Lawyer Learnings Log No. 1: Not being perfect is perfectly perfect! ✅

⚖ Learnings from the happenstance of my life as a lawyer ⚖

I tend to aim for perfection in everything I do. I grew up with my mum saying: “if a job’s worth doing, then it’s worth doing well.”

Mixed into my perfection recipe is a good dollop of shyness. Especially in front of a live video camera - which is where I found myself this week.

I’m a finalist in two categories at the ALB #Japan #Law #Awards 2020. My 2020 vision board has “Award” on it. The fact I’m a double finalist is part-realization of this vision.

The ceremony will be online and all finalists have to submit 30-second, pre-recorded acceptance speeches.

30 seconds you say? A piece of cake, right?!

Well, for perfectionist moi, this was hard 😵but the upshot is I did 3 x takes of each speech, chose two “done well enough” vs being perfect, and I finished up in 35 minutes vs an hour 😍

I’m thinking maybe I mixed up mum’s wise words of “doing something well” with “doing something perfectly? They are not the same thing.

So what are my #lawyerlearnings? There are 5️⃣ x learnings. Check them out in the comments below👇

#1 “Practice doesn't make perfect”: 3 takes was enough without suffering diminishing returns (wasted time, frustration, over-rehearsed)

#2 Failing to prepare is preparing to fail: Normally I’d start preparing a speech days ahead. This time I wrote what popped into my mind a couple of hours ahead. For anything “worth doing” some prep is necessary in moderation.

#3 Vision Boards rock! Visualize what you want to come true, through pictures/words etc. pasted on one large board positioned in sight. It’s worked for me a lot (more on that in a future Lawyer Learnings Log)

#4 Work on oneself is never-ending: The silver-lining of this event being online, meant I got an opportunity to chip away at video camera shyness and add another notch to my confidence belt.

#5 Enjoy the funny side of what doesn't go well: Watching back my reaction after the blooper takes was priceless. Seeing a mirror of myself as others see me. I was laughing so much, my mood was uplifted for the rest of the day, and I’m even considering releasing the bloopers video.

🗣Don’t forget to tell me how YOU challenged shyness or perfection? I’d love to hear your about your experiences!