The Free Lawyer

What a powerful episode! Winter Wheeler, a dynamic mediator and formerly a very talented litigator, joins the Free Lawyer today to discuss her journey as a civil defense trial attorney and her transformation into being a very highly regarded mediator.  She shares her exprience and insights about: -The biggest problems lawyers face today- a lack of time and the pressures it creates -The need to slow down in our practices -The importance of empathy in our practices -The underutilized gift of active listening and how it can benefit us -The Four Cornerstones of Mediation -How to most effectively mediate your case Winter is a former top civil litigator who has made her niche as an expert mediator. She is sought out for her unique, compassionate, and successful style of handling complex matters that involve a diverse range of cultures, including Spanish-speaking clients.  Winter is the creator of The Four Cornerstones of Mediation™, which she introduced to the world in her first TEDx talk in March 2021. She has turned that methodology into a 14-hour mediation and certification course. Winter’s second TEDx talk titled, “Confessions of a Mom Who Has It All,” was given in June 2021. She is the co-author of the bestselling book #Networked and  the creator and host of The Mediate Now® podcast. Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you ever worry that you might fail at something in your law practice? Do you ever feel that your fear of failing at something hampers your success? Or causes you stress? Despite our confidence, many of us struggle with internal fears. But, overwhelmingly, the most challenging and frequent fear is that of failure. That fear can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, making our failure more likely. It also creates stress for us. In this episode, I will discuss how our fear of failure harms us and give four tangible tools to overcome them: 1. Change your thoughts and your attitude. 2. Forget the outcome and focus on the process. 3. Get into action. 4. Keep your target. Have a listen for a detailed discussion of each of these. Would you like to learn more about my mentoring program? You can find out more about my program here: ⁠⁠https://www.garymiles.net/coaching⁠⁠​ Would you like to have a courtesy call to chat about where you are, what is holding you back, and how to break through? You can schedule it here: ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call

How do we stand out for our expertise in such a crowded field of attorneys? How do we authentically show our clients how we best serve them? Nancy Evans, author, podcaster, and personal branding expert, joins The Free Lawyer today to answer these questions. She explains: - How we already have a personal brand, whether we like it or not -What is a personal brand, and why is it important -How do we best create a personal brand that reflects who we are and what we do -What are our most important steps in developing our brand -How lawyers can benefit from having a personal brand -How can our brand build our practice and develop personal freedom by giving us a choice Nancy Evans is the Founder of BYOB Agency (Build Your Online Brand), a Personal Branding Agency committed to helping entrepreneurs, coaches, and consultants build their online presence so they can expand their reach and grow their businesses. Nancy and her husband, Scott are full-time entrepreneurs and run multiple businesses, all aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and professionals in growing their businesses, building their brands and showing up authentically. Nancy and her team are experts at helping entrepreneurs create compelling content that connects with their ideal clients, builds authority and visibility, and grows their business. Nancy is the author of "How to Build Your Personal Brand on Social Media", and lives in New Jersey with her husband Scott and fur kids Ben, Mortimer, and Ruby. You can connect with Nancy on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyevans1/ Check out her new book on Amazon, "How to Build Your Personal Brand on Social Media": https://www.amazon.com/Build-Personal-Brand-Social-Media/dp/B0BSJ9XM5M/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1672071503&sr=8-3 Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

