Today was one of those days where random and unexpected things just seemed to happen. On the way to work, my exit off the interstate was closed so I had to take a detour, which did not make me very happy. Then, as I was getting ready for my first meeting with a client, I received the most random phone call. When the phone rang, I recognized the name on the caller ID as a long-lost relative that I hadn't spoken to or seen in at least 15 years. Much to my surprise, she was calling to let me know that she was mailing me some valuable pieces of sports memorabilia.
Later in the afternoon, as I was driving on the interstate to visit some clients, when the truck in front of me started losing its cargo. The truck was a car or two ahead of me and was carrying stacks of what appeared to be square pieces of plywood, such as you might use for boarding up windows. All of a sudden, the wind caught the pieces and a few of them go flying off of the truck. Given the size and aerodynamics of these boards, they kind of floated and tumbled through the air. Being aware that swerving into another lane was not an option, I did the next best thing as one piece tumbled through the air towards my car - I ducked. That's right, in my car, I ducked my head, as if that was going to help. Luckily the piece flew over my car without incident. Another car was not so lucky, as one of the pieces cracked its windshield. Luckily the truck and the damaged car were able to safely pull over.
Finally, as I was eating pizza for dinner, I dropped a big piece right in my lap, leaving a not so attractive sauce stain on my pants. It wouldn't have been that bad if I didn't have to go to band rehearsal after work. Oh well, I survived. Like I said, it was just a random day. And I swear, I need to work on my timing when I go to visit patients who are in hospitals or nursing homes. I have the uncanny ability to show up just when they are struggling to use the bathroom, or have soiled themselves. Go me. :)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Being Thanked.
Sometimes the most satisfying thank-yous come from people that you seemingly have let down. This week I have wrapped up the cases involving the clients who were the subject of my last two posts. My drug dealing client had his probation revoked, and the lady who was paranoid of her mafia father reached a deal just before her case was supposed to be heard by a jury this morning.
My drug dealing client and I had a rough start at first. I showed up to our first meeting at the jail very unprepared to answer his questions, and my inexperience in probation revocation cases quickly became evident to him. He was obviously frustrated and threatened to fire me, and at that point I would not have cared if he did. Over the course of the next couple of months, I learned what I needed to do, and did my best to prevent his probation from being revoked, even though it was obvious to everyone involved that it was deserved. After he learned that his probation was revoked, in no small part because of his testimony at the hearing (see post previous post) he decided not to appeal. As we had our last meeting at the jail, he thanked me for helping him out, and said that he would rather fire his attorney in another case and have me do it for him, It was quite the turnaround from our first meeting, and I certainly did not expect gratitude from a client who will now spend 10 years in prison.
My other client was obviously in need of therapy for her psychiatric problems, but was determined to have a jury trial to prove that she was sane. As excited, and nervous, as I was for the opportunity to try another case in front of a jury, it is good that she decided to agree to receive treatment for at least three months, rather than risk being committed for a longer period of time if she went to trial. Again, even though we did not accomplish the original goal of getting her released from the mental health center, she left a voicemail on my phone in which she thanked me for all I had done for her.
Being appreciated even when I lose cases makes the job that much more rewarding, and makes me realize that maybe I really am connecting with and helping my clients. At least they seem to know that I do care and want to help them as much as I can. Speaking of being appreciated, I must say how great it is to know the The Girl has faith in me, and is there to support me even when I am a poor lawyer who at times struggles with figuring out with what the heck I am doing. I hope she knows how grateful I am to have her in my life.
My drug dealing client and I had a rough start at first. I showed up to our first meeting at the jail very unprepared to answer his questions, and my inexperience in probation revocation cases quickly became evident to him. He was obviously frustrated and threatened to fire me, and at that point I would not have cared if he did. Over the course of the next couple of months, I learned what I needed to do, and did my best to prevent his probation from being revoked, even though it was obvious to everyone involved that it was deserved. After he learned that his probation was revoked, in no small part because of his testimony at the hearing (see post previous post) he decided not to appeal. As we had our last meeting at the jail, he thanked me for helping him out, and said that he would rather fire his attorney in another case and have me do it for him, It was quite the turnaround from our first meeting, and I certainly did not expect gratitude from a client who will now spend 10 years in prison.
My other client was obviously in need of therapy for her psychiatric problems, but was determined to have a jury trial to prove that she was sane. As excited, and nervous, as I was for the opportunity to try another case in front of a jury, it is good that she decided to agree to receive treatment for at least three months, rather than risk being committed for a longer period of time if she went to trial. Again, even though we did not accomplish the original goal of getting her released from the mental health center, she left a voicemail on my phone in which she thanked me for all I had done for her.
