Soul of the Solo (Part II)

I knew the post "Soul of the Solo" would strike a chord in a few.  However, I had no idea the symphony that would be played!  I received so many e-mails from students and lawyers thanking me for the article and inspiration because they were tired of having to explain why they want to do what they want to do or have done what they have done....being or becoming a solo practitioner when those who can only think inside the box would question their ambitions.  And they are entrepreneurs, no ifs, ands, or buts. 

When you start your own business, regardless the product or service, you are braving a new frontier for yourself and you have to create as you go, defying conventional widsom, driven by your vision and fashioned by the relationships you develop and your anticipation and response to the "surprises" along the way.

Interestingly, in a comment by the Greatest American Lawyer, he intimated the same thing when he said;

"I wish I had some grand plan at the time that I left my firm and today that I could share with you to provide more insight. The truth is, I am simply floating downstream, meandering from bank to bank, and doing my best to change the way law is practiced one blogpost at a time."

There are so few physical frontiers left to conquer.  Yet genetically some of us are meant to explore the unknown. (This concept of new frontiers was once a way of explaining why Gen X did insane things like skyboarding...jumping out of planes on their skateboards and skateboarding through the air until they were forced to release their parachute or die!)

The unknown is what we have yet to create as individuals.  And if that new frontier and creativity comes through as a solo practitioner using their skills, innovating practice as technology inspires, changing client relationships and expectations of what lawyers can and should do, then solo practitioners are entrepreneurs.  But don't misunderstand me, you don't have to innovate for the profession in order to be an entrepreneur.  You just have to create your own life by opening your own business, even if you want to follow conventional practices when running your business.  The new frontier is being your on boss.

And so many solos, as evidenced through the blogosphere, are doing just that...evolving, creating, keeping their loss affordable...ergo the mantra "what have I got to lose" of the person who tries when others fear for them. (This concept of "affordable loss"  is a big component of the effectual reasoner's success and explains why U-Haul succeeded against conventional wisdom, as have many others.)

My mindset has always been, "Failure is not an option.  Therefore, what do I have to do to succeed?"  I think my motto is shared by many who have gone before me and will follow.

To new frontiers!

Comments

[The Independent Urologist]

Well said. True in medicine as well.