Full transcript follows.

It’s the Lawyer on Air “Bonenkai” (End of Year) Episode. Grab a glass of your favourite beverage and join Catherine and Jayne as they help you see out 2021, and welcome in 2022 with this bumper bonus episode. Make sure you listen to the end, ...we have some bloopers for you too ... because we like to keep it real! You’ll need a pen and paper to write down all the great tips we have compiled for your legal career and living your most authentic life in 2022. 

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Catherine’s tips for how to have a brilliant year in 2022

• What Jayne recommends for a way to see out the year that was 2021

• Tips for making the most of 2022 from our Lawyers Extraordinaire guests so far in Season Two 

About Catherine

Catherine hails from New Zealand and is founder and principal of her own boutique law firm in Tokyo. She provides flexible legal services to law firms, legal departments and businesses, on a project and needs-specific basis. This is a pioneering unique legal solutions model in Japan. Her areas of focus include: foreign lawyer support for Japanese and international law firms in Japan, determining how, when and where a full-time, in-country legal counsel might best contribute to an in-house legal department; setting up systems and workflows, localising global templates, introducing general commercial contract governance to business, she combines her bilingual capability and deep in-house counsel experience, to act as the lead on all the in-person and written contract negotiations for client’s “business as usual” and project work. Catherine also does Professional Mentorship coaching lawyers 1:1 and in Masterminds (by invitation or referral), supporting CEOs with risk and legal training, and coaching in-house legal staff and law firm associates through her Associates Accelerator Academy.  Catherine is a multiple award winner in entrepreneurship, excellence and being a trailblazer. 

Links

Careless Whisper by George Michael: https://youtu.be/izGwDsrQ1eQ 

Catherine’s Mastermind: https://www.catherineoconnelllaw.com/catherines-lawyer-extraordinaire-mastermind-2022-waiting-list/

Connect with Catherine 

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.oconnell.148

Twitter: https://twitter.com/oconnelllawyer 

Connect with Jayne: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynenakata/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformationswithjayne/ 

Website: https://www.jaynenakata.com/ 

Transcript

Catherine: Hi everyone and welcome to this bonus episode of Lawyer on Air. I'm Catherine O'Connell. Today, I am joined by the one and only Jayne Nakata. As you know, she's my marvelous Production Manager and Strategist for this award-winning Lawyer on Air podcast. And we thought it would be really fun today to do a kind of “Bonen Kai”, an end of year party celebrating all of what we've achieved this year and also celebrating the wonderful guests we've had, especially through this last season, Season Two.

And so we wanted to prepare a wonderful podcast episode for people to listen to, to get some inspiration for this next 2022, which Jayne and I both think, is going to be an amazing year. What do you think Jayne? Welcome to the show and thank you for joining me.

Jayne: Hi everyone! Thank you, Catherine. I'm so excited to be back on Lawyer on Air. I have been working in the background all season so far, and I have loved hearing all of the wisdom that our wonderful legal eagles have. And this episode is just going to be pure gold from start to finish. So get your pens and paper ready.

Get your journals out and get ready to write down all of the great stuff that these women who are leading, they’re leading in the legal profession in Japan, have for us. And even if you're not a lawyer, like myself, you're going to get loads out of this episode. It has been a bonkers year for us, hasn’t it Catherine? 

Catherine: Bonkers would explain it. Bonkers is definitely what it’s been.

Jayne: I love that word.

Catherine: Bonkers is great. I love it. 

Jayne: So tell us a little bit about what it's been like for you starting this podcast back in just March. It hasn't even been a year and now and we are in Season Two, Episode 8 ish. Aren't we? 

What has it been like for you going from beginner, I've never podcasted before, to where we are now? 

Catherine: I really feel I'm no longer a beginner. I do feel I was definitely a beginner back in March. And, you know, as it took me a long time to actually get from that inspiration in 2018 with you, when I talked on your podcast, to finally launching in March and you really helped me on that one. I think when we did it in the first episode with Angela Krantz, it was fun.