Being appreciated even when I lose cases makes the job that much more rewarding, and makes me realize that maybe I really am connecting with and helping my clients. At least they seem to know that I do care and want to help them as much as I can. Speaking of being appreciated, I must say how great it is to know the The Girl has faith in me, and is there to support me even when I am a poor lawyer who at times struggles with figuring out with what the heck I am doing. I hope she knows how grateful I am to have her in my life.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
I am wired for sound.
Lawyer: You're married right?
Client: Yep.
Lawyer: How long have you been married?
Client: 10 years.
Lawyer: What does your husband do for a living?
Client: He's a movie producer in Hollywood.
Lawyer: Oh really? How often do you see him?
Client: About once a year.
Lawyer: Oh, that must be pretty hard.
Client: It is, but we have other ways of staying in touch.
Lawyer: Such as?
Client: (pointing to her ears and neck) I am wired for sound. He can hear me and he makes movies about the stuff that happens in my life.
Lawyer: Oh really? Can he hear me too?
Handling cases for people who are mentally ill, and facing commitment, is almost always as humorous as it is sad. It is humorous because you get to have conversations like the one above, and that was only a small sampling of the conversation that took place. It is sad because the client in this case whole heartedly believed everything she was saying, from her husband who had somehow wired her body to transmit audio recordings to Hollywood, to her father who is a member of the German mafia and trying to kill her.
Often times, the difficulty comes in deciding how to handle these conversations. One approach is to try to help the client understand that what they are saying makes little or no logical sense, in an attempt to get them to realize that they do in fact need treatment. This approach often results in defensive clients who shut down completely and who do not contribute to their own representation. The other option is to indulge the delusions, without encouraging them, in order to gain the client's confidence and to help develop a rapport between the lawyer and the client. This approach is often more productive in enabling the lawyer to gain a better understanding of the client's desires, which helps make the lawyer a better advocate at the commitment hearing.
The sad reality is that clients like this often fail to see how extraordinary their statements are, so they end up demanding a jury trial, believing that they will be able to convince the six jurors that they are perfectly sane. What usually happens from there, despite the lawyer's best efforts, is the client taking the witness stand, and trying to convince that her father really is in the mafia and is really trying to kill her and why is she the only one who realizes it?
At least that is the prediction for what happens when the client above has a jury trial in a week or so. It shall be interesting for sure. It is just difficult seeing how people can become so detached from reality, with seemingly no way to bring them back. Yet at the same time, it is hard not to wonder, what if they are the ones who are right, and we just don't realize it?
Client: Yep.
Lawyer: How long have you been married?
Client: 10 years.
Lawyer: What does your husband do for a living?
Client: He's a movie producer in Hollywood.
Lawyer: Oh really? How often do you see him?
Client: About once a year.
Lawyer: Oh, that must be pretty hard.
Client: It is, but we have other ways of staying in touch.
Lawyer: Such as?
Client: (pointing to her ears and neck) I am wired for sound. He can hear me and he makes movies about the stuff that happens in my life.
Lawyer: Oh really? Can he hear me too?
Handling cases for people who are mentally ill, and facing commitment, is almost always as humorous as it is sad. It is humorous because you get to have conversations like the one above, and that was only a small sampling of the conversation that took place. It is sad because the client in this case whole heartedly believed everything she was saying, from her husband who had somehow wired her body to transmit audio recordings to Hollywood, to her father who is a member of the German mafia and trying to kill her.
Often times, the difficulty comes in deciding how to handle these conversations. One approach is to try to help the client understand that what they are saying makes little or no logical sense, in an attempt to get them to realize that they do in fact need treatment. This approach often results in defensive clients who shut down completely and who do not contribute to their own representation. The other option is to indulge the delusions, without encouraging them, in order to gain the client's confidence and to help develop a rapport between the lawyer and the client. This approach is often more productive in enabling the lawyer to gain a better understanding of the client's desires, which helps make the lawyer a better advocate at the commitment hearing.
The sad reality is that clients like this often fail to see how extraordinary their statements are, so they end up demanding a jury trial, believing that they will be able to convince the six jurors that they are perfectly sane. What usually happens from there, despite the lawyer's best efforts, is the client taking the witness stand, and trying to convince that her father really is in the mafia and is really trying to kill her and why is she the only one who realizes it?
