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We have all heard the phrase “think good and it will be good.” During challenging times, this is much easier said than done.

A good friend of mine got married a few months ago, after two failed marriages. About once a month, she contacts me to ask if she should end her current marriage after explaining some of the trials and tribulations she is enduring at home. Each month my response is basically the same: everyone has issues and his aren’t worth another divorce. In my latest email to her, I added “if you’re considering divorce as a solution for these problems, your marriage is essentially over. You need to shelve the divorce option, remember how miserable you were as a single in debt, and figure out a way to make this marriage work.”

Of course, not all marriages are meant to pass the test of time. Divorce is a good, healthy option for countless men and women across the globe. However, considering what I know personally about this friend of mine and her new husband (as well as what she’s told me about her ex-husbands), I know that her main problem is not her husband’s issues, but HER mindset. She religiously responds to my e-mails with the same response: “you’re right and thank you.”

In 1952, Norman Peale released his book The Power of Positive Thinking, which remained on the New York Times bestseller list for 186 weeks. It is not a coincidence that it sold about five million copies and has been translated into 15 languages, despite plenty of literary criticism. The basis of his theory is that if a person can consciously think positively, using visualizations and affirmations, his or her life quality will actually increase in a real sense.

I recall one professor teaching my Bar exam review course urged the students to practice visualization as an aid to passing the exam. He said before taking the exam, we should sit for five to ten minutes at a time, close our eyes, and imagine where we will be when we check the Bar exam results. What will we be wearing? Who will be in the room with us? What time of day will it be? Will we check by phone or internet? Then he said, we must envisage passing.

The first few times I tried it, I just felt silly. But, when I learned that I had in fact passed on the first try, I thought, “hmm, maybe there is something to this technique.” I have used positive thinking, visualizations, and affirmations on a personal and professional level and, while they don’t guarantee any results, they certainly can’t hurt.

What’s one of your short-term professional goals? Think about it. And then think about accomplishing it. And keep us posted!

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1/12/2017

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A “millennial” is someone who’s just about grown up now. Anyone born after 1980 who is old enough to read and understand this piece may be included in the curious group. Following the Gen X’ers born in the 1960s and 70s, we Millennials have gotten a bad rap for being a generation of educated, but lazy individuals who care more about legalizing marijuana and vacation time than putting in billable hours and settling down.

And this is not merely an outsider’s perspective. According to a Pew Research Center study on U.S. Politics and Policy, Millennials “stand out in their willingness to ascribe negative stereotypes to their own generation: 59% say the term “self-absorbed” describes their generation, compared with 30% among Gen Xers, 20% of Boomers and just 7% of Silents.” We grew up with technology at our fingertips and we were born into a "fast food nation." These concepts go hand in hand. We want results and we want them NOW. Patience for others is not a virtue of the IGeneration, but this doesn’t mean we’re a bunch of inconsiderate, greedy bums. It simply means we are driven on our own terms to achieve our unique definition of success, to the dismay of many of our Baby Boomer parents.

According to a report issued by The White House in 2015, “quality of life appears to be a focus of this generation: Millennials value staying close to family and friends, having free time for recreation, and working in creative jobs. However, they also want to make a positive social impact on their own children and communities, as well as on society as a whole.” While previous generations focused on establishing solid careers in the hopes of providing materially for their children, Millennials are more interested in creating a healthy work-life balance, even if it means bringing home less bacon.

Take, for example, the market of freelancing. There have always been contract workers, but now, freelancers have taken a prominent seat on the employment scene. Websites like upwork.com connect individuals from all over the globe across every imaginable industry. People can work as few or as many hours as they like, while negotiating rates, and everything is done virtually. Freelancing or working as a contract employee allows Millennials the freedom to maintain a healthy quality of life, while still staying connected to their areas of expertise, on their schedules.

Welcome to the future.

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Happy Thanksgiving from Cognitive Legal Support

11/21/2016

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The staff at Cognitive Legal Support is thankful for all of our wonderful clients, employees, and colleagues. You make our job rewarding, stimulating, and fun. We hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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Sizzling Elections

11/8/2016

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Politics are always hot, but the 2016 U.S. presidential election is scorching. People who haven’t voted in decades are coming out of the woodworks to vote just to make a statement. As I’ve heard at many dinner parties over the last few months, plenty of Americans are motivated by their interest in voting against a particular candidate rather than in support of one. Numerous political commentators are throwing up their hands in confusion because this animosity-driven motivation to vote is unprecedented on such a grand scale.

Some people are voting for Hillary simply because she’s a woman. Others refuse to vote for her for the same reason. Most Hillary supporters stand by her extensive experience in Washington as Senator, First Lady, and Secretary of State, to name a few roles. And some others will always vote “Democrat” no matter whose name is on the ballot. And then there’s a huge number of people who are voting for Hillary is today’s election because she is the only one who can beat Trump.

Donald Trump is a man, and quite the manly man at that. This fact is a good enough reason for some voters. He has no political experience but endorses all the big Republican mottos. And he’s not Hillary, with her e-mail scandals, issues with Huma and questions associated with the Clinton Trust Foundation. Putting all these pieces together, he may become the next U.S. President.

As the election results unfold, brace yourself for history. One day you can tell your children how you witnessed the election where people voted against parties instead of for them, as it should be. Hopefully in the future, voters will be more excited about their choice candidates instead of fearful of the opponents.

The Economist, September 24, 2016 Print Edition

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Key to Success: The Elephant in the Room

9/13/2016

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From time immemorial, people have presumably known the secret to success in life. Whether the topic is love, money, gambling, or anything else, there is no shortage of advice out there on how you could become a success story if only you, too, would…(fill in the blank). Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” has sold over fifteen million copies. But what if you follow all of the advice on the market and it doesn’t really work out? Or what if you follow none of this advice and boom! business picks up, your personal relationships improve, and you’ve just landed pocket aces? What gives?