I was a bit nervous. I knew her very, very well, so it was great to start with a guest who I knew well, and I could be comfortable with. So I did okay, I think. I'd give myself maybe a rating of six out of 10. Maybe a seven or a seven and a half. 

But I think as time went by I got more into my groove. And I was able to maybe take things a bit easier and be a bit more comfortable.

But at the very beginning, I think, I was really finding it hard in some ways, but also just, it was important for me to think, just execute, just get it done, you can work on it as you go through. And that's also what you helped me with, Jayne. You sort of said, go for it, and work it out as you go, and it'll come to you.

You don't have to have it all perfect first. So that's what I really loved about it.

Jayne: So now that we're where we are, how do you feel now? 

Catherine: Well, I feel I'm more confident. I feel I'm more in my zone and I've got a flow. I still do make some mistakes and thanks to your wisdom and your expertise and your skills, we sort of cut out some of those things, but basically I think it's gone so well and the feedback's been phenomenal and that's just kept me going like gasoline in a car. It just keeps me rocking along. 

And I really do feel that now I'm unlocking the wisdom of women that were not able to be exposed before. So I'm feeling, not only that, that I unlocked their wisdom, but I also feel I'm unlocking myself as I go along this path. And that vulnerability, and that kind of thing, is also really helping me.

And I didn't realise that would happen running a podcast and being the host. I thought it was all about the guest, which it is, but it's also unveiled some unusual or new or interesting things for myself.

Jayne: There you go. You just never know what you might learn when you start podcasting. And a lot of guests comment; wow, I didn't realise I'd done all those things, or I’ve never taken the time to reflect on my career and you've given me that chance, and that was really amazing. 

So yeah, if you're listening, get yourself on a podcast.

It's a kind of therapy, right? 

Catherine: It is a kind of therapy. It really is. And I think when I've finished a recording and I see the guests sitting there when we put the camera back on and they are talking about; wow, I've never thought about that since it happened. It might be graduating from a university, when they got their law papers, or when they moved overseas and unpacked their suitcase in the new destination.

Things like that, they just didn’t think about it. They’ve moved on with their lives. So I think you've picked up a great point there, that people are reflecting. And to give yourself time to reflect is a really good thing. So that's been a real joy. 

Jayne: So what are some of the wins for Lawyer on Air? Tell us about some of the details. 

Catherine: Well, as I just said, unlocking the pathway for others, but I've really unlocked it for myself. And it's been one massive win for me personally. The second would be, of course, the win that is the physical win of winning an award this year for the podcast. Being the bronze winner of the New Zealand Kiwi Podcast Abroad. I won bronze in that category and you won silver, which was super, super awesome. But I mean, I don't think we need awards as such, to give us that recognition or endorsement. We don't need external approval perhaps, but it is a stamp of approval to a certain extent.

And maybe it helps my confidence. It helps yours. We know we're on the right path. I think it also helps others who might be thinking about Lawyer on Air or curious about it. And maybe they need something to show their firm or their company, to get some kind of internal approval to appear on the podcast. I think this award is going to help with that.

They can take it off to their boss or to whoever makes the decisions and show them that it's an award-winning podcast, an award-winning podcaster, and an award winning team in you, being a self-made podcaster, who's won an award as well. So I think that's another win. 

And the other thing Jayne, I would have to say is; wow, this community that's been built has just, it's really blown me away. The ripples out from the posts that we do on social media, for example, and I think it sort of burst into flames with the episode with Aramide went out and she has an amazing community, and she opened up pathways to Lisa Lang and Flo Nichols and Laura Frederick and Sarah Williams, and all that group who are phenomenal ladies who are lawyers and doing all sorts of amazing things. So her sort of tribe got in on the podcast and helped us out. Then it went into Bill Ash and John Lindsey. And also the guys in Tokyo, Josh and Tom, and it went to the males in the community as well.