At least that is the prediction for what happens when the client above has a jury trial in a week or so. It shall be interesting for sure. It is just difficult seeing how people can become so detached from reality, with seemingly no way to bring them back. Yet at the same time, it is hard not to wonder, what if they are the ones who are right, and we just don't realize it?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Here's Some Rope - Be Careful With It
It never ceases to amaze me how some clients are oblivious to the ways in which they damage their own cases. Take the following, not so hypothetical example:
Client: "I want to tell the judge that I gave a statement to the police, but it was not true. I was just trying to get them to cut me a break.
Lawyer: "Ok, what did you say in the statement that you want to deny?"
Client: "That I am a middleman for drug deals."
Lawyer: "Alright, I'll ask you about during the hearing."
***** Fast forward to the hearing, 15 minutes later. *****
Lawyer: "Did you give a statement to the police?"
Client: "Yes."
Lawyer: "Why, did you give a statement to the police?"
Client: "Because Officer ***** said that he would help me out if I were willing to give him information about other people. So I told him what I knew, and that I knew it because I am a middleman. But I am not really a middleman."
***** Fast forward 5 minutes, client being questioned by his Probation Officer******
P.O. "You testified that you were not acting as a middleman in drug deals?"
Client: "Yes."
P.O.: "On ********,2008 you received a phone call at this number?"
Client: "Yes."
P.O.: "And the person on the other end told you that they wanted to buy drugs?"
Client: "Yes."
P.O.: "And what did you do then?"
Client: "I told someone else, and then told the person on the phone where to meet them."
P.O.: "So you arranged for the drug deal?"
Client: "Yes."
P.O. "And you rode in the car while the delivery was being made?"
Client: "Yes."
P.O.: "And you're not a middleman?"
Client: "No."
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is an accurate, though not verbatim, representation of the exchange that I witnessed this morning. It was one of those times where I was torn between being mad and frustrated at my client, and just wanting to laugh so hard at his willingness to shoot himself in the foot. As I said in an earlier post, the justice system has ways of making sure the right outcome is usually what happens, even when you try your darndest to avoid it. Somehow the attorney was able to make a somewhat sincere closing argument on behalf of his client with a straight face.
Client: "I want to tell the judge that I gave a statement to the police, but it was not true. I was just trying to get them to cut me a break.
Lawyer: "Ok, what did you say in the statement that you want to deny?"
Client: "That I am a middleman for drug deals."
Lawyer: "Alright, I'll ask you about during the hearing."
***** Fast forward to the hearing, 15 minutes later. *****
Lawyer: "Did you give a statement to the police?"
Client: "Yes."
Lawyer: "Why, did you give a statement to the police?"
Client: "Because Officer ***** said that he would help me out if I were willing to give him information about other people. So I told him what I knew, and that I knew it because I am a middleman. But I am not really a middleman."
***** Fast forward 5 minutes, client being questioned by his Probation Officer******
P.O. "You testified that you were not acting as a middleman in drug deals?"
Client: "Yes."
P.O.: "On ********,2008 you received a phone call at this number?"
Client: "Yes."
P.O.: "And the person on the other end told you that they wanted to buy drugs?"
Client: "Yes."
P.O.: "And what did you do then?"
Client: "I told someone else, and then told the person on the phone where to meet them."
P.O.: "So you arranged for the drug deal?"
Client: "Yes."
P.O. "And you rode in the car while the delivery was being made?"
Client: "Yes."
P.O.: "And you're not a middleman?"
Client: "No."
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is an accurate, though not verbatim, representation of the exchange that I witnessed this morning. It was one of those times where I was torn between being mad and frustrated at my client, and just wanting to laugh so hard at his willingness to shoot himself in the foot. As I said in an earlier post, the justice system has ways of making sure the right outcome is usually what happens, even when you try your darndest to avoid it. Somehow the attorney was able to make a somewhat sincere closing argument on behalf of his client with a straight face.
Friday, September 12, 2008
I could be Dear Abby.
Relationships are funny and fascinating things. For years I have enjoyed reading things such as Dear Abby, self-help books, and other such things about relationships. It's fascinating to see what has worked for others, as well as the various reasons why relationships fail. I have always hoped that I would personally benefit from reading about other people's struggles and successes in relationships.
From all the things I have read, the reason for breaking up that people hate hearing the most is "it's not you, it's me." While soundly rooted in a desire to spare the feelings of the dumped party, it robs the recipient of the truth, and consequently, of the ability to learn and grow from the real reason that the relationship is ending.
