Limitless possibilities for lawyers. What are you capable of?

We don’t know what we are capable of until we free up sufficient bandwidth to contemplate the possibilities. Case in point - me! Lawyers are by nature analytical thinkers. They employ logical and, in the main, conservative thought processes to problem solving. They craft detailed mechanisms to ensure appropriate outcomes. As the years pass they hone their particular skills to their chosen specialties. 

My revelation was that the skill sets I had developed over decades of practice were capable of a more creative application. For me it was writing legal thriller novels. I have now written 2 legal thriller novels, both of which have been published and released globally in the last 12 months, and each has been extremely well received. 

Interestingly, and in hindsight not surprisingly, when I approached my first novel I applied my well-honed training and spent 3 months meticulously planning the characters, plots and subplots for the book. It dawned on me that was not how I could unlock my creative side, if there was one to be unlocked. Instead, I threw away the 3 months planning and started typing. I had no idea of whether I could craft a story, nor what it would be about, nor who the characters would be. In 2 and a half months I had a 300-page novel. 

Some days I would neglect food just so that I could keep writing to see what was going to happen next. On one memorable occasion I was found in a darkened room with a glass of wine. Asked if I was okay, I replied that I was not because someone had died. When asked who that was I replied that it was one of my favourite characters and I hadn’t anticipated killing them off. I was in the moment. I had discovered that by ignoring the long practiced, and very conservative, application of my day to day skills as a lawyer I was able to release my creative side and apply all that I had learned in a completely different manner. 

I’m not suggesting that all lawyers can and should become authors (before or after retirement), simply that I’m certain the skills we develop while dealing with the day to day rigours of the practice of law have far wider applications. You just have to have the right mindset and create the opportunity. 

My suggestion is to find some quiet ‘me’ time on a regular basis, with a view to broadening your mental horizons. You never know what you may be capable of.