4 Things I Learned About Myself by Starting a Solo Law Practice

With her 30th birthday coming up, Joleena Louis reflects on what she has learned about herself by starting her own solo law practice.

Next week is my 30th birthday and as I reflected back on my life, I have come to realize how much I’ve changed and how I view myself differently since starting my practice.

While I’m still the same Joleena in terms of my core values, beliefs, and personality, this journey has shown me parts of myself that I didn’t know I had in me.

I have come to find that I have learned four very important interesting aspects of my personality since opening my solo law practice.

1.  My fear of failure motivates me.

I’ve put so much of myself, my time, and my energy into starting and building my practice. I can’t let naysayers win by seeing me fail and I certainly can’t work for anyone else again.

This is what I think of when I have to work late hours or when I don’t know if I’ll make enough to pay my rent next month. It fuels me to work harder and find solutions.

2.  My confidence is real.

Starting my practice was new and scary.

I didn’t feel very confident but I knew I had to “fake it until I made it” in order to be successful and I have come to realize that I’m no longer faking it and my confidence is real.

I still don’t know everything and continue to be nervous in certain situations, but now that I know who I am as a professional and as a woman, it makes it easier to have confidence in myself despite these issues.

3.  I am an introvert who now enjoys talking to people.

I’m naturally an introvert and I used to have a difficult time connecting with people that I didn’t know.

Unfortunately for me, in order to get clients I had to become more outgoing. This turned out to be a good thing in both my personal and professional life; forcing myself to be more social has brought on some very meaningful connections.

4. I am stronger than I thought.

There have been a few times when I thought it might be easier to go back to a paycheck. Although it seems easier, I keep pushing; through all the no’s, the low account balances, and the uncertainty about the future.

I still think it’s worth it and I have no regrets.

This journey has been a roller coaster, and when someone like myself is challenged in such a way, it makes the reward of learning about yourself even better.