What would be your top 3 motivational signs over your door (along with the meaning)?
Alrighty, sports fans. We all know how athletes will hit a ceremonial
sign, rock, or symbol as they go out on the field of battle. So for ALL of
us who do battle for our clients 'day in, day out', what would YOUR sign be
as you go into the field of battle?
MINE:
1) "You created this problem, not me!"
(as a reminder that I shouldn't take on the client's problem as my problem)
2) "Last I checked, you practicing law for 30 years doesn't mean you put
your pants on any differently than me!"
(As a reminder when facing another attorney with more experience than you)
3) "Your client's hired you to argue, so argue!"
(A judge once told me that attorneys are part counselor, part litigators,
and part actors. So, even if you have a LOSER case, ARGUE! It will make
your client feel good)
What are top three?
Anthony Reeves, Florida
I literally have 3 wooden signs in my office:
Good Morning! Let The Stress Begin...
Some people are only alive because it's illegal to kill them (which can be turned around as on the flip
side it reads: I use to have a handle on life. Then it broke.)
And my most favorite: a cut out of a wooden doll with frizzy rope hair - a client of a law firm I worked at
IRL gave her to me and she's been with me ever since. The doll is holding a heart cut out which reads:
Lawyers did this to me.
Happy Hug Day Everyone!
Andrea Cannavina, paralegal, New York
I only have one over my three monitors, and it's really a reminder to me "Stupid is as stupid does!"
To me, one can never have enough reminders to do the best and most thorough
job you can.
Lyza L. Sandgren, paralegal, Florida
I have a motto: Luck Favors the Prepared.
Because, in the end, sometimes that's all you got.
Bruce Wingate, New York
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Nothing good comes from hitting 'Reply All'.
I could have been a doctor, a reporter, or a scientist. Instead, I am
gifted with crisis management skills. I am a problem-solver, an innovator,
a sympathetic ear, the reassuring presence, and a professional. I am a
PARALEGAL!
Pamela Starr, paralegal
I have "It's a Court of Law, Not a Court of Justice." Mainly that's a motto for my clients, to remind them
there might not be a legal remedy for every problem in their lives.
Monica Elkinton, Alaska
"The beatings will continue until morale improves!"
Michael Blake, Connecticut
I've had a few signs over the years.
"Second place is first loser."
And a Viktor Frankl quote:
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s
attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way."
Lastly, I had a sign that says "whole fist." It comes from a conversation I had with Felix de Weldon, the
sculptor of the Marine Memorial (Iwo Jima flag raising). I got to know him in the last few years of his life.
I asked him why he made the statue so big. He said, when you make a point, you don't tap the table with
your finger. You pound it with your whole fist."
So, "whole fist" is a reminder to do things boldly.
Cheers,
David Allen Hiersekorn, California
A Lawyer's Opinion Is Worth Nothing Unless Paid For
Jon van Horne
Ceramic plaque put up by my spouse: I love you more today than yesterday.
Yesterday you really pissed me off.
Jon van Horne
Abandon All Hope All Ye Who Enter Here
;)
Brian J. Hughes, Massachusetts
I immediately jumped to a completely different interpretation of what "whole fist" must have meant in a
lawyer's office. Something to do with dealing with opposing counsel
Patrick W. Begos, New York
Everyone Brightens a Room - Some by Entering, Some by Leaving.
Geoff Wiggs
One Riot, One Ranger
(my inspiration as a solo who sometimes takes on BigLaw with 4 or 5
attorneys on the other side)
from Wikipedia on the Texas Rangers: It is somewhat apocryphal
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocrypha#Non-religious_use> in that there
was never actually a riot; rather, the phrase was coined by Ranger Captain
William "Bill" McDonald <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Bill_McDonald>,
who was sent to Dallas <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas,_Texas> in 1896
to prevent the illegal heavyweight prize fight between Pete Maher and Bob
Fitzsimmons <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Fitzsimmons> that had been
organized by Dan Stuart and patronized by the eccentric "Hanging Judge" Roy
Bean <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Bean> of Langtry
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langtry,_Texas>, Texas.[27]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Ranger_Division#cite_note-27> According
to the story, McDonald's train was met by the mayor, who asked the single
Ranger where the other lawmen were. McDonald is said to have replied:
"Hell! Ain't I enough? There's only one prize-fight!"[*citation needed
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>*] Although some
measure of truth lies within the tale, it is largely an idealized account
written by author Bigelow Paine and loosely based on McDonald's statements,
published in Paine's classic book *Captain Bill McDonald: Texas Ranger* in
1909. In truth, the fight had been so heavily publicized that nearly every
Ranger was at hand, including all the captains and their superior, Adjutant
General Woodford H Mabry. Many of them were not really sure whether to stop
the fight or to attend it; and in fact, other famous lawmen, such as Bat
Masterson <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Masterson>, were also present
for the occasion. The orders from the governor were clear, however, and the
bout was stopped. Stuart then tried to reorganize it in El Paso and later
in Langtry, but the Rangers followed and thwarted his attempts. Finally,
the fight took place on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande near Langtry.[28]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Ranger_Division#cite_note-28> The motto
appears on the pedestal of the large bronze statue of a Texas Ranger
in the Love
Field <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas_Love_Field> airport, contributed
in 1961 by Mr. and Mrs. Earle Wyatt
Michael Boli, California
Yeah, that's why I 'splained it. ;-) Very easy to take the wrong way.