One can always fall back on “it was/wasn’t meant to be,” or “it was destiny,” but these are rather lame excuses for someone who preaches a winning strategy which failed. Also, why is it that so many marriage counselors are divorced, once, twice or more?

In my humble opinion, the seven habits of highly effective people (being proactive, goal-oriented, focused on priorities, collaborative, empathetic, mutually beneficial and updated on mind/body health) provide a steady starting point for growth, however there is no magic wand. I wonder how many of the fifteen million owners of this book feel they are as “effective” as they once hoped.

I would argue that there is an elephant in the room which people seeking success— and even more so those who have found it—do not like to discuss. Call it luck, call it good timing, call it divine assistance, call it what you like, but a person’s due diligence, while necessary, only goes so far. No matter how many cold calls a young attorney makes when the paint is still wet on his new office door, he won’t be drowning in work unless his perseverance is coupled with a little help from the big elephant.

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Be a Bee

8/10/2016

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Think of your worst boss. What words come to your mind? Controlling, nauseating, offensive, nit-picky…the list goes on. Now think of your best boss. (Sigh of relief) Words like flexible, tolerant, open-minded, and accommodating surely come to the forefront. Fortunate for me, most of my bosses have been the good kind (think “good witch, bad witch”). When I took a vacation last summer with my family, my boss told me to take a real vacation. As long as I was checking in every few days with housekeeping e-mails, my boss encouraged me to actually put away my laptop and not take it out for big chunks of the trip. I was astonished.

If you are someone’s boss or manager, which kind do you want to be? Whether you work in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago (shoutout to the SEO police), you don’t have to be a doormat manager to allow some flexibility into the demands inherent in your average workday. You can still have all the power while putting smiles on your employees’ faces. Try to incorporate incentive programs or at least help create a more pleasant work environment. Surprise everyone with a fancy cake at your next team meeting. Happy employees are productive employees.

And if you report to a higher-up, like the majority of us, show your appreciation for your manager’s positive qualities. It will likely only increase those same, and other, positive behaviors. Buy your boss a small token of appreciation for something he or she did which was kind, even if expected. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool when used correctly. Even the simplest compliment can uplift a person for, well, ever.

Whether you’re the queen bee or the worker bee, you can surely add more honey to your work environment. Try it tomorrow.

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Summer Special: Appellate Briefs Starting at $2500

7/26/2016

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Cognitive Legal Support is pleased to announce our 2016 summer special. We will complete your next appellate brief for as little as $2500, including all research and revisions. See more information here and contact us today for your initial consultation.

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Impress Yourself Today

6/2/2016

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Every week, without fail, I’m late for my pilates class. Now, I’m not always late for everything. In fact, I have become quite punctual over the years. But for some reason, I simply can’t seem to get to that weekly 9:15am class on time. Perhaps it’s because on more than one occasion, when I arrived around 9:20 or 9:30, I noticed the class hadn’t even started yet. So why should I rush through the morning if they can’t even start on time? I’d like to blame my 3 kids under 7, but that’s not really a valid excuse. If we are talking honestly, I’d have to admit that it is feasible to brush all their teeth, pack all their lunches, and even clean up some spilled milk and still get to my class on time.

I suppose I have been struck with the disease of routine, and not a good one. I am routinely late for pilates, so why should this week be any different? Well, I’ll tell you why. This week, my teacher’s teacher flew in from another country to teach our class. She one of these pilates experts who can do a perfect plank forever, while chatting away, smiling, and of course, never breaks a sweat. My teacher told me once, and then twice, to please please be on time for the class especially THIS week.

"Our limitations are so ingrained in our minds, we trick ourselves into thinking they represent reality."

I was distraught. I thought to myself, “maybe it’s better that I skip the class than disrespectfully show up late.” So that was it. I decided if there were too many disasters in the morning and I couldn’t get to class by 9:15, I’d simply skip it.

Then something miraculous happened. I woke up at 7, as usual, and I got everyone dressed, fed, cleaned, brushed, and out the door by 8-something. I was even back home by 8:30 and had leisurely time to dollop around some ant poison, throw in a load of laundry, and tackle some dishes. What happened?? I was amazed, impressed, and dumbfounded. Why can’t I do this every week?

The answer is simple: we limit ourselves. I had resigned myself to coming late to class every week. That became my new normal and so it was. Today, however, I did not follow my normal routine. I stretched myself today and I accomplished something real. It’s a little something, but it has inspired me. When I put my mind to it, I can do it. That’s incredible and true. I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard this lesson, but to experience it is the real gold. Our limitations are so ingrained in our minds, we trick ourselves into thinking they represent reality. Do not be fooled! Go out on a limb today. Try a little harder. Push yourself and you will achieve.

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Julie Joanes

Lawyer and legal writer, Julie worked primarily in real estate law before focusing her career on the social media and marketing aspects of the legal industry.

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Kick Off the New Year with a Handsome Referral Fee

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Contact us for more details.

Happy Holidays to You!

The Millennial Mindset

Happy Thanksgiving from Cognitive Legal Support

Sizzling Elections

Key to Success: The Elephant in the Room

Be a Bee

Summer Special: Appellate Briefs Starting at $2500

Impress Yourself Today

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Cognitive Legal Support will gladly pay a handsome referral fee for any new clients secured before March 1. Contact us for more details.

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Julie Joanes

Cognitive Legal Support will gladly pay a handsome referral fee for any new clients secured before March 1.

Contact us for more details.