So that was something I never, ever expected. The other thing was when Yuka Hongo got to talk about Steve Fretzin, that she was listening to his podcast, had some marketing business with him. I said to her, I know him, I know him through walking around the neighborhood on my walks listening to Steve's podcast.

And so I reached out to Steve and we had a podcast together on his podcast; Be that Lawyer. So this kind of expansion beyond what I could have imagined from the podcast, I got to meet the hero who is Steve Fretzin, as well as all these other ladies and people. So those are some wins that have been absolutely significant for me.

Jayne: Yes. Amazing that word expansion. You've created expansion for your guests and vice versa and that's just amazing. I love it. So we have a lovely episode for you prepared. And today we are going to give you some of the tips from our guests so far in Season Two. But first, I'm going to ask you, Catherine, let's hear from you.

What are your tips for 2022 for lawyers? 

Catherine: Well, actually I'm thinking about themes as well, but expansion sounds like a great thing for me, but also focusing on joyful activities and about wellbeing. The other day I had this dream about diamonds being sort of shining and also having the solid black core, from where, you know, to create joy and happiness.

And so I want to just try and decide on priorities for next year. But if I think about my three tips, I think the first one would be for people to focus on their top two big projects they want to work on. One would be personal and one professional and work on those for just joy and inspiration.

Find a sort of nice little new niche area. Maybe it's legal tech. Maybe it is, as you said before, launch a podcast, write a blog, or take up some sport or interest. Carve out time to devote yourself to this kind of happiness. And I think really look around you for this inspiration. And I hope this episode will bring that because there's all of our wonderful Season Two guests giving their inspiration. So be vocal, I think, about what you want to do, do things that are working differently towards your goals, and look to people who can be your sounding board, because I think that's really helpful as you move along in your incremental steps and goals. 

And the second tip would be; create white space in your calendar. I started thinking a lot about this after Angela Krantz’s episode, and how she blocks out time in her calendar. And so I think this is really wonderful, to allow for inspiration and innovation to pop up in your schedule and develop new interests and go out on a trip somewhere randomly on a Friday afternoon when you weren't thinking about it, but your space is in the calendar, those kinds of things.

I use a lot, and I mean a lot, of highlighter markers and rainbow colors in my diary and on my Google calendar. But I want to see more white space in 2022. I really do. I think I haven't done that quite well enough, but I want it white, white, and white. 

So the third thing I think as a tip would be: think of a theme for the year.

This really truly has been a north star for me in the last years to attain my dreams. If I take it back to 2019, I had audacious as my word of the year, and I met Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand that year. And in 2020 it was next level. And of course we had a pandemic, but it was my guide through the pandemic to not be sitting in some seat and doing nothing, but to come out of the wallpaper and move forward into the limelight. And in 2020 I won, not one or two but three awards. And they were just amazing. They were business awards and that theme of next level really guided me. 

And this year it's been intentional as my guiding light. So everything I've done has been around that, even this loss of 17 kilograms to the universe, sayonara. Launching the podcast, winning the award, doing that with you, and intentionally finding joy and happiness. So my dream would be for people to try and think about a theme for the year, because I really feel it's going to be huge in 2022 if you've got a guiding theme or word to guide you.

How about you, Jayne? What tips do you have then for 2022?

Jayne: Yeah. I also have some tips. I also have a theme every year. I love to have my own theme. I have had for this year, the word radiant. 

Catherine: Oh, yes, you've been radiant, that’s for sure.

Jayne: So I've been working on being radiant in different ways, both internally, externally, taking myself to beauty treatments, getting my nails done, because that gives me joy, which makes me more radiant. As well as doing things like self hypnosis and things to be more radiant on the inside, which shows on the outside. So that's been my word this year. I am still looking for my word for next year. I have not been inspired yet, but I will be making time to think about that. And yeah, I'm really looking forward to what that might be.

It might be something like next level or audacious.

Catherine: Next level's great. Audacious. That's also great. Good. Ok. I look forward to seeing that unfold.