A related, but distinctly different version of "it's not you, it's me" usually comes in the form of "I just don't think I am what you're looking for" or "you deserve someone better than me". This, in my mind, is even worse to hear than "it's not you, it's me". The reason this one is hard to hear is that it presumes that the person saying it knows more about what I am looking for, or what is best for me, than I do. While it may be well-intentioned, this on its face seems to imply that there is nothing wrong with the person being dumped, it's simply that the person doing the dumping does not think that the person being dumped has made the right choice of who they want to be dating. It essentially appears to say, to the person being dumped, "I am perfectly happy dating you, I just think that you, for whatever reason, should not be happy dating me."
The rookie psychologist in me believes that this excuse is used when the person doing the dumping has convinced themselves that they are not worthy of a good relationship, or that they believe there is something so wrong with them, that it is not possible that the other person could really love them. Obviously, this is an unfair position to take because, in my mind, it's not fair for someone else to decide for me who I can and cannot love and be happy with. As long as both parties are candid about their desires, expectations, and hopes for their relationship, it should be up to each individual to decide whether they can love the other person, and whether that person makes them happy. It is perfectly acceptable to break up because you decide that you do not love the other person, or they cannot make you happy. Breaking up because you are convinced that you do not make the other person happy, or they cannot love you, is not fair to either individual.
It goes without saying that as you get deeper into the relationship, you will find that some of your desires, expectations, and hopes do not match up exactly with the person who you are dating. Just because you initially disagree, does not mean that you both cannot come to an understanding and acceptance of the other person's desires and expectations. If your significant other loves you, and you love them, then you will both be able to do what is necessary to work out whatever differences you have in a way that is mutually acceptable. Just because your significant other may react to a situation unreasonably once, does not mean he cannot grow and adapt, because he loves you, and would bend over backwards just to put a smile on your face.
It is normal for one problem to arise which seems to inject doubt into the relationship, especially early on, but that is how people grow closer in relationships, by working together to sort things out. By keeping in mind everything else that is fantastic about the relationship, the people involved can come together and find the solution to the current issue. That is what a real relationship is all about, and if you find yourself with someone who is willing to put that much effort into a relationship, then you are obviously a very special person who is deserving of all the love in the world.
From all the things I have read, the reason for breaking up that people hate hearing the most is "it's not you, it's me." While soundly rooted in a desire to spare the feelings of the dumped party, it robs the recipient of the truth, and consequently, of the ability to learn and grow from the real reason that the relationship is ending.
A related, but distinctly different version of "it's not you, it's me" usually comes in the form of "I just don't think I am what you're looking for" or "you deserve someone better than me". This, in my mind, is even worse to hear than "it's not you, it's me". The reason this one is hard to hear is that it presumes that the person saying it knows more about what I am looking for, or what is best for me, than I do. While it may be well-intentioned, this on its face seems to imply that there is nothing wrong with the person being dumped, it's simply that the person doing the dumping does not think that the person being dumped has made the right choice of who they want to be dating. It essentially appears to say, to the person being dumped, "I am perfectly happy dating you, I just think that you, for whatever reason, should not be happy dating me."
The rookie psychologist in me believes that this excuse is used when the person doing the dumping has convinced themselves that they are not worthy of a good relationship, or that they believe there is something so wrong with them, that it is not possible that the other person could really love them. Obviously, this is an unfair position to take because, in my mind, it's not fair for someone else to decide for me who I can and cannot love and be happy with. As long as both parties are candid about their desires, expectations, and hopes for their relationship, it should be up to each individual to decide whether they can love the other person, and whether that person makes them happy. It is perfectly acceptable to break up because you decide that you do not love the other person, or they cannot make you happy. Breaking up because you are convinced that you do not make the other person happy, or they cannot love you, is not fair to either individual.
It goes without saying that as you get deeper into the relationship, you will find that some of your desires, expectations, and hopes do not match up exactly with the person who you are dating. Just because you initially disagree, does not mean that you both cannot come to an understanding and acceptance of the other person's desires and expectations. If your significant other loves you, and you love them, then you will both be able to do what is necessary to work out whatever differences you have in a way that is mutually acceptable. Just because your significant other may react to a situation unreasonably once, does not mean he cannot grow and adapt, because he loves you, and would bend over backwards just to put a smile on your face.