We all have encountered stress and unexpected setbacks in our legal practice. We try a case, but we receive a negative result. Our client, to whom we have provided outstanding service, has decided to leave. An attorney in our firm suddenly decides to depart, causing workload issues. Due to some big cases, our firm's cash flow has become tight. Haven’t we all experienced issues such as that? How do we respond? Do we feel depressed and ready to give up? Or, we evaluate what happened, learn what we can, and develop a plan for success? The difference in how we respond is based on the critical trait of resilience. In this Episode, I will explain what resilience is; what problems we experience when do not persevere; the gifts we enjoy when we develop our perseverance; and ten key tools for becoming a more resilient lawyer: 1. Develop a Positive Mindset 2. Practice Stress Management Techniques 3. Learn How to let go 4. Practice mindfulness 5. Build a a support network 6. Learn from your mistakes 7. Take care of yourself 8. Focus on your vision 9. Practice gratitude. 10. Seek support when needed We, lawyers, face incredible challenges. One of the most critical traits we need to develop to be successful professionally and happy and fulfilled is our talent for resilience. This is always a skill we can improve. We are never perfect, but focusing on these tools to become more resilient will help us become more successful attorneys. Would you like to learn more about my mentoring program? You can find out more about my program here: ⁠https://www.garymiles.net/coaching⁠​ Would you like to have a courtesy call to chat about where you are, what is holding you back, and how to break through? You can schedule it here: ⁠https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call

So many of us have been affected by the disease of addiction. Its impact on family members and loved ones can be overwhelming. How can we best show up through that crisis and still function effectively? How can we best support our loved one who is struggling with addiction? Today's guest is Nancy Espuche. For the last decade, Nancy has been an experienced sales professional who has been an active participant in the recovery community as she faced the daunting challenge of her son’s substance use disorder. In addition, she is a speaker and author. Unfortunately, on December 19th, 2016, her beloved son Lucas lost his battle. Her mission, through KardBoard House, is to address the impact of addiction on loved ones, family members, and, ultimately, the workforce. With business leaders, executives, educators, and mental health/treatment professionals, Nancy works with organizations to guide and support those whose professional and personal lives have been disrupted by someone’s substance use disorder. She shares her powerful insights on so many important topics: -The importance of doing it out of unconditional love, not to achieve the desired result -The powerful gift of acceptance as a tool for building freedom in an overwhelming situation -The need to understand we are truly powerless over everyone else's journey. We cannot chart the course of another's life. -The need for self-care to help manage the trauma of another's addiction -The benefit of the community and the gift of sharing with others what we are going through, so we know we are not alone, and we receive the support of others. -The need for forgiveness of ourselves and the addict -The benefits of speaking our truth about the situation -How law firms and employers can best support their staff as they work through the addiction process of a loved one This is a deeply human, intensely personal, and very moving episode not to be missed! Nancy has frequently spoken on this topic, including with Newsweek, the St. Paul Press, the New York Bar Association, and the Lawyers Assistance Professional Conference. Her website is kardboardhouse.com. Her powerful book Kardboard House; My Life-Altering Journey Through Lucas's Addiction is available on Amazon. You may reach her by email @Nancy18@KardboardHouse.com.  Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you struggle with perfectionism? Try to do everything perfectly and procrastinate because you are afraid to make a mistake? Or be too hard on yourself because your work product is not just so? Or are there some days when you do not put forth the effort at work or home? Today we conclude our 5 part series on The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Ruiz suggests these Four Agreements as tools for living: The Four Agreements Be Impeccable With Your Word. Don't Take Anything Personally. Don't Make Assumptions. Always Do Your Best. Today, we will examine the final of the Four Agreements, “always do your best.” We will discuss what that means, what it is not, the benefits of doing your best, and explain how to achieve that. We do not have to be perfect- just do our best under the circumstances. And, it is so important to practice self-acceptance and be good to ourselves.  Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout I have now opened the doors to The Free Lawyer mentoring program to a limited number of lawyer clients. Would you like to be one of them? My clients receive personalized attention, and I work with them one-on-one to overcome their obstacles and enjoy the success they crave. I provide tangible, practical tools to help my clients overcome their obstacles freeing them to enjoy the success and fulfillment they have always dreamed. Would you like to learn more? You can find out more about my program here: https://www.garymiles.net/coaching​ I would like to have a courtesy call to chat about where you are, what is holding you back, and how to break through. You can schedule it here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call