Jayne: So my tips for 2022. So first one. Give yourself time to reflect and see that this year, and even so far in your life, has not been wasted and see exactly what you did achieve. And I mentioned it just a little bit earlier with our guests on the show, having that chance to reflect over their entire careers, talking with you, Catherine.

But it could be as simple as getting out your iPhone and looking through the photos that you took this year and just seeing; Oh, I went there. Oh, I ate that. I met that person. Oh, look at all the stuff I actually did. So we often forget, we can't remember all of the things we've done and we would easily be led to believe that we've done not very much this year, because we might've been locked down.

Let's face it, we haven't been able to live the life we've always been living. But if you go into your phone, I'm sure you will find some of the joyful moments captured to remind you of all the things that you have done this year. And that is a really good place to start from, to plan the rest of your year.

So if you go into planning your year from, I did nothing, 2021 was really rough. What kind of great stuff do you think you are going to be able to plan with that kind of mindset? So I really encourage you to do that.

Catherine: I love that. I love that. That is such a good thing. What a great tip.

Jayne: So the next one, number two. Set a goal so audacious or out of this world, that you cannot possibly see how it's going to happen. It's just too ridiculous for you to see how it's going to happen. But that's not your business. It is not your business how this audacious, brilliant, wonderful thing comes into being. And then just put it aside and trust that somehow, some way, that or something even better, is coming to you. What on earth would be your audacious goal? So audacious that you don't even let yourself believe that it’s possible because you automatically discount that, that's so crazy. 

Catherine: My executive coach Sarah Furuya, would say the highest dream.

Catherine: What is the highest dream? The high dream, the highest of highest dreams. What you would like to dream in 2022? I love that. Oh, Jayne. That's so wonderful. Tell us tip three.

Jayne: So I'd like to encourage listeners to find a way to get their voice and their story out into the world. So something I've really noticed this year is the lack of women speaking about themselves out there. And sometimes it takes coming on a show, like Lawyer on Air, for them to go through the process of seeing just how much they've achieved and reflecting on their life.

And it gives them such a boost to go out and do even more great things. So I would love to see more women finding a way to speak more about themselves, to have a voice. Whether that's being on a podcast, doing a talk, speaking up somewhere where they don't normally speak. Creating a session with your friends to talk and share stories, because this is what humans have always done.

We've always shared stories and it has always been an art form that perhaps has been a little bit lost. So I'd love to see more of that from our listeners this year. And if you do, please let us know. We'd love to hear from you, I think, right? We love to hear about your experiences with this. 

Catherine: Wow. Super. I love that. And yes, I'm all for everyone getting the voice out there even more. And if you've not done it before, this could be a really good first step to do something and make it your mission in 2022.

Jayne: Alrighty. So let's get to our amazing guests that we have teed up to give you all of these tips. So like I said, make sure you’ve got your pen and paper handy. You're going to need it, especially for our first guest. One of our hit episodes for the second season has been Royanne Doi. She has so many great nuggets in her whole episode. If you haven't listened, go listen to that straight after this, but here she is with her top tips for 2022. 

Here we go. 

Catherine: So Royanne, tell me what you were thinking about for 2022. And what three tips you would like to share to inspire lawyers as they plan out their career and personal development activities for 2022.  

Royanne: Two or three tips. I would say if you haven't invested in an executive coach every 10 years of your career, you really should.

It's great when your company will pay for it on their own. And certainly if they offer you should take it. But if you haven't, if you don't work for a company that will pay for one, I highly recommend that you get one. You can always get there on your own, but a couple of thousand, a thousand or a couple of thousand dollars every 10 years, I feel, is a good worthwhile investment in order to take your game up to the next level.

One of the books that I recommended was; what got you here won't get you there. And in that book, the idea is that all of the activities and skills and behaviors that made you successful as a junior person can actually be sabotaging you as you climb up the corporate ladder and become a more senior person. 

I think having an executive coach is really helpful. I certainly have had one every 10 years. I even bartered some legal services in exchange for some executive coaching. Athletes have no problems with hiring a pitching, putting, swinging coach to help them improve their performance and lawyers should be no different. So my first big tip is to definitely get an executive coach.

