I admit that I can’t find the quotation online. But I swear I heard this, years ago, about a great violinist:
“What do you want in life?”
“I want to play the violin.”
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“Don’t you want to be happy?”
“I want to play the violin. If I play the violin, then I’ll be happy.”
Think about the law.
Years ago, I heard of a law firm that performed skits as part of a holiday party. In one of the skits, a person came out playing the part of the managing partner and wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with “Bill more time!”
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That’s not very funny.
In fact, I suspect the law firm had lost its way.
Think again about the violinist.
“What do you want to achieve as a lawyer?”
“I want to win cases.”
“Don’t you want to make money?”
“I want to win cases. If I win cases, I’ll make plenty of money.”
Or perhaps:
“What do you want to achieve as a lawyer?”
“I want to produce top-notch legal work at the lowest possible price.”
“Don’t you want to make money?”
“I want to produce top-notch legal work at the lowest possible price. If I do that, I’ll make plenty of money.”
Which is the better motivation?
Which is the better way to live your life?
Which lawyer would a client prefer to hire?
As for me, I’ll play the violin.
Mark Herrmann spent 17 years as a partner at a leading international law firm and is now deputy general counsel at a large international company. He is the author of The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law and Inside Straight: Advice About Lawyering, In-House And Out, That Only The Internet Could Provide (affiliate links). You can reach him by email at [email protected].