It is normal for one problem to arise which seems to inject doubt into the relationship, especially early on, but that is how people grow closer in relationships, by working together to sort things out. By keeping in mind everything else that is fantastic about the relationship, the people involved can come together and find the solution to the current issue. That is what a real relationship is all about, and if you find yourself with someone who is willing to put that much effort into a relationship, then you are obviously a very special person who is deserving of all the love in the world.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Working for a Living
Work has been occupying my thoughts lately. Managing my own law office has presented many unique challenges that I have not otherwise encountered in previous work experiences. Managing my own law office right out of law school has, in my mind, has only served to magnify those unique challenges. Obviously, the biggest concern when one opens their own law office, or any new business for that matter, is figuring out where to get clients. Unlike jobs I have had in the past, whether at McDonald's, Disney World or wherever, I am now solely responsible for the success or failure of my little corporation. At previous jobs I would just show up, clock in and do the work, without really caring about how many customers came in on a particular day or during a particular week. I would get paid regardless. Not so with my current job. If I cannot get clients to come in, sign a fee agreement, and pay me money for the service that I provide, then I do not get paid. The tricky part about getting clients to sign fee agreements is that in order for me to take their cases, I have to be competent in that type of case, or that area of law. This leads to the second unique challenge of starting a law office right out of law school.
How does one feel competent when they have little or no experience, and work for themselves? I do not have the luxury of having senior partners or other associates that I can walk down the hall and ask for advice. Granted, I have made some connections in my short time as a lawyer, and have been blessed with a fantastic mentor and friend, but there are still times when I feel like I am trying to figure out everything for myself. It's not the law that confuses me, that is easily researched and discovered; it is the procedure that is illusive. In law school they taught us all about how to find, read and interpret the law. However, they did not teach us how the procedure of actually trying a case will vary from county to county, courtroom to courtroom, and between different case types. As a "baby" lawyer, as one law school professor called us, it seems I am always learning by mistake, with each new type of case I take on. It is a humbling process, but I really do not mind because learning is good, and allows me to become a more knowledgeable and experienced lawyer. But when it comes down to having a consultation with a client, on a type of case I have yet to have handled, it is hard to feel competent enough to take the case when I know at some point down the line it is likely that I will make a mistake or two. I know that with experience will come both competence and confidence in my abilities as a lawyer, but for now I really need to learn how to fake the confidence and competence so that it is not readily apparent to my clients that I truly am "practicing" law.
When it comes to actually handling cases, I am still working to grow into my role as a lawyer. In my mind, as it has been described to me by other lawyers and professors, my role consists of two important but different functions. The first, and probably most important is that of advocate. It is my ethical duty to zealously advocate for my client, whether I agree with their position or not. My clients have a right to effective representation, and in criminal cases, that right is constitutional. Whether or not I like my client who is a cocaine dealer, once I accept that case, I have a duty to present his side of the story to the court, in manner best suited to help him win his case. This is the part of my job that I really need to work on. I need to start being a better advocate for my clients. I need to adopt their stories as my own, set aside whatever feelings I may have about the case, and represent them with the passion and zeal I had when I first started arguing cases in law school. Advocating for my clients does not mean that I condone what they have been accused of doing, it simply means that I am working hard for them; to ensure that the cases against them are properly proved. Without good prosecutors, criminals would run rampant on the streets. Without good defense attorneys, there is a greater likelihood that innocent people are thrown in jail. The comfort that I have when I am representing less-desirable clients is that when both sides are doing their job, the system usually produces the correct outcome. Sometimes though, that is not the case, and it can go either way. For example, today I went to a hearing where I represented a sex offender. My client is a sex offender because when he was 19, a young girl lied about her age in order to get him to date her. She admitted that she lied, after their sexual relationship was reported to the district attorney's office, but my client now faces up to 40 years in prison. It won't be near that much, but the current recommendation is 6-8 years in prison, which is pretty ridiculous.
The second part of role as attorney is that of counselor. This is the area where I excel, and especially enjoy because this is where I feel I can really help my clients. I like the counseling aspect of my job because I have always enjoyed listening to people and helping them sort through whatever situation they may be presented with. Not to mention that they often have fascinating stories, or at least humorous excuses for the things that they have done. Working with people to help solve their legal problems is why I am here, and I truly enjoy it. It would just be easier if my clients didn't do some crazy things. But then again, they probably occasionally wish their lawyer didn't make stupid rookie mistakes. It is all a learning process, one which is sometimes frustrating, but if I can get this little law office of mine to work, I think I will really enjoy it.
