Rethinking How We Define Accomplishments :
Learn to focus on the journey instead of the end result
By Jonathan J . O ’ Konek
How many times has something like this happened to you ? You are preparing for an important legal event . Perhaps it is a trial , a deposition , or an important meeting . You spend hours , days , or even weeks preparing for this event . Then , out of the blue , the event does not happen and you are left wondering what to do next .
There are numerous possible reasons for the event ’ s cancellation or postponement . Maybe the case settled , perhaps someone fell ill , or there may have been inclement weather . However , although you personally did nothing wrong , you still feel a wave of negative emotions , including : disappointment , dejection , and feeling downtrodden . Even though you did not cause the event ’ s nonoccurrence , these feelings remain . You reflect on the end result , namely that the event did not occur , and remember the many hours , days , or perhaps even weeks you dedicated to preparing for something that ultimately did not happen .
Such a result may lead you to think , “ why did I spend so much time preparing ” or “ that was a big waste of time .” But was it really a waste of time ? Even though the event did not occur , something more important happened about which you may not realize ; you gained invaluable experience , training , and foresight that you can apply to future events .
However , in the moment , it is difficult to comprehend this premise because we often focus on the end result , not on the preceding
Jonathan J . O ’ Konek is an Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney ’ s Office , District of North Dakota , in Bismarck , N . D . The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Justice , the United States Attorney ’ s Office for the District of North Dakota , or any agency of the United States government . journey . After all , given the amount of exhaustive preparation , who wouldn ’ t want to give an amazing opening statement , perform a stunning cross-examination , or offer a fascinating legal argument ? Who wouldn ’ t want to feel the sense of accomplishment that follows from participating in a jury trial , completing an appellate oral argument , or engaging in an important piece of litigation ? It is simply human nature to feel crestfallen when such an event does not happen . However , what can we , as attorneys , do to focus on the “ accomplishment ” of the journey rather than focusing on the “ perceived failure ” of the end result ? To start , we should look at the beginning , middle , and end of the event process to understand what occurred during each section .
The Beginning : Learning How to Plan
Prior to preparing for “ the event ,” there was a time when you had to prepare for “ the event ” in the first place . Often , you are not surprised when this occurs because you planned for it ; i . e ., you were the person who initiated the legal action preceding “ the event .” However , there are other times when you did not plan for “ the event ” and you must instead react to it . Perhaps a colleague has an emergency and requests your assistance on a case , or maybe you are representing a party who is unexpectedly the respondent to a legal action . In those situations , you may feel like you are walking next to a lake on a cool day and , without first consulting you , another person suddenly throws you into the water . The surprise of “ the event ’ s ” pendency may feel similar to the surprise of being suddenly submerged in cold water . You may experience confusion , hesitation , or even fear . However , what happens after you pull yourself out of the water ? You calm down , begin planning , and start to complete necessary tasks . In those situations , you accomplished something by pulling yourself out of the water . You also learned how to plan , you became more resilient , you proved to yourself you could successfully respond to unknown or unexpected situations , and maybe you even learned how to avoid being surprised by this type of event in the future . These lessons are accomplishments .
12 THE GAVEL