Sometimes inspiration comes from interesting places. I heard this quote, “Figure out who you are and do it on purpose” last night spoken by a character in a movie. The quote is from Dolly Parton, and it struck me. It clearly encourages self-discovery and intentional living generally, but I looked at it in the context of the professional realm and finding your authentic business or professional self. By this I mean finding your competitive advantage. Dolly didn’t directly result in my finding my authentic attorney self, but her words speak to what my professional practice has become over time in profound ways.
When I first entered the legal profession, I expected to emulate the commercial litigation attorney who was my first professional mentor by working for someone like him and practicing in a specific niche for my entire career. This approach ended up feeling like wearing an ill-fitting suit because it restricted my natural abilities to connect with people and generate different types of legal work.
I was lucky enough to start my journey of figuring out my professional path from different attorneys and firms I worked for during my first decade in practice. Instead of staying only with commercial litigation or choosing a different niche or specialty, I focused on a few areas of the law that I had learned, enjoyed, and which I told myself connected or overlapped. It was what I needed to think to develop the broader practice I have enjoyed in the years that followed.
The breakthrough came when I recognized my strengths in connecting with people and developing business. This was based on being able to clearly communicate, being a creative problem-solver, and building genuine client relationships. By embracing these qualities rather than suppressing them, I developed a distinctive approach that attracts clients who value these specific attributes. It helped that I enjoy speaking with people and learning about them. Everyone has any interesting story if you ask the right questions.
I discovered that authenticity in legal practice creates a ripple effect of benefits. Clients sense that I’m operating from a place of genuine strength and conviction. This makes them more likely to trust my judgment, follow my counsel, and turn into long-term clients and referral sources. I figured out it is a positive to show clients you care about them and their situation whether they have been wronged or are trying to obtain the best result when they have made a mistake.
This principle extends beyond my individual practice to firm culture and business development strategy. Law firms that clearly define their identity attract compatible clients and talent. Attempting to be all things to all people typically results in mediocrity across the board. The most successful legal practices I’ve encountered have clarity about their unique position in the market and lean into these strengths unapologetically. For my firm that is our defined culture, the JW Way, and knowing that we generally connect well with entrepreneurial clients and business owners.
The journey to professional authenticity requires honest self-assessment, feedback from trusted colleagues, and sometimes the courage to pivot away from lucrative but misaligned opportunities. This is about deliberate evolution aligned with your core values and natural talents. By taking the time to think about what these are and lean into them you’re figuring out who you are and investing in yourself. For me, knowing precisely who I am and operating with purposeful authenticity is the foundation of my professional success. If you focus on figuring out who you are and purposefully correct the course to follow that, it will be the first step in many on your path to success.