Cheers,
David Allen Hiersekorn
I've wanted to make my own.
You know the Michael Jordan one where they talk about all of his failures
(9,000 missed shots, 300 lost games etc.)
When I have staff I want something similar, but at the bottom say, "WE
DON'T MISS" Stressing excellence and perfection. Especially with statutes
and deadlines etc.
Joseph D. Dang, California
"The law does not protect the sleeping or the stupid" - both a reminder to
myself to stay on top of things and that there are some people who cannot
be helped.
"No one makes it alone." - a reminder to help others and especially newer
lawyers because so many people have helped me along the way
"You have to be nice or you have to be damned good. Most people are not so
good that they don't have to be nice." - when i first started practicing
law, a much more experienced lawyer told me this by way of describing
another lawyer (one who didn't have to be nice and really wasn't. but he
was good enough that people put up with his lack of niceties. The more
experienced lawyer pointed him out as perhaps the only lawyer in town who
was good enough that he didn't have to be nice.)
Naomi C. Fujimoto, Hawaii
I have a sign up over my door ASAP always stop and pray.
Margaret Wadsworth
I have several quotes near my desk that I use for motivation. The top three are:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common
than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education
will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.― - Calvin
Coolidge
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.― - Robert Collier
“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.― - Eleanor Roosevelt
Also, one more -
"Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can." - Lowell Thomas
When I look at these, I realize that everyone faces some of the same "demons" - boredom, ennui, lack of
motivation. On days when I feel that way, these help me to get moving.’’
Caroline A. Edwards, Pennsylvania
Love this!
Joyce Ann Williams
Motivational in a slightly different way:
Another way to look at life is to see it as a different kind of department store. A store where such things
as worldly success, love of music, enjoyment of painting, a six-handicap golf game, a close relationship
with your son or daughter, and many other things are for sale. But the commodity with which they are
purchased is not money but time.
And quite contrary to the way the capitalist system works with money and goods, every one of us is
given exactly the same amount of time in each hour, in each day and in each year. It is a limited amount,
and it is impossible for anyone to be so rich in time that he can enjoy every single one of the things
which time may buy.
So there is a choice to be made . . ..
— William H. Rehnquist
Brian H. Cole, California
A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part
.....but we will see what we can do.
In fairness, that one is posted in the sergeant’s office where I am also a police supervisor.
Still like "the flogging shall continue until morale improves".
Chris Barber, Texas
I've always been more of a demotivational saying guy (http://www.despair.com/demotivators.html)
Like:
Tradition: Just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid.
Motivation: If a pretty poster and a cute saying are all it takes to motivate you, you probably have a very
easy job. The kind robots will be doing soon.
Mistakes: It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others.
Patrick W. Begos, New York
MY signs:
1) If you're not making mistakes then you're not doing anything- Coach John Wooden;
Meaning to me, it is ok to make a mistake because you are trying something different, are attempting a
creative solution, or because you just made an honest mistake.
2) In general, I enjoy athletes who have strong character who let their abilities speak for themselves. Eric
Heiden
Meaning to me, judge the person by their actions not by their words.
(I have to remind myself of this one all the time)
3) If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over? Coach John Wooden
Meaning to me, slow down and take the time to do it right. It is not ok to make silly, detailed mistakes
because you are "too busy"
Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek, Michigan
Bring it on.
Jeena R. Belil, New yOrk
"Being kind is more important than being right."
Clients will rarely recall accurately what you told them, but they will
always remember how you treated them.
"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration"
-Thomas Edison
Due diligence and preparation is worth far more than brilliant instincts.
"Be sure you have accurately identified the problem before you contrive a
solution."
Clients come to you because they have a problem, but sometimes what they
think is the problem is not the real problem. Be an advisor first and an
advocate second.
D.A. "Duke" Drouillard, Nebraska
I really like the last one Duke- getting added to my list!
Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek
Love Despair,Inc. Especially: Lamination: Because they're not going to
obey without it
Jon van Horne
TiC:
"The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves"
"It Could Be That the Purpose of Your Life is Only to Serve as a Warning to Others"
"Just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid."
The latter two borrowed from despair.com :-)
--Jonathan
Jonathan A. Watson, Indiana
"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration"
-Thomas Edison
Despair, Inc. version:
Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, which is why
engineers sometimes smell really bad.
Jon van Horne
?
i used to have a framed question mark. Reminds you
--it is almost impossible to have too much information.
--everything can be challenged.
--are you doing the right thing.
I never needed motivation--just direction. so: CLEAN THE CORNERS THE REST
WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
John Page, Florida
I applied for a programming job while i law school. I showed up in a suit
and wing tips. The interviewer was wearing flip flops, shorts and a t
shirt that had that slogan on it.
No I didn't get the job. My moral has never recovered.
John Davidson, Pennsylvania
I forgot about the one in my husband's office: "It only took Man 10K years
to put wheels on his luggage!" Love that one.
Lyza L. Sandgren
As I was growing up my Dad had the following over his door.
"Too Hell with Can't"
I have wanted to place the same over my door, but I simply haven't taken the time to do it. However, it controls
my life and conduct every waking moment.
Robert W. "Robby" Hughes, Jr., Georgia