Erin Gerner joins the Free Lawyer today to discuss how women lawyers can find joy and fulfillment in their practice. Erin is a lawyer turned life coach who helps female attorneys break out of the toxic legal narrative, redefine success, and build a life and career they love. Key takeaways: -How we can learn to manage the overwhelm -The importance of enjoying the unpredictable journey -How we find more peace by showing grace and compassion to ourselves -The four key questions to ask ourselves when we are feeling stuck: 1. Who am I really? 2. How do I feel? 3. What do I need? 4. What is the one think I can do to remove the friction? - How to start taking action when we are feeling overwhelmed -How our brain can keep us in a safe comfort zone, where we do not grow, and how to break free, step out, and take on new challenges. -Achieving personal freedom by finding peace, joy, happiness and fulfillment in our life This a blockbuster episode. You will love what Erin has to share. After 7 years of practicing law, Erin decided to leave the legal profession, and is now one of the top coaches in the Dallas area. She’s been featured in podcasts and publications like Goss Magazine, Voyage Dallas, and Influence Digest. She’s a wife and a mom of 2 and currently lives outside of Dallas with her family. Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Have you ever invited someone else for an evening, and they said no without an explanation, and you began to wonder why? Have you done something wrong? Really upset you about something? You began to assume that they no longer liked you or  wanted to have a relationship with you, and you keep telling yourself that story. Or, have you ever called someone or texted and they did not return your message? And called again, and still no return calls. What did you do wrong? Why were they avoiding you? Are they agitated at you about something? We frequently cause ourselves pain by making assumptions about other people, their feelings, emotions, and actions. We do not know if those assumptions are true, and they are often very negative. We place ourselves in a negative mindset by assuming the worst. Does that ever happen to you? If so, you are not alone. In this episode, we will examine we the third of Don Miguel Ruiz’s four agreements, “don’t make assumptions.” We will discuss the problem with making such assumptions, why we make assumptions, and how we benefit from not making assumptions. I review in detail these six tools to help us not make assumptions: 1. Practice self-awareness.  2. Ask for clarification. 3. Speak our truth. 4. Practice self-compassion. 5. Focus on the truth. 6. Choose positive thoughts Want to learn more? Have a listen! Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you ever feel stuck where you are?  Are you interested in finding your dream job and not sure how to start? Today you can learn the answers! Melanie Wexler joins The Free Lawyer to share her expertise on how you can find your dream position. Bringing over 20 years of recruiting and staffing experience, Melanie started Career Coaching in 2017 to help people find meaning and fulfillment in their lives and careers.  Her road to owning and launching her own practice was not easy, from pivoting her career and overcoming entrepreneurial challenges. Today, Melanie has taken her success as a recruiter and an innate knowledge of the market to help her clients navigate the job search process.  She thrives on helping her clients better understand themselves, understands the job searching process, creates stellar resumes, and understands how to network and succeed in interviewing so that they can achieve their goals and land their dream jobs, find their passion, achieve their goals, and succeed in their careers. Melanie explains: -How to create the ideal resume and LinkedIn profile -Essential job search strategies -How to effectively network -Key interview skills -The importance of understanding the relevant job market -Turning your setbacks into opportunities -Evaluating what is important to you in your career so you can target your search to just the right positions -What to do when you feel stuck at work When not working with her clients, Melanie partners with her best friend and her daughter in building their non-profit Hearts 4 Honduras which helps support the Children’s Education Center in the village of Limon in Choluteca, Honduras. Where you can find me: Website: www.findsucceedachieve.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniewexler Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AchieveinFindingSuccess Instagram: @mwexlercareercoach Clubhouse: @Melaniewexler Twitter:@mwcareercoach Hearts4Honduras: https://givebutter.com/hearts4honduras Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Have you ever had someone say something nasty about you, and your feelings get hurt? They may say something behind your back to another person, criticize you or make fun of you. How often do we allow the opinions of others to affect our happiness? Why? I have certainly had that experience. Almost all of us have. So today, we will examine the 2nd of Don Miguel Ruiz’s four agreements, “don’t take anything personally.” We will discuss what we do when taking things too personally, what is going on when things are said about us that bother us, and give tangible tools to help overcome this problem. It is not easy to stop taking things so personally, but it is critical to building a life of freedom. It is our journey, not theirs. Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout