FROM LAWYER TO MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
.jpg)
I CONTINUED MY SELF-STUDY PROGRAM IN MY SPARE TIME, WHILE I WORKED FULL TIME AS A LAWYER. THE POSITIVE THINKING WAS HELPING MY ATTITUDE AT WORK, BUT I FELT A PASSION FOR MY "HOBBY" THAT I NEVER FELT TO MY WORK, AND I DREAMED ABOUT THE DAY I COULD WALK AWAY FROM MY JOB.
IN 1989, AFTER FOUR YEARS OF INTENSIVE RESEARCH ABOUT ATTITUDE AND MOTIVATIONAL CONCEPTS, I AGREED TO PRESENT SOME ADULT EDUCATION SEMINARS IN THE EVENINGS AT A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS TO BE PAID $30 FOR EACH TWO-HOUR CLASS. NOT THE KIND OF MONEY THAT LETS YOU QUIT YOUR DAY JOB!
AS I STOOD IN FRONT OF THE CLASS TO START MY FIRST SEMINAR, I WAS PETRIFIED. MY HEART WAS POUNDING AND I WAS SWEATING. BUT SOMEHOW I MANAGED TO MUSTER THE COURAGE TO JUST DO IT. THE STUDENTS LOVED THE CLASS, AND I GOT A REAL ADRENALINE RUSH FROM PRESENTING THE MATERIAL THAT HAD REVOLUTIONED MY OWN LIFE.... AND THAT HAD THE POWER TO DO THE SAME FOR OTHERS!
EVENTUALLY, THE SPEAKING FEES GREW A LITTLE LARGER, AND IN 1990, I DECIDED TO PHASE OUT MY LAW CAREER OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THIS WASN'T SIMPLE DECISION. I HAD GONE TO FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE AND THREE YEARS OF LAW SCHOOL TO OBTAIN MY LAW DEGREE. ON TOP OF THAT, I HAD SPENT 10 YEARS OF MY LIFE AS A PRACTICING LAWYER. WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MUCH INVESTED IN A CAREER, IT'S NOT SO EASY TO WALK AWAY.
THEN OF COURSE, THERE WAS THE MONEY ISSUE. AS A LAWYER, I WAS ON TRACK TO EARN $100,000 IN A FEW YEARS, AND I'D BE EARNING THAT MUCH- AND MORE- FOR THE REST OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER.