The Game Changing Attorney Podcast with Michael Mogill

What happens when two prosecutors risk it all with a $9,000 loan and turn it into an eight-figure firm while raising three kids? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill sit down with Benson Varghese and Anna Summersett, co-founders of Varghese Summersett, to uncover the story of how they built one of Texas’s fastest-growing firms. From humble beginnings and early challenges to scaling across multiple practice areas and offices, Benson and Anna share how they’ve redefined the client journey, built a culture rooted in growth, and balanced the chaos of entrepreneurship with family life. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why the client journey, not just courtroom wins, defines the future of law firm growth How to scale from 5 to 70+ employees without losing culture (or your mind) The tough truth about team members who won’t grow with your firm—and how to move forward If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your firm, your family, and your future without losing control, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss. ---- Show Notes: 03:15 – From rivals to partners: how Benson and Anna first met as prosecutors 09:23 – Launching a law firm with just $9,000 and no safety net 12:57 – Balancing opposite strengths: quick start vs. fact finder 16:16 – The hard truth about team members who can’t grow with the firm 19:13 – Building a culture rooted in growth mindset 22:16 – Redefining the hiring funnel to find the right people, not just any people 26:02 – Transforming the client journey with automation and human touch 34:37 – Leaving the courtroom to work on the business, not in it ---- Links & Resources: Varghese Summersett Lawft Legal Case Management Software Point Blank Tequila Kolbe Assessment Print Assessment  ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 355. How Two Lawyers Took on Legal Giants and Won with Spetsas Buist 361. The Hidden Blueprint for Creating a Thriving Work Culture with Josh Nelson 372. The Surprising ROI of Doing the Right Thing with Chaffin Luhana

What if doing more is the very reason your firm isn’t growing? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill answer law firm owners’ toughest questions — from why growth efforts aren’t paying off, to why adding more people doesn’t always solve capacity problems, to how firms can avoid drowning in their own processes. Along the way, Michael shares how a new gardening hobby surprisingly mirrors the discipline it takes to build and scale a thriving practice. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why spreading your attention across too many initiatives will slow your progress — and how to concentrate resources for real growth The trap of “throwing bodies at problems” and how to use data-driven capacity planning instead of guesswork How successful firms simplify processes to maintain quality without getting buried in bureaucracy If you want your firm to grow, it’s time to cut the noise and double down on what matters. ---- Show Notes: 02:12 – Michael’s new gardening hobby and what it reveals about balance and focus 07:50 – Why spreading resources too thin stalls growth 09:36 – The gardening lesson that proves focus beats diversification 10:58 – Why every marketing channel works — and what really determines success 13:47 – The trap of “throwing bodies at problems” and why capacity must be data-driven 17:18 – Hiring without clarity: why adding people often increases complexity 18:48 – How firms unintentionally create bureaucracy as they grow 20:23 – The power of auditing processes and running a “stop doing” list ---- Links & Resources: The Three-Body Problem (Netflix) The Three-Body Problem book series by Cixin Liu Garden with a Y (Indoor hydroponic gardening system) ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 387. AMMA — Stop Cleaning Up Their Mess: The Secret to a Self-Sufficient Team 382. What It Takes to Build a $100M Legal Business 375. AMMA — Stop Being The Bottleneck: Lead Your Firm Without Being Needed

