Law And More

Crazy - The Edge, Dating Back to Puritan Times

Johns Hopkins professor Kay Jamison documented the correlation between creativity and mental illness. That was in her breakthrough book "An Unquiet Mind," which remains a brisk seller. Although published way back in 1996, it still ranks 1,969 on Amazon. Here it can be ordered.

Incidentally, Jamison herself struggles with a bipolar disorder and had attempted suicide. In 2002, she won the MacArthur Genius Award ($500,000 was the monetary part).

Yet, those with various sorts of mental illness can't shake the stigma. Actually, that bias against mood disorders and intermittent faulty perception often eats deeply into their own self-esteem. They drag around that diagnosis like stink on their shoe. 

Help could be on the way. Really.

As the New York Post records, the Van Gogh Museum is in the loop of certifying two things. One is that Vincent Van Gogh's self portrait is not a fake. And, two it was created by him in a psychotic state. The authenticity had been debated because the color patterns were muted, not the usual vivid hues. Some contend that reflected the artist's pulling back from being so out-there. He recognized his psychic shift at the time.

On February 21st, the Van Gogh Museum opens an exhibit with that painting in it. If the public relations is sophisticated it will hammer that the artist was producing from what could be thought as another dimension. 

Given the rigidity of capitalism, dimensions other than the maximizing of profits aren't welcome. A current commercial about insurance makes fun about that. It's labeled "being your parents." The art-student waitress is asked how she intends to earn a living after she graduates. 

Experience in professional life, though, indicates that being in other dimensions, full-time or just now-and-then, doesn't exclude being self-supporting or a big success. 

Actually, success driven by mental illness might not be reserved for the creative arts. In 2011, psychologist John D. Gartner published an amazing book. It is "The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot of) Success in America." Here it can be ordered.

Gartner starts off with that misfit group from the Old Country - the Puritans. Certainly they were operating in another dimension. But once freed from the establishment rules in the UK, they went about putting together an economy which had been for centuries the most powerful in the world. 

Ever since the Puritans, it's likely that many of the brandname entrepreneurs in America would be classified by those in the "helping professions" as, well, crazy. And, yes, like the Puritans they created a new kind of economy.

The authentic reason for concern about mental illness is that it can open the doors to suicide. A theory of suicide is that the distressed keep traveling through a series of unthinkable scenarios. "What if I simply stopped trying" could then open the next door which could be the psychotic "Suicide would help me feel better." The final door is the decision to go for it.

It could be that former partner at law firm Sidley Austin Gabe MacConaill might have travelled that corridor.

He had confided to his wife Joanna Litt his perception of emotional deterioration. Simultaneously, he had a hunch that going for professional help would tarnish his professional branding. Lawyers I have spoken to about that agreed that MacConaill was right. The sharks would have smelled vulnerability, circled, and that could have been the end of a high-powered career.

If the stigma around mental illness can be blown up and those saddled with that disease able to forgive themselves for imperfection, the "career price" paid for being treated could be reduced. In time, it could disappear. 

After all, from "Genesis" on, civilization has recorded examples of aberrant thought processes. Eve had to be out of her mind to risk what she had for a dream of more autonomy. Even more crazy was for Adam to buy in. Of course, the history of ideas punished them harshly. That included inflicting on them a son who was a murderer. However, Eve got the worst of it. Crazy women are more unwelcome in society than crazy men.

An effective constraint for moving on to the next door is to contact the deep listeners at Samaritans. The hotline is confidential, free, and operates 24/7. The phone number is 212-673-3000.

Full Disclosure: I have taken on clinical depression since age 11. Despite the family suicide gene I am still here.  

Smart global ghostwriting, with SEO and social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Authority in Play - Lessons for Lawyers from Megxit, Iran, France, and the American Revolution

With a very American perspective in The New York Times, columnist Maureen Dowd reflects on the "corgi-and-gin-loving racket." That is, the very wealthy reign of the House of Windsor. 

Essentially, ranging from Prince Andrew's alleged sexual misconduct to Megxit, this is yet one more institution in which trust is lost.

Actually those in the new land went to through that crisis of belief and support about two and a half centuries ago. What was to evolve into the headquarters for global capitalism, the colonists' mindset was about money. The British form of taxation was siphoning off too much of it. 

Windsor's moral authority on everything and anything has blown up.

It would be no surprise if in a future Edelman Trust Barometer there is an allusion to the collapse of belief in the need for the British monarchy.

There is a push-back on the leadership in Iran.

And, in France, Everyman and Everywoman are saying "nonono" to the government's big idea about upping the age of retirement. 

Obviously, Megxit is a microcosm of an extreme paradigm shift in values. That mirrors the intensity of rebellion of not only the American Revolution, but also the French and Russian ones. Of course, lawyers have to pay heed. Law is a man-made institution. The human intersects with all those rules.

