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"Much of life, and increasingly so, is a battle against superstimuli encroaching on your mental autonomy."
That line from a Substack piece by Cate Hall hit me hard when I read it earlier this week.
Because it captures a challenge I wrestle with all the time: How do I give lawyers useful advice—insight that helps them build their practices—without becoming just another distraction?
Another voice in the flood of voices.
Another "noble obstacle."
You may have encountered that term before (coined, I believe, by author Jon Acuff). A noble obstacle is anything that feels virtuous, but ultimately keeps you from doing the work.
Reading more articles. Watching more TED Talks. Signing up for the 4th webinar this month.
I recognize that content like mine can also become part of the problem if consuming it—and perhaps getting temporarily inspired by it—substitutes for action.
That’s why I more or less try to say the same thing, in a hundred different ways:
- Start taking action.
- Do a little bit every day.
- Learn by doing (not just by consuming).
If you want to build a legal practice, at some point, you have to tune out all the advice online (much of it contradictory) and move forward.
Not perfectly. Not with total clarity. But forward.
That’s where real momentum comes from: Not from knowing everything, but from doing something—and letting experience be the teacher.
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed or paralyzed by input overload (i.e. scrolling on LinkedIn during your BD timeblock), try this:
- Close the tab.
- Open your calendar.
- Send the email.
- Make the call.
Start small. Keep going. The only way out of the noise is through meaningful action.
Jay Harrington is president of our agency, a published author, and nationally-recognized expert in thought-leadership marketing.
From strategic planning to writing, podcasting, video marketing, and design, Jay and his team help lawyers and law firms turn expertise into thought leadership, and thought leadership into new business. Get in touch to learn more about the consulting and coaching services we provide. You can reach Jay at jay@hcommunications.biz.