn’t be as excited to “get to work” in the morning. It would be tougher to get me off the couch, and sleeping in would hold far greater appeal than is already the case.
How Can You Find Yours?
Tomorrow morning when you wake up and get to work (whether you work from home or a physical location) pay attention to what goes into your day. Write it all down on a notepad, just to jog your memory. Later on you’ll need to look at that list to see which part of your daily routine spurs your interest. It’s not going to be easy because you’re going to need to be honest with yourself about your likes and dislikes. But once you do, you’ll have a better idea of to tasks you’re going to want to hand off to other people in the office, virtual assistants, and the like.
So, what’s your caffeine?