I think my second tip would be similar to what we had discussed, which is basically keep your awareness open to possible nudges. Things that you may not normally think about doing, but that there are these cosmic coincidences that are, placing opportunities in front of you. So when you're too focused on your 10 year plan or you have an idea where you want to be and you don't keep a more diffused focus, open mind to other possibilities, you might miss some great avenues, other paths not taken. And I think you should keep an open eye for those possibilities. So not to be too closed off or locked down to some choices. 

And then I think the last thing would be self-care is self-love. It's really important for you as you get older to be working, not just working hard, but working smart and taking good care of yourself. So I have a whole team, team Royanne, who's in charge of making sure that I'm moving forward. And that's my acupuncturist, and my husband, and my BFF, best friends forever, and I have coaches and advisors, sponsors, et cetera.

So being able to gather a group of people around you who actually care for you and want the best from you and for you. And basically curating them, making sure that you have a team that's taking care of you. And taking care of yourself. Whether that's meditation twice a day, having some kind of spiritual practice, and eating, sleeping, all these sort of basic things in life that you can't, as you get older, you realise you're just not going to be able to cram. Everything I want in my life at this point, at 59 years old, are things that I can only get by taking effort, a little bit of effort every day. 

I have to exercise 30 minutes a day. I can't cram five hours on a Saturday and expect the same results. So gentle, gentle, easy baby steps, self care. Those would be my three tips. 

Catherine: Oh, yes, Royanne. And she so hit the spot there. I love that she's such a planner, but she has such an awareness of those nudges and what she calls the cosmic coincidences. Oh my goodness. That really hit home to me when she told me these things. And I also recall, and have in the back of my mind, Steven Spielberg of all people talking about how it's the quiet whispers that we need to listen to. And this has really stuck with me since I heard him say this in an interview, and I really loved what he said, and it makes me literally have goosebumps and tingle. And so I just wanted to say his words here as a follow up to what the gorgeous Royanne just said. 

Steven Spielberg said; You have a dream and the dream isn't something that you dream and then it happens. That dream was something you never knew was going to come into your life. Dreams are always coming from behind you, not right between your eyes, it sneaks up on you, but when you have a dream, it doesn't often come to you screaming at your face.

This is who you are. This is what you must be for the rest of your life. Sometimes a dream almost whispers. And I've always said to my kids, the hardest thing to listen to is your instincts. Your human personal intuition always whispers. It very rarely shouts. And it's very hard to hear. So you have to, every day of your lives, be ready to hear what whispers in your ear. And if you can listen to the whisper, and if it tickles your heart, and is something you think you want to do for the rest of your life, then that is going to be what you do for the rest of her life. And it will benefit everyone from what you do. 

Jayne: Very, very good. I love that. Listening to that whisper. And we often don't give ourselves a chance to hear because of all the noise in this world that we have. Making those chances to hear those whispers more maybe in 2022 is also a great idea. What do you do to hear those whispers, Catherine? Do you do anything to give yourself that quiet? I think we need quiet to hear. 

Catherine: We need quiet time. Yeah, we do need quiet time But also it's not only in the quiet time that these whispers happen. They happen in the middle of a conversation. As you've been talking, I've been listening to what the whispers are out of what we've been speaking about today. So for me, it's actually actively listening in to conversations and what I might possibly have just heard a little whisper of.

And then I need to sort of capture a little bit more, ask another question. So that's what I'm doing is; as well as creating that white space and moments to reflect, it's also listening in to what's busy, busy, busy going on all the time, but picking up something that might've just been a little bit of a bleep on the radar.

Jayne: I often get these downloads. That just come to me like, this is what this podcast should be called, or this is what this episode should be called. And I don't know where it comes from. It's very weird, but if I just give myself the quiet they come to me from seemingly nowhere.

Catherine: That is amazing. 

Jayne: Yeah. It's very magical.

