Success Requires Support
T his time of the year always feels so hectic . Endless lists of tasks , both personal and work-related , can oftentimes seem as though there are never enough hours in the day . Tack onto those feelings of being overwhelmed , the challenges of trying to navigate continuing modifications in the post-pandemic environment , many of us may find ourselves wishing for a clone ( or two or three ), simply to dig out of our individual backlogs , let alone surpass that and achieve any semblance of success .
CHRISTOPHER P . LIGHTNER Alston & Bird LLP chris . lightner @ alston . com
Yet , the vast majority in our profession manage to somehow do it regardless - to succeed . To thrive . To exceed expectations . To continually raise the bar , whether in our careers or in our personal endeavors , or ideally in both . Admittedly , we , as lawyers , are trained very early on ( who remembers those early law school classes ) that failure is not an option . We are also inherently ( some might say overly ) competitive . These characteristics and traits have yielded impressive results over time , not only for the practice of law itself , but also for those it serves .
Notwithstanding , we at the Atlanta Bar are intentionally focusing on service this year . While we are each “ Lawyers Who Serve ,” we are only able to serve in the various capacities that we do because of the support network we have around us daily . This network may include our fellow lawyers ; our professional staff and case teams ; our personal support teams — not limited to various combinations of nannies , dog-walkers , lawn and / or pool servicers , barbers or hairdressers , and housekeepers or cleaners ( just to name a few ); and our spouses , extended family members , and friends . Too often , these individuals are overlooked and
4 August / September 2022