Leverage For Lawyers

Posted by Elizabeth Zelinka

I work regularly with big law lawyers and other intense professionals in reinventing themselves—sometimes due to a layoff and other times during a time of transition brought about by a desire to reach beyond their current circumstance. 

In both cases, I find that most of these professionals have little to no identity beyond their careers.  When I ask them what they love to do or how they love to spend their free time, they look at me like I am speaking in a foreign language.  And for many of them, I am.  Their careers have left them little time or energy to know themselves beyond that limited context.  It is no wonder that the idea of leaving that context can be downright terrifying.

There is tremendous power in coming to know ourselves outside of the career context.  Setting aside the “need to earn a living” (even for a few days) can allow us to reconnect with who we really are, what we really love to do and the many ways that we might choose to structure our lives if we really believed we had a choice.  And suddenly, we realize that we do have a choice—many more, in fact, than we ever knew. 

If you are in a time of transition, no matter what the reason, embrace the opportunity to get to know yourself outside of your career.  There is far more to you and your life than how you earn a living.  

Elizabeth Zelinka is a Consultant and Career Strategist with Zelinka & Prince Search Partners.  She can be reached through her website at www.zpsearchpartners.com.

BE BOLD. EMBRACE OPPORTUNITY.

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