Perfectionism & The Pandemic Will Derail Your Law Practice
2020 has created chaos in the lives of everyone. In an average year, life is stressful for Lawyers. But this year, everyone has faced unbelievable circumstances. In early 2019, no one would have believed we would face a pandemic, plus racial and political upheaval. There has been confusion and unrest on every front.
Despite these difficulties, lawyers still wanted to aim high and to do better than they did last year. They wanted to have better billable hours and more clients.
The pandemic, BLM protests, and political division has affected all of us. Besides that, many have lost loved ones due to Covid-19.
In addition to health problems, families are in an emotional and financial crisis. Business owners and solo practitioners have lost their livelihood. Many folks are barely making ends meet.
To add to all these challenging circumstances, most lawyers are still striving for perfection.
Perfectionism is a life of endless report cards. Accomplishments, appearances, and standing in the legal community are a duty.
Perfection can threaten attorneys’ longevity, satisfaction, and lasting success in their careers.
The Merry-Go-Round They Can’t Get Off
Perfection is a merry-go-round; many lawyers can’t get off. It keeps going faster and faster. Attorneys who get caught up in perfectionism have no idea how to get off. If their numbers are lower than last year, they are relentless with themselves.
The legal profession is a perfect breeding ground for perfectionists. It is a self-imposed pressure of being perfect that hovers over their head, trying to be perfect. The perfectionist rarely smiles. Most of the time, these lawyers are impatient, tense, and in a hurry.
Lawyers who seek perfection have unrealistic goals. They set themselves up for burnout, depression, stress, and unhappiness.
Vulnerable Lawyers
Litigators are particularly vulnerable. They can’t give themselves the luxury of making even the smallest mistake. With a small oversight, they might lose a trial.
The constant pressure of “what ifs” hovers over their heads. It eats away all joy demanding more and more excellence. The lawyer disappears in the illusion of this impossible standard or perfection.
Psychologists almost always consider perfectionism as a handicap. They note that perfectionists are prone to distress.
These men and women are often haunted by a chronic sense of failure, indecisiveness. Attorneys who are perfectionists are always subject to procrastination and shame.
Meet Roger Who Believed It Was All Over
The other day I met the owner of a mid-sized firm whom I will call Roger. After looking at the website, I was quite impressed and congratulated him on his success.
Roger replied that his firm was no longer successful. Even before the pandemic, he felt like a failure. His brother, who was his partner in their law firm, had died, and a few months later, the firm lost their biggest client. He believed it was all over. I told him I could help him turn this around and thankfully within eight months we did.
Remembering My Stressful Year
I spend my life inspiring lawyers — helping them keep their law practices on track. The law practice must go on, and profits must increase. I am there for them on a daily and weekly basis.
But talking with Roger made me think about my life a few years ago. One crisis after another occurred. First, my younger brother almost died from a stroke. In the aftermath, he was confined to a wheelchair. Shortly after that, my sweet dog, a Maltese we called Pooh, became ill. She died.
A young family member had a nervous breakdown. (He recovered, thankfully) Then my best friend, who was like my sister, came down with cancer. I flew to Los Angeles, California, for two months to help her, and she also died.
Perfectionism cannot be present when loss or sickness happens back-to-back. It is easy to get discouraged. You may become despondent. You may want to give up. I felt like Roger. I felt my best days were over.
5 Steps To Make a Comeback
When I look back, five things helped me keep my business growing. They enabled me to continue my discipline during a difficult time in my life. If you have been facing defeat and overwhelm due to the pandemic or other problems, these steps can help.
Step 1:
Tell yourself this is only temporary. When devastating life events happen, it is easy to think that this is forever. But it is not. Hang in there. Give up the idea that life is perfect.
Step 2:
Take care of yourself by eating healthy, and also include drinking water. Go for a walk, relax, and meditate to manage your physical health. Don’t use crutches like alcohol or compulsive overeating that only make matters worse.
Step 3:
Don’t give up. Don’t allow yourself to become paralyzed. Get support. Talk with a friend; don’t try to do this alone. Getting helps you keep the proper perspective.
Step 4:
Make a to-do list each day with the top three actions you should take. Make sure to include one scary action that pushes you outside of your comfort zone.
Step 5:
Take that one scary action on your list and do it FIRST thing (or early in your day). This action will keep your momentum going. Taking a stretch-action each day will keep you unstuck.
Life Happens, So Give Yourself a Break!
Yes, life happens to lawyers like everyone else. When one is a perfectionist, you are always beating yourself up. Criticizing yourself is counterproductive. It causes you to become discouraged. A discouraged lawyer is an ineffective one.
When Things Are Not Going Well
Any successful business makes corrections to their goals and plans. When facing hardships, they set aside time to see where things need to change.
- Review what worked and what did not work. Get excited and develop new strategies for 2020.
- Revamp your goals. If you were derailed, look at it as a growth opportunity.
- Ask yourself, “What do I need to change?”
- Be Smart Yet Remain Teachable
Make a small beginning with three quick questions to begin:
- If I haven’t met my financial goals, what do I need to change?
- Do I care for my body like I am a Ferrari or a run-down jalopy?
- Do I feel invigorated and enthusiastic or run down and exhausted most days?
Spend 30 Minutes to Recover 2020
After reading this article:
- Schedule thirty minutes to review your year.
- Write down three things that you can be proud of.
- Write down three things that did not go well.
- Write down three things that you are willing to change.
Taking this thirty minutes or so to reflect can give you a new lease on life so that you can begin to make necessary changes. Despite the insanity around you, find inner peace to go on. Pamela DeNeuve