What if the future of personal injury law wasn’t written by tradition — but by a tech startup? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Ray Mieszaniec, Co-Founder and COO of EvenUp, a legal technology company using artificial intelligence to transform how personal injury claims are prepared, resolved, and ultimately valued. From his family’s personal experience with catastrophic injury to building the fastest-growing legal tech startup in history, Ray shares how EvenUp is rewriting the rules of PI law through AI, efficiency, and a relentless drive to level the playing field for plaintiffs.   Here’s what you’ll learn: Why Ray’s family’s tragedy planted the seed for a company now disrupting the PI industry How EvenUp’s AI-powered tools are helping firms maximize case values and streamline operations What the rise of autonomous vehicles, fee caps, and private equity mean for the future of PI law — and how firms must adapt now   The legal landscape is shifting fast. If you want to see what the next decade of PI law could look like, this episode is your front-row seat.   ---- Show Notes: 03:26 – The family tragedy that exposed the imbalance between insurers and victims 07:38 – Founding EvenUp: leveling the playing field with data and AI 11:12 – How missing records and treatment gaps cost firms millions 14:13 – Headwinds in PI law: autonomous vehicles, tort reform, and fee caps 16:19 – How law firms’ attitudes toward AI shifted from fear to adoption 19:56 – Building an AI model for PI law and keeping humans in the loop 23:42 – Why efficiency isn’t optional if firms want to survive fee caps 35:15 – Ray’s definition of being a game changer   ---- Links & Resources: EvenUp ABA Journal: AI in Law Tort Reform ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ----   Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 374. You're Not Too Late: Joe Fried on Finding Purpose in Law 372. The Surprising ROI of Doing the Right Thing with Chaffin Luhana 355. How Two Lawyers Took on Legal Giants and Won with Spetsas Buist

Every law firm wants more leads — but what if chasing them is the very thing holding you back? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessical Mogill tackle one of the most common (and costly) mistakes law firm owners make: pouring money into marketing before fixing the foundation of their business. A $100,000 ad campaign might sound like the fast track to growth, but if your systems, team, and client experience can’t handle the volume, you’ll end up scaling chaos instead of results. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why investing in marketing before your systems are ready creates more problems than profit How to recognize whether your firm needs capacity, optimization, or true demand generation The mindset shift that separates law firm owners who burn cash from those who build scalable, thriving practices Before you write your next big marketing check, listen to this episode. It might just save you $100K — and set your firm on the right path for sustainable growth. ---- 00:00 – Intro and setup: The difference between growing revenue and scaling your business 02:30 – Why mistakes don’t define you — it’s how you respond that matters 03:24 – Miles Davis on wrong notes and life lessons 06:42 – The $100K marketing question: Should you invest in leads or systems? 09:42 – Why scaling demand without capacity only creates bigger problems 10:36 – Run your own race: Why comparing your growth to competitors is a trap 13:40 – Should you hire before perfecting processes, or wait until everything is “just right”? 16:39 – How to expand capacity without sacrificing client experience ---- Links & Resources: Miles Davis Quote ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 389. AMMA — Stop Fixing $5 Problems and Start Solving $1M Ones 379. AMMA — If You’re Still Chasing Leads, You’ve Already Lost 358. Your Competitors Don't Want You to Know These Game Changing Marketing Strategies

From pitmaster to business powerhouse, Rodney Scott proves that passion, process, and a relentless commitment to craft can transform not only a career but an entire industry. In this encore episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott, a man who went from reluctantly tending the family barbecue pit to building a nationally recognized brand. With decades of lessons forged over open flames, Rodney shares how discipline, resilience, and an obsession with detail built his success. From overcoming doubters to scaling his craft across multiple locations, his journey offers timeless wisdom for any law firm leader serious about turning their passion into a lasting legacy. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why sticking with your craft through decades of hard work creates mastery that shortcuts cannot match How attention to detail turns a good product into an unforgettable experience The leadership mindset shifts needed to scale your business without sacrificing quality Whether you are running a smokehouse or a law firm, Rodney’s story is proof that when passion meets process, you can change the game and the world will know your name. ---- Show Notes: 00:00 – Introduction and Rodney’s early life on the farm 04:46 – From no interest in barbecue to finding his passion 05:58 – What makes whole hog barbecue unique and challenging 08:44 – Overcoming doubt and choosing to dream big 13:53 – Landing a feature on Netflix’s Chef’s Table 18:51 – The art and science of whole hog cooking 22:38 – Training pitmasters and maintaining consistency across restaurants 41:39 – What being a game changer means to Rodney Scott ---- Links & Resources: Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q Chef’s Table (Netflix TV show) Eric Church James Beard Foundation Billions (Showtime TV show) ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 110. Leading Ladies: Four Leaders in Business 132. Summit Spectacular: Part 1  214. Dream Team: How to Hire & Keep High-Performing Talent

If you keep fixing $5 problems, don’t be surprised when your $1M problems never get solved. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill tackle one of the most common growth killers in law firms: spending your most valuable resource, your time, on the least valuable tasks. From fixing printers to negotiating minor contracts, too many leaders are stuck in low-leverage work while the big opportunities for growth go untouched. Michael shares how to calculate the true value of your time, overcome the guilt of outsourcing, and focus on the decisions that actually move the needle for your business and your life. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to calculate your buyback rate to decide exactly what to delegate Why solving $5 problems keeps you from solving $1M ones How to shift from “I can do it” to “I shouldn’t be doing it” Stop trading your time for pennies while your million-dollar opportunities pass you by. The future of your firm depends on where you focus next. ---- 00:00 – Intro and weekend recap: ice skating, roller skating, and discovering Next Playground 08:23 – Why leaders get stuck fixing low-value problems 09:36 – Understanding the opportunity cost of your time 10:58 – How to calculate your buyback rate 12:54 – The difference between solving $5 problems and $1M problems 13:39 – Overcoming the guilt of outsourcing tasks 17:45 – Why a personal assistant is one of the most impactful hires you can make 21:57 – Shifting from trading time for money to buying back time ---- Links & Resources: Buy Back Your Time - Dan Martell Next Playground ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 387. AMMA — Stop Cleaning Up Their Mess: The Secret to a Self-Sufficient Team 370. Why Playing It Safe Is Killing Your Growth with Verne Harnish 363. AMMA — How to Master Decision-Making Like a Pro

She went from serving wings at Hooters to leading one of the fastest-growing wellness brands in the world — and she’s just getting started. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Kat Cole, former President of Cinnabon, current CEO of AG1 (formerly Athletic Greens), and living proof that grit, humility, and relentless urgency can change everything. From her start as a teen working to help her family make ends meet to leading a $600M global brand, Kat shares hard-won lessons on leadership, scaling with purpose, and never settling for “good enough.” Here’s what you’ll learn: Why doing every job in the building creates exponential career growth and earns real leadership credibility What it takes to lead through influence instead of force and build true commitment across your team How the Hotshot Rule helps high performers stay self-aware and take immediate action when it matters most Kat Cole doesn’t just believe better is possible. She proves it. If you’re ready to lead with more courage, clarity, and conviction, this episode will show you how. ---- Show Notes: 00:00 – Introduction 07:47 – Saying Yes to Everything: How Kat Built a Career Without a Map 11:49 – Leaving Hooters: Knowing When Your Work Is Done 19:28 – Earning Trust Through Crisis: Leading Cinnabon Out of the Recession 28:00 – Franchisees, Fear, and the Innovation They Tried to Hide 34:19 – From Fan to CEO: Why Kat Joined AG1 41:35 – Leading with Urgency: The New Rules of Wartime vs. Peacetime 44:19 – The Hotshot Rule: A Weekly Habit That Transforms Leadership ---- Links & Resources: Kat Cole TED Talk - The “Hot Shot Rule” To Help You Become a Better Leader AG1 (formerly Athletic Greens)  Undercover Boss - Cinnabon Episode Hooters Air Roark Capital ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 362. The Secret Weapons for Outpacing Your Competition 366. How to Transform Your Business with Military Precision and Strategy with John Berry 384. Break the Mold: The Blueprint for Radical Reinvention With Todd Herman [Encore Edition]

