Interests:So here's the plan: Atticus. give better than i get. finish what I start. fiber. learn to read and write. take lots of pictures. get a job either keeping colored people out of jail or putting rich white people into jail. direct a movie using plastic army men. bike to work. teach. marry a woman who inspires me. make her proud. buy my dad a boat. theology. learn to build stuff. read history. loads of barbeque. get my sleep. have kids like my 'tards from camp. work out. own a room with nothing but screen windows, tin roof, ceiling fan, and a hammock. get my paramedic's license. make tiramisu. win my fantasy football league. run a baby triathalon. have weekly dinners with my family like those crazy Asians in Eat Drink Man Woman. lots of ultimate. hardwood floors, dimmers, and lots of light. get in a fight. run for office. write a newspaper column. eat my veggies. rebuild a Karmann Ghia or a convertable Galaxy. be a personal trainer. publish. do my part in saving the world. Expertise:"Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation ... It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." -Robert Kennedy, Day of Affirmation Address, University of Capetown, South Africa, June 6, 1966
1. Every person employed by my firm, globally, got a voicemail from the Chairman of our firm yesterday.
We're all kind of puzzled about what the point of the message was. Half of the message seemed to be about the financial stability of the firm -- the basic announcement that, if everything falls into place, we're making our numbers for the year. It's the season that firms are announcing their bonuses, so most of the attorneys thought that this was our notice as to whether the firm is matching market or not. Curiously, though, he didn't go there (I guess that makes sense, since this went to all staff, not just attorneys). Instead, he said that if we get all of our accounts receivables in, then we "should" make our numbers. And he even made a side comment to our accounts receivables people, encouraging them to do their work.
The second half of the message was a Thanksgiving greeting. But the focus was that we should be thankful that we have such great clients. I have no idea what to make of that. I joke that his tone was "There are starving children in Africa that would love to have clients like yours." But that was pretty much the message.
It was definitely a perverse take on the spirit of Thanksgiving -- particularly because I, and a number of other attorneys in my department, are actually working through the holiday.
On a lighter note, the chair of my office (the New York office, as opposed to the global firm) walked around each of the floors (at least on litigation) and shook everyone's hand, wishing them a happy Thanksgiving. On the one hand, it's a very small thing. But on the other, I think it's sincere. It'd be different if this guy was just the chair of the firm. But I've handed him documents that I've drafted all night at six in the morning -- more than once. I've put out for this guy. And, to use an awful analogy, I feel like he's led my team in battle (very well). I guess you do that at every firm. But there's a small difference to the process here. I can't put my finger directly on it, but the handshake is part of it. And it's definitely the thing that drew me to this firm.
The voicemail, though? That's a nice reminder that no matter what the warm and fuzzies are, this is a law firm. It has a law firm's priorities. And it will value you only through the lens of a law firm. Period.
2. I bought in for sixty bucks today and lost seventeen. I don't like losing at poker.
I feel like I was just getting started, but I suppose that's what every degenerate gambler says after a loss.
Lifetime