I also like to just walk with my dog without earphones, which seems radical, but where I live here in Fukushima, I go and I walk my dog three times a day around the neighborhood and I will look at the nature. I'll be out looking at the nature or looking at the houses or whatever, but no earphones and just really focusing on being present.

That kind of helps to clear your mind a little bit and let those whispers come to you.

Catherine: Yes, it does. You’re so right. We're looking at our phones all the time. And when I do my soul strolls, I'm also in fact doing that, trying to not listen. Although I'd listened to, as I just said, some people I listen to in podcasts. But I do try not to look at the screen, and just sort of walk, and look at what's going on around me in the dog group that I see each morning and things like that to get some inspiration.

So, yeah. Thanks for calling that out. That's where our whispers are coming from. We can't be occupied doing too many other things. We need to leave some space.

Jayne: Give yourself a chance to hear those whispers. I keep getting that George Michael song, Careless Whisper, keeps popping into my head. That's something completely different. 

Catherine: Pop that on your end of year Spotify list. Go for it.

Jayne: My kids played that for me the other day. They thought it was great. They were like, listen to this great song Mummy.

Catherine: This great new song, Mummy.

Jayne: And they're like, do you know it? And I'm like, um, yes. 

Catherine: Okay. I might play that after we've recorded this Jayne, as a signifier for today.

Jayne: So Catherine, who do we have next? 

Catherine: So thank you, Jayne, for your tips. And I hope everyone's enjoyed listening to yours and to mine. And so we've teed up all of the guests in Season Two to give their top three tips. This is going to be absolutely awesome. So we're going to start with Mitsuru Claire Chino to take it away.

And the other guests will follow. Please enjoy.

Catherine: So Claire, what are you thinking about for 2022? And what three tips would you like to share to inspire lawyers as they plan their career and personal development activities for 2022? 

Claire: So 2022 is going to be an interesting year. I think we still need to be nimble and flexible because I just don't think that we are back to normal yet.

So stay flexible and nimble. That's number one. 

Number two; because of COVID, I think there are a lot of good things that came about as well. So for example, a lot of virtual seminars, all these conferences you can attend. So continue to take advantage of them because I don't know how available they're going to be in 2023.

So get to know as many people as you can, even virtually, is number two. 

And then number three; while I said to be nimble and flexible, at the same time I really do believe that the pendulum, when it swings so far one way it actually tends to come back. Right. So do not be too flexible. For example, I do believe that the hybrid work style will become a norm, but I don't know, for example, how much the hundred percent working from home is going to be set as the standard.

So don't necessarily think that what you're seeing right now, even though good things would stay. So just be on the cautious side. 

Claire: So for example, I wouldn't go out and get rid of your city apartment completely, and go out in the middle of nowhere where you could probably work from home very well, but not much access to the city.

I wouldn't do that. I would still keep my city apartment. 

Catherine: Yeah, that's actually really interesting. Isn't it? Because people are doing that. They're moving to the countryside. 

Claire: I would still keep your city apartment 

Catherine: Good food for thought. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Catherine: Right. So Pavitra, what are you thinking about for 2022? And what three tips would you like to share to inspire lawyers as they plan their career and personal development activities for 2022? 

Pavitra: So for 2022. Okay. So I’m very excited because I do believe that this is going to be a much better year for the world than 2021 was, especially pandemic wise.

You know, we've seen the difference between 2020 and 21. And I really hope that 2022 is even better than 2021. So it's on a note of positivity that I welcome 2022. 

And for the lawyers out there, the young lawyers especially, but for me personally I think, if there's something that I want to focus on in 2022, given how overwhelming the pandemic has been and how little we feel that we're able to control in our lives, for me this year is going to be all about incremental improvement. It's about finding those small little things that I can work on, sort of chip away on, or stack up little by little, whatever it is.

I think just pick one area and try to improve it incrementally. That's one thing. 

I think the second thing, especially for our profession is, I mean, we've seen the whole world change because of the pandemic. So what it's taught me is that I think not only should we expect changes, if you take an average career to be of 40 years to say 50 years, I think we can realistically expect that there's going to be a least one more huge black swan event, or whatever you want to call it, in the span of your working life.

