Written by My Collaborative Team President, Edward S. Sachs, ACP

It is always great to hear another professional on our Friday Happy Hour announce that they are no longer handling litigation matters.  It never fails that as part of their announcement, those that have done so always speak of the great relief they feel.  

This past week Nancy Brodzki announced her shift from litigation.  Nancy is a South Florida Collaborative attorney who would always introduce herself on our Friday calls as a Collaborative attorney who still loves going into the courtroom from time to time.  Nancy has made a huge shift to take this step and we congratulate her.   

You will find that those professionals who have made the shift to Collaborative Practice and other consensual dispute resolution processes not only make the shift professionally but also do so in many ways on a personal level.  I find that Collaborative professionals are a unique bunch.

This past Friday we heard a story from Mark Soboslai of Connecticut.  Mark recently shifted his practice away from litigation, but Mark’s story showed how this movement can change your personal outlook.

Mark was on our call with a black eye and bruised face.  While on vacation and awaiting his car at a Jiffy Lube, he tripped and fell on a sign that had fallen on the ground. I jokingly asked if he would be giving up his legal practice to run the Jiffy Lube he was now going to own.  Mark responded by telling us that he not only wasn’t going to sue the company, but he was going to contact the president of the company and ask that instead they give a raise to the very nice and attentive employee who took care of him and made sure he was okay. 

While I’m confident that Mark’s benevolence and incredible character are deeply embedded in his personality, I’m also sure that his view of the world has been affected by his Collaborative experience.  Mark has truly made the shift on all levels.

The paradigm shift that we make to become the best Collaborative Professional possible is an ongoing journey. Getting together with like minded professionals, sharing ideas and keeping a peacemakers mindset will help you along that journey. Whether you have or haven’t made the shift, we invite you to join us on Friday afternoons at 4:30 Eastern time.  Our discussions will help make you a better Collaborative professional and a better person. Make 2022 the year that you don’t just talk the talk, but you also walk the walk.