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1/ THREAD. I’m not in the self-help or self-improvement space — I write about #SCOTUS, law firms, and other legal stuff — but if you’ll indulge me, I have some life advice to share.
2/ This is a bit cliched, but your life is YOUR LIFE — and if you’re not happy with it, it’s on you to change it.
You care the most about it, and you’re in the best position to improve it.
You care the most about it, and you’re in the best position to improve it.
3/ Last year, I had a near-death experience with #COVID19, which put me in @NYULangone for three weeks, including a week on a ventilator.
It sucked, obviously, but it was a wake-up call.
It sucked, obviously, but it was a wake-up call.
4/ At the time that I got sick with Covid, I was a bit adrift.
I was humming with a low-level dissatisfaction — something wasn’t right in my life, but I wasn’t quite sure what.
I was humming with a low-level dissatisfaction — something wasn’t right in my life, but I wasn’t quite sure what.
5/ I was working at the time as a legal recruiter at @LateralLink. It’s a great recruiting company, and my then-colleagues were (and are) awesome — but recruiting as a job wasn’t fulfilling me completely.
6/ One thing I did learn doing my Covid-19 experience, which I live-tweeted and wrote about for the @WashingtonPost, @LATimes, and @Slate, was how much I missed writing.
So I thought during the pandemic, “Maybe I should do more writing again.”
So I thought during the pandemic, “Maybe I should do more writing again.”
7/ Kind of on a whim, I started a “side hustle” in December 2020 — writing Original Jurisdiction ("OJ"), a @SubstackInc newsletter/blog about law and the legal profession, my main topics pre-Covid. https://bit.ly/3mSdSMG
8/ Original Jurisdiction started getting traction. I started spending more time on it. And I was enjoying it -- more than my day job.
(I had the same experience when I first started blogging in 2004 at Underneath Their Robes, while still practicing law.)
(I had the same experience when I first started blogging in 2004 at Underneath Their Robes, while still practicing law.)
9/ This spring, I started toying with the idea of leaving legal recruiting to work on OJ full-time.
But it was daunting. Recruiting has been relatively lucrative, and my husband and I have a mortgage, a 3-year-old who’s in private school (and diapers), etc.
But it was daunting. Recruiting has been relatively lucrative, and my husband and I have a mortgage, a 3-year-old who’s in private school (and diapers), etc.
10/ But I decided to, as Nike says, just do it. I gave notice at Lateral Link, with my last official day as April 30 (I'm still finishing up a few final projects), and as of last Monday, May 3, I became a full-time writer once again. https://nyti.ms/3e3m2y6
11/ I’ve been back to writing full-time for just a week, and so far, so good. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how many people have signed up as paid subscribers to Original Jurisdiction (which is now how I make a living). https://bit.ly/3nQyDJj
12/ I’m cautiously optimistic that writing will work out financially. But more importantly than the money, I’m happier, on a day to day level, and I'm more engaged with my work.
13/ These days I wake up in the morning and I’m energized and excited (well, except when our three-year-old wakes us up too early).
And sometimes at night I’m so into what I’m doing, I wind up staying way past my bedtime.
And sometimes at night I’m so into what I’m doing, I wind up staying way past my bedtime.
14/ I’m also a much more likable and enjoyable person to be around (or so my husband Zach tells me).
Now our dinner talk consists of brainstorming about projects I’m excited to tackle -- Zach is also my editor -- and not my venting.
Now our dinner talk consists of brainstorming about projects I’m excited to tackle -- Zach is also my editor -- and not my venting.
15/ I’ve had this experience before. I was scared when I left practicing law to write full-time at @Wonkette, and I was scared when I left Wonkette, at the time a very established blog, to start Above the Law ( @ATLblog).
16/ But years later, I can say that both things worked out. I don't regret taking either risk -- and I would have regretted NOT making those jumps.
In my experience (and I admit I'm a very fortunate person), things often have a way of working out.
In my experience (and I admit I'm a very fortunate person), things often have a way of working out.
17/ Now, I’m very, very lucky. I have no student loans. My husband makes a good living as a lawyer. We have savings that could get us by for a while. Not everyone is in such a fortunate position.
18/ If you, like me, are fortunate enough to have a safety net, don’t let it go to waste.
Yet another cliche, but true (as I know as an alum of the ventilator): Life is too short. Follow your dreams.
Yet another cliche, but true (as I know as an alum of the ventilator): Life is too short. Follow your dreams.
19/ And if you’re not yet able to follow your dreams, perhaps for financial reasons, do what you can to make that possible eventually. Downsize your lifestyle. Save like a maniac. Marry rich (or richer). ;-)
20/ Remember: it’s up to YOU to fix your life.
And for those of you with safety nets -- e.g., frustrated white-collar workers with tons in savings -- you’re like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. You’ve had the power to save yourself all along.
And for those of you with safety nets -- e.g., frustrated white-collar workers with tons in savings -- you’re like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. You’ve had the power to save yourself all along.
21/ This advice isn’t just about your career.
If you’re unhappy in a relationship, END IT.
If you’re not satisfied with your home, MOVE (which we are in the midst of doing, from Manhattan to the New Jersey suburbs -- yay for a home office).
If you’re unhappy in a relationship, END IT.
If you’re not satisfied with your home, MOVE (which we are in the midst of doing, from Manhattan to the New Jersey suburbs -- yay for a home office).
22/ If you’re scared, ask for help. Ask family and friends for advice or support.
I haven't been shy about asking folks to subscribe to OJ, for example (even if it feels a bit awkward, like hitting up friends to buy your daughter's Girl Scout cookies).
I haven't been shy about asking folks to subscribe to OJ, for example (even if it feels a bit awkward, like hitting up friends to buy your daughter's Girl Scout cookies).
23/ So if you’re not happy with your career or your life, don’t just whine and whine -- as I did, for months.
Take action. You have the power to change your own life. Good luck!
P.S. And please check out Original Jurisdiction! https://davidlat.substack.com/
Take action. You have the power to change your own life. Good luck!
P.S. And please check out Original Jurisdiction! https://davidlat.substack.com/