You didn’t build a business to become a full-time babysitter. So why are you still cleaning up your team’s mistakes? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill tackle one of the most frustrating growth blockers law firm owners face: a team that can’t seem to operate without you. If you’re constantly redoing work, stepping in to fix repeated mistakes, or avoiding hard conversations to keep the peace, this conversation will show you how to shift from micromanaging to building a truly self-sufficient team. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why repeated mistakes are a sign of poor leadership, not just poor performance The real cost of being the good guy How to coach your team without doing their job for them If you want to scale, you have to stop saving everyone. It’s time to lead like a coach, not a crutch. ---- 00:00 — Intro: Why your team’s growth depends on your leadership, not your workload 07:49 — Delegation gone wrong: When you assign a task but end up redoing it 10:47 — If they keep making the same mistake, it’s no longer a mistake 12:04 — Weaponized incompetence: Are they failing on purpose so you’ll fix it? 12:51 — The 1-3-1 Rule: A tool to stop doing all the thinking for your team 13:38 — “You’re babysitting grown adults”: How to break the cycle 16:45 — Why protecting their feelings is sabotaging your firm 18:41 — Stop trying to be liked: Leadership means having the hard conversations ---- Links & Resources: Weaponized Incompetence 1-3-1 Method for Delegation Murph Workout – Official Description Previous Game Changing Attorney Podcast Episode 381. AMMA — The Hardest Mindset Shift for Law Firm Owners to Make ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 381. AMMA — The Hardest Mindset Shift for Law Firm Owners to Make 317. AMMA — Crushing Mediocrity: The Art of Setting and Meeting Higher Expectations 210. AMMA — Failure Isn’t Final: Lessons Learned From Setbacks and Struggles

Bad news travels fast, and if you are not prepared, it can ruin your reputation before you have a chance to respond. In this encore episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with crisis management expert and real-life inspiration for Scandal’s Olivia Pope, Judy Smith. With a career that has taken her from the White House to high-profile crises involving celebrities, CEOs, and global brands, Judy shares how law firm owners can protect their reputation, lead with clarity, and respond strategically when the pressure is on. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why managing your reputation today takes speed, strategy, and the right message, not just a legal defense How to create a crisis playbook so you are ready long before problems arise What law firm leaders need to know about social issues, cancel culture, and public perception You do not get to choose when a crisis shows up, but you can choose whether or not you are prepared for it. ---- Show Notes: 00:00 — Intro & Why old PR tactics no longer work in a world of instant communication 03:34 — The new expectation: Clients want law firms to solve the whole problem 09:10 — How social media transformed crisis response and why speed matters 14:07 — Why every law firm needs a crisis playbook before trouble starts 16:30 — A cautionary tale about failing to plan for preventable risks 18:00 — How to lead with clarity on social issues without defaulting to a Band-Aid response 22:02 — The biggest PR mistake leaders make when under pressure 28:20 — Not everything is fixable: Why some reputations never recover ---- Links & Resources: Judy Smith’s Crisis Management FirmScandal (TV Series)Casey Anthony Trial ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 311. Legal Leaders — The Blueprint for Legal Mastery: Build a Legacy, Dominate Your Niche 118. Litigating Legends: Lessons Learned from the Nation's Leading Trial Attorneys 134. Legal Leaders: Live from The Game Changers Summit

What if the very thing holding your law firm back… is you? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill tackle three of the most common (and costly) growth blockers law firm owners face — shiny object syndrome, unproductive comparisons, and the belief that “no one can do it like I can.” If your firm has plateaued, if you’re burning cash on a bloated team, or if you’ve convinced yourself that scaling personal touch is impossible, this conversation will hit home. It’s not about working harder — it’s about thinking smarter. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why adding new practice areas too early can hurt your firm and what to do instead How to tell if your firm is overstaffed or simply underperforming What it really takes to grow a relationship-driven firm without relying only on yourself You don’t need more practice areas, fewer people, or a copy of yourself to grow. You need the discipline to focus, the courage to optimize, and the humility to let go. ---- 00:00 – Intro 08:11 – Why diversifying too early stalls growth instead of driving it 10:15 – The hidden cost of chasing new ideas without follow-through 11:38 – How to find untapped growth by maximizing what you already have 14:35 – Headcount comparison traps: When cutting costs is the wrong move 15:04 – The performance gap between A players and everyone else 18:07 – The “no one can do it like me” mindset that keeps founders from scaling 20:23 – Letting go of ego: How Michael discovered others could do it better ---- Links & Resources: James Clear – Author of Atomic Habits Athletic Greens (AG1) Dude Wipes Under Armour ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 323. James Lawrence — The Power of One More: A Journey of Grit and Determination 259. David Craig — How to Build a Law Firm That Stands the Test of Time 246. AMMA — From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Key Differences Between Winners and Losers