And so of course expect change, but also prepare for it. Now, what does that mean? Could it mean upskilling? Could it mean becoming more specialist in an area, or is it learning a new skill entirely? So that is something that each one of us at least needs to think about and tackle in our own ways and in the ways that work best for us.

And the third thing that I would like to do this year is definitely, definitely start networking more effectively. And especially with the pandemic, I'm now seeing personally the power of social media and something like LinkedIn to connect with people. And so networking is definitely going to be something that I will focus on this year, but at the same time, I'm very conscious that I still want to cultivate meaningful relationships that go beyond just networking and have a strong network, but also very strong connections with the people in my network. 

Catherine: Fabulous.

Catherine: Celeste, what are you thinking about for 2022?

Celeste: What I'm thinking about for 2022? I probably haven't had the luxury of thinking too much about 2022 yet, because I think our lives here are so affected by what's going on with the virus. But I am hoping that we'll be able to see each other more face-to-face and connect in person. 

The three tips I'll share to inspire lawyers is firstly, be open to change. I think the ability to manage change is the biggest asset in today's leader. Secondly, let go of perceptions about what you should do, either from others, or because you originally chose a certain pathway for yourself. So be flexible and don't lock yourself into a box.

And finally, speak up. So be transparent, be honest, and have your voice heard. Particularly if it could help you or others speak up in the workplace or otherwise, because we all need that.

Catherine: So Nic, what are you thinking about for 2022?

Nicole: Alright. Let's see how I go here. Number one, not surprising, identify what energises you. The last eighteen months have given everybody the opportunity to reevaluate that.

Then number two, connect with your north star, your guiding compass, and do that in terms of your life more broadly, not just narrowly around your work.

With that then you can go into number three, which is identify the three most important things for you to be able to head towards your north star and really commit to being intentional in designing, not only your work, but your life around those things. I think that if you can focus on those three things, you can at least find yourself heading towards that north star and moving the needle, Catherine.

Catherine: So Jessika, what are you thinking about for 2022? And what three tips would you like to share to inspire lawyers as they plan their career and personal development activities for 2022? 

Jessika: So I guess I would just say what I'm going to try to do for myself next year. And one of these things is inspired by you, Catherine, but I'd like to set a theme for my year.

I really like that you do that. And I think it'll be really interesting to do that at the start of the year, and then by the end of next year see how that has played out. So yeah, intentionally setting a theme for the year will be one thing that I try. And then I guess my two other tips are things that I'd like to just continue practicing for myself; is being curious and trusting my gut.

 Catherine: What are you thinking about for 2022?

Angela: Thank you, Catherine. My top three tips for 2022?

First one, nice and simple, innovate. Legal tech and innovation are really the future for law firms and legal departments.

And in my view, the legal professionals of the future have to be tech savvy, and this is going to become a core competency for them. But don't just follow the trend, get in front and help lead it in your organisation. The best innovations are from grassroots. So you don't have to be in a managerial position or leadership position to bring about positive change.

That is very important to recognise that innovation is not necessarily technology. Innovation could be mindset, culture, or the work environment, and you don't have to have a big budget or to mobilise a lot of resources to innovate. Small, quick wins can pack a punch. 

My second tip; float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. 

As you're doing your planning for the next 12 months or for a longer term, just keep an open mind to the idea that what success means to you, will likely evolve over time. So make your plan and write your goals and be prepared for roadblocks, diversions, and things that might come at you from your blind spot.

Be resourceful, creative, and flexible, and take chances while keeping your eyes on the prize. Having a plan is really important, but also be agile and be graceful. Pick your battles. And when you go into battle, make sure you strike with precision.

Tip number three; don't count the days, make the day count.

Rather than focusing on how much longer until you get that promotion you are chasing, or how much more work you need to do to reach your goal, focus instead on making each day count as it is happening. Life can be pretty overwhelming. And one of my strategies has always been just to cut it down to size, to focus on the day that I'm in, and what I can achieve in that day.