How does one feel competent when they have little or no experience, and work for themselves? I do not have the luxury of having senior partners or other associates that I can walk down the hall and ask for advice. Granted, I have made some connections in my short time as a lawyer, and have been blessed with a fantastic mentor and friend, but there are still times when I feel like I am trying to figure out everything for myself. It's not the law that confuses me, that is easily researched and discovered; it is the procedure that is illusive. In law school they taught us all about how to find, read and interpret the law. However, they did not teach us how the procedure of actually trying a case will vary from county to county, courtroom to courtroom, and between different case types. As a "baby" lawyer, as one law school professor called us, it seems I am always learning by mistake, with each new type of case I take on. It is a humbling process, but I really do not mind because learning is good, and allows me to become a more knowledgeable and experienced lawyer. But when it comes down to having a consultation with a client, on a type of case I have yet to have handled, it is hard to feel competent enough to take the case when I know at some point down the line it is likely that I will make a mistake or two. I know that with experience will come both competence and confidence in my abilities as a lawyer, but for now I really need to learn how to fake the confidence and competence so that it is not readily apparent to my clients that I truly am "practicing" law.
When it comes to actually handling cases, I am still working to grow into my role as a lawyer. In my mind, as it has been described to me by other lawyers and professors, my role consists of two important but different functions. The first, and probably most important is that of advocate. It is my ethical duty to zealously advocate for my client, whether I agree with their position or not. My clients have a right to effective representation, and in criminal cases, that right is constitutional. Whether or not I like my client who is a cocaine dealer, once I accept that case, I have a duty to present his side of the story to the court, in manner best suited to help him win his case. This is the part of my job that I really need to work on. I need to start being a better advocate for my clients. I need to adopt their stories as my own, set aside whatever feelings I may have about the case, and represent them with the passion and zeal I had when I first started arguing cases in law school. Advocating for my clients does not mean that I condone what they have been accused of doing, it simply means that I am working hard for them; to ensure that the cases against them are properly proved. Without good prosecutors, criminals would run rampant on the streets. Without good defense attorneys, there is a greater likelihood that innocent people are thrown in jail. The comfort that I have when I am representing less-desirable clients is that when both sides are doing their job, the system usually produces the correct outcome. Sometimes though, that is not the case, and it can go either way. For example, today I went to a hearing where I represented a sex offender. My client is a sex offender because when he was 19, a young girl lied about her age in order to get him to date her. She admitted that she lied, after their sexual relationship was reported to the district attorney's office, but my client now faces up to 40 years in prison. It won't be near that much, but the current recommendation is 6-8 years in prison, which is pretty ridiculous.
The second part of role as attorney is that of counselor. This is the area where I excel, and especially enjoy because this is where I feel I can really help my clients. I like the counseling aspect of my job because I have always enjoyed listening to people and helping them sort through whatever situation they may be presented with. Not to mention that they often have fascinating stories, or at least humorous excuses for the things that they have done. Working with people to help solve their legal problems is why I am here, and I truly enjoy it. It would just be easier if my clients didn't do some crazy things. But then again, they probably occasionally wish their lawyer didn't make stupid rookie mistakes. It is all a learning process, one which is sometimes frustrating, but if I can get this little law office of mine to work, I think I will really enjoy it.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Where are we going? Pt. 2
I thought I should take some time to explain the title of my blog - "Quo Vadimus". Quo Vadimus means "Where are we going?", and I have stolen it from an episode of Sports Night, the fantastic show by Aaron Sorkin. What I really like is this quote from the show:
"I'm what the world considers to be a phenomenally successful man. And I've failed much more than I've succeeded. And each time I fail, I get my people together, and I say, "Where are we going?" And it starts to get better."
That is a good summation of my philosophy in life. Mistakes are going to happen, and we are all going to have failures at some point. What matters to me is that I learn from my experiences and mistakes and use those to improve myself. That is part of the goal of my blog, to allow myself to create a record of where I have been, where I want to go, and the progress I have made.
On a side note, another goal of mine is to be in bed by 11pm each night and up at 6am, during the week.
"I'm what the world considers to be a phenomenally successful man. And I've failed much more than I've succeeded. And each time I fail, I get my people together, and I say, "Where are we going?" And it starts to get better."
That is a good summation of my philosophy in life. Mistakes are going to happen, and we are all going to have failures at some point. What matters to me is that I learn from my experiences and mistakes and use those to improve myself. That is part of the goal of my blog, to allow myself to create a record of where I have been, where I want to go, and the progress I have made.
On a side note, another goal of mine is to be in bed by 11pm each night and up at 6am, during the week.
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