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The Power of Self-Awareness and Positive Thinking During Your Job Search [by Dan Binstock, Esq.] Do you think you’re not worthy of that job you’re after? That attitude will often prove you right. Think positively, say the legal experts, and anything can happen.
As a legal recruiter, I spend my days speak-
thoughts; and (4) how positive thinking is an
happen many times with astounding results.
ing to lawyers about their job transitions and
extremely strong tool in helping to achieve
In order to fully appreciate and take in this
speaking to law firms about my candidates’
success during your job search and through-
article, I ask you to temporarily remove
credentials. I work in a world where grades,
out your career.
your “lawyer hat”-the side of your brain that thinks only logically and critically.
law school, and law firm prestige seem to reign supreme. However, there are countless
Why Lawyers are Typically Not Positive
situations where lawyers with good, but not
Thinkers
Thoughts Are the Building Blocks of Reality
great, credentials are far more successful in their job searches than those with stellar
We have all heard worn-out phrases such as,
Let’s get a little metaphysical here for a few
credentials. I used to believe that, in these
“think positive” or “don’t be negative.” We
minutes. At the most fundamental level,
circumstances, the lawyer with the better
also know that it’s probably much better, for
thoughts create reality. If this sounds too
credentials must have had weak interperson-
both personal and professional reasons, to
“spiritual” or “fluffy,” that’s ok. Just stick
al skills while the lawyer with lesser creden-
go through life with a positive attitude rather
with me, and I’ll explain anyway. Let’s use
tials had strong interpersonal skills, which
than a negative one. However, during job
The Empire State Building as an example.
must have accounted for the difference.
searches, most lawyers often overlook the
This building started as a simple thought.
While this was true on occasion, it often was
importance of stepping back and observing
John Jakob Raskob (creator of General Mo-
not the case. The more I studied these types
their feelings and thinking patterns and the
tors) had the idea that he wanted to build a
of situations, I realized a common character-
effects they have on them. This is not a sur-
building taller than the Chrysler Building.
istic among the lawyers with lesser creden-
prise because lawyers are not usually trained
Eventually, his thought turned into a 102-
tials that seemed to outperform the others
to focus on their internal dialogue or positive
floor reality. Take a look at other objects
on job searches: they believed in themselves
thinking. Conversely, lawyers are trained to
around you: your desk, chair, Diet Coke can,
in an uncharacteristically strong way and
analyze and foresee worst-case scenarios
a painting, etc. In order for these to be cre-
were extremely positive thinkers about their
and try to protect their clients from these
ated, somebody had the thought to create
abilities. Regardless of their credentials or
situations. Furthermore, by working in typi-
them and then put that thought into action.
experience, they generated this undeniable
cally adversarial situations, lawyers are often
Everything that surrounds you began, at the
air of self-assurance, as if they just knew
focused on finding fault in the opposition’s
earliest stage, as a single thought that devel-
they would get the job of their choice. And
position or trying to minimize the weakness-
oped into reality.
usually they did, because their self-confi-
es in their own positions. Lastly, most daily
dence was contagious.
interactions with opposing counsel or your
Think of your career. You did not miracu-
colleagues involve analyzing what is wrong
lously become a lawyer by chance. At some
The goal of this article is to raise your aware-
with a particular argument, case, statute,
point earlier in your life, you had the thought
ness of your often unnoticed internal feelings
or position. By doing this 10 hours a day,
of being a lawyer, and you focused on that
and thinking patterns and how they may be
five days a week, year in and year out, it is
thought. As you continued to focus more
serving or sabotaging your career interests.
no surprise that lawyers do not spend much
on that thought, you applied to law school
Specifically, this article discusses (1) why
time focusing on positive thinking.
and were accepted. During law school, you continued to focus on being a lawyer, and
lawyers are typically not positive thinkers; (2) how particular thoughts affect our actions
Yet positive thinking is one of those things
you created that reality by working hard,
and create reality (whether on a conscious
that, if given minimal attention, can make a
graduating from law school, and passing the
or unconscious level); (3) how to tap into and
powerful difference in your job search (not
bar exam. Now imagine what would have
rid yourself of self-defeating feelings and
to mention your overall life). I have seen this
happened if you always thought about being a
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