So all we can do is our best, one day at a time and let the rest come as it may. 

Catherine: Well said, Angela. I just really love that. Don't count the days, make the days count. Well make the day count. Right? That's what she said. That is amazing. And what a way to wrap up this bonus episode. I really hope this has been encouraging for everyone as you plan out your year for 2022, you take your reflections, and think about your personal goals and your professional goals.

So I actually also have one other thing. We've got a mystery guest coming. So you thought the three tips from everyone had finished, but we do have a mystery guest. She is a mystery because you will hear her full episode when we open up in 2022 in January with our first episode, and that's going to be her, but we wanted to bring you a sneak preview of this wonderful lawyer extraordinaire.

So take it away, mystery guest, lawyer extraordinaire. 

Catherine: So mystery guest, what are you thinking about for 2022?

Rika: If people around me, and this could be my family or people in my job, if they could end the year a little bit more inspired, a little bit happier, as a result of me being there, I think I've succeeded. 

And my three tips are, and this is somewhat based on my experience and my reflections as a Japanese woman living in Japan, is number one, forgive yourself. 

Be forgiving to yourself, because I feel that, especially women, we’re sort of hard on ourselves and we're sort of expected to be perfect and we're just not. And we can only be kind to others when we are kind and forgiving to yourself.

And second is somewhat related to the first point, which is boldness. I feel that the universe is always giving you opportunities and constantly giving you signs to sort of elevate you to the next level. But I think what happens, especially in Japanese society, is we think about how people will perceive us before responding to these signs. So just be bold, tune in to what the universe is giving you and respond to that, actually act on these signs. And I bet you'll be in a happier place. 

And third is, just to do more of what you love.

Think of what you like to do. It could just be something simple like, I like having lunch with my friends or I like to play the piano or like to sing. And if you spend maybe only two hours of that, try to rank that up to three hours. Do more of what you love, think about what you love to do. Because that is an easy shortcut way to become more happy.

Jayne: So that was our mystery guest, something for you to look forward to coming out on the 10th of January 2022. So there we have it Catherine, a compilation of guests for our legal eagle lawyer extraordinaires to use as their playbook for the coming year ahead.

You and I have a super year planned and we can't wait to bring more voices of wonderful women lawyers to the airwaves with the Lawyer on Air podcast. Look out for season three as well, with some interesting twists on our current themes. 

Catherine: That's right. It's been such a fun episode to put this together and I'd love to also thank once again, all of the lawyer extraordinaire ladies in Season Two. Thank you so much for unlocking your wisdom and telling the inspiring stories that women never tell.

And to our listeners, please like this episode and subscribe to Lawyer on Air, also do drop us a short review as that really does help Lawyer on Air be seen and heard by more people.

You can also pop over to my webpage, find this episode, and leave me a voicemail. I really and truly do love your actual voice telling me about the guests and all of what you've heard today and what you enjoyed. That really makes it super special for us. And now we're out on YouTube as well, so you can catch us there.

And I'm also opening up a Lawyer Extraordinaire Mastermind in 2022 for women lawyers. So check out my posts about this on LinkedIn if you're interested in hearing more. And do go ahead then and share this episode with someone who you think will enjoy listening to it, who will lead an inspired life as a wonderful lawyer extraordinaire. 

So that's all for now from Jayne and me. See you on the next episode in 2022. 

Jayne: Cheers. 

Catherine: Kampai 

Jayne: And bye for now.

Subscribe using your favourite podcast player.

Apple Podcasts| Spotify| Breaker| Google Podcasts| RadioPublic

We would love to hear from you!

You can record your feedback by clicking on the button below.

By recording a message you are acknowledging and agree that we may share your message with our subscribers and community on social media or other media. Thank you!

Lawyer on Air has been nominated for “Best Business Podcast” in the Quill Podcast Awards, 2021! Thank you to all our supporters who voted for the podcast!