THE NAYSAYERS ARE BUT NAYSAYERS

I have attained many successes despite the naysayers who seemed at first to have had sagacity. A relative told me that so many lawyers revile their jobs. A federal agency lawyer told me of all the litigators who suffer ulcers. A criminal law professor told me how the high percentage of defendants who obtain indigent defense counsel makes it tough to earn a living doing retained criminal defense work. The very lawyer who drafted our partnership agreement skeptically asked my former law partner Jay and me: “You’re really going to go through with this. Aren’t you?” A previous seemingly capable lawyer shook his head in irritation that I was going to trial rather than taking the dubious benefit of a marijuana 251 disposition, and I won the trial.

Those skeptics were mere skeptics. I succeeded tremendously at each of those turns. I turn instead to the inspiration of SunWolf, who reminds us that reality is no obstacle; my Trial Lawyers College roommate Bob Hilliard who saw my greatness to be my own boss before I did; and my grand poobah trial teacher Steve Rench, who dares criminal defense lawyers to be great.

When a client tells me his or her fears of obtaining great results in court — sometimes fueled by Internet research and hearing from fellow attendees at self-help and program meetings — I acknowledge the hurdles that exist, and challenge my clients to join me in moving, dismantling and disintegrating those hurdles as best we can, and even in forging a new path.

When we clear our minds of unnecessary doubt, that is when greatness can come. Consider the following:

• The founder of Tofurky  had no choice but to succeed, because he had no Plan B.
• Captain Underpants‘s creator Dav Pilkey did not think much of teachers’ advice, including for him to forget earning a living creating comics. My son and millions of others benefit from his pursuing forward as a comics creator.
• My teacher and trial law great Gerry Spence pursued forward even after a judge advised him to abandon the law practice, particularly courtroom work. He reminds us to focus and trust in our realness and feelings.
• Wayne Dyer reminds us that we all come from the same source, so all are capable of greatness. He also talks of welcoming our divinity to do great things through us.
• My teacher Ihaleakala Hew Len reminds us of the inspiration for success that comes from approaching zero.
• Neil Young reminds us of the need to trust in the moment to achieve success in the moment.

The only choice is to go forth and pursue greatness. There is no Plan B.