The world is bearing witness to that in how Judge James Burke has decided to oversee the Harvey Weinstein trial. Sure, his interpretation of the rules could give ammo to the defense to appeal a conviction. However, currently, it's a kind of "woke" for how judges impose common sense in the convoluted entity that the legal system has become. In time, SCOTUS could decide on the side of simplification: It's that simple that Weinstein shouldn't have been using his cell phone in the courtroom.

With the Barbarians at the Gate, all those with any authority will have to revisit what they consider their "core competence." The question is: What are you best at, what value does that create, how to communicate that, and what is an appropriate reward for all that? 

That type of comprehensive review includes lawyers, both litigation and transactional.

Law.com keeps presenting evidence of the disruptions in the legal sector. Actually, what could be happening is one of those Big Bangs. Law firms, courts, trade associations such as the US Chamber of Commerce, and clients have the opportunity to be proactive on this one.

Communications specialists such as myself are already busy bees recommending:

The new language of authority. Bring on the "we." That's why diversity is so important. With all the current challenges, it's necessary to be inclusive of all points of views and backgrounds. No secret, the legal sector suffers a diversity-challenge. 

Toned-down tone. Authority must sound like it recognizes the unknowability of so much. A Zen mantra is: Clear Thinking, Don't Know.  On "Criminal Minds," there is often an overhaul of the profile. A great moment in broadcasting had been when superprofiler David Rossi had to wrestle with ambiguity.

Confidence in the ability to try on ideas and experiment with solutions. That's how law firm Motley Rice became a respected brand. It put out there and kept refining the traditional concept of public nuisance apllied to product liability. In the California lead paint class action litigation that had resulted in a seminal win. SCOTUS wouldn't review the conviction. 

Connecting. For centuries, the model for that has been how Jesus Christ reached myriad constituencies. Harvard, Stanford, and Yale law schools can launch seminars analyzing the persausive genius of the early Christians. Lawyers have to achieve, metaphorically, eye contact in new business development and all other constituencies to generate positive outcomes for those clients. 

Meanwhile, the 2020 campaign provides a platform for wrestling with the issue of what kinds of leadership are a fit for times of such change. Lawyers should have lots to say about that.

Takeaway: Underneath all the rules is the human need to trust. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with niche social networking know-how. Also communications coaching. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Asheen Phansey - Professor Axed by Babson Because of Facebook Joke

Babson College was not amused. 

On his Facebook page, Babson professor for 15 years - Asheen Phansey - had joked around about 52 cultural sites in America Iran could attack. They ranged from Mall of America to a Kardashian residence.

As The Guardian reports, that was a play on Donald Trump's warning to Iran that America would attack 52 of its cultural sites. Later he backed off. Some speculate it was after he was informed such would violate the rules of warfare by the Hague Convention.

At Babson, the Facebook posting was interpreted as hate speech and could possibly incite violence. Phansey was terminated. Babson made the public statement that what he had posted did not represent the college's values. 

Through his lawyer, Phansey apologized. But he did bring up the issue of free speech. 

Of course, those lawyers and law students interested in first amendment and employment issues might have something to say about this. If they want to share their analysis and have it posted on this blog, please email the content, identity information such as title, contact information, and a photo to janegenova374@gmail.com. That will be posted verbatim. 

There was actual humor in Phansey's commentary. The ability to create humor is in demand and pays well. His next career could be in that niche. For example, he could audition to write for a comic or pitch himself to businesses to ghostwrite their humor. 

In the latter category are the opening lines for presentations. The way in is to offer to do that free. Build a portfolio. And soon enough Phansey is a brand in (sophisticated) belly laughs.

Smart global ghostwriting, with niche social networking know-how. Also communications coaching. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Paying off $200K Law School Loans in 6.5 Years - Okeoma Moronu's Happiness Journey

Earning $160K out of the gate from law school can really be peanuts. That is, if you have $200K in student loan debt and live in New York City.

Okeoma Moronu considers herself "smart." So when she realized she was in that pickle, she framed her struggle for a solution her "Happiness Project," reports MarketWatch. Long story short she paid off that student loan debt in 6.5 years. 

Here are some of her tactics:

Doing geographics. It isn't rocket science. New York City is expensive. That entails high rent, food costs, and taxes. Her relocations included Singapore, Costa Rica, and Texas. Sure, she and her husband (they had two children along the way) miss Brooklyn. But that's just the way it is. 

It's interesting to note that when I interview professionals who exited New York City, they observe that one change not only lowered their cost of living. They became more successful without the burden of the careerist ethos of the New York Metro area.

Refinancing loans. That reduced the interest rate.

Investment in real estate. The couple learned the business of having rental properties. That was in addition to having their own home. 

Be frugal. They watched every penny. That allowed them to make purchases, even of big-ticket items, for mostly cash. That prevented taking on more interest debt.

Takeaway: There is a way out of debt. The tough nut to crack on that are the sacrifices, personal and financial, that have to be made to go and stay on that journey. Once out, you have to pull out all stops to not glide back in.

Smart global ghostwriting, with niche social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Lawyers Over-40, Who Aren't David Boies or Alan Dershowitz - AI Can Be Career-Extender

The findings of several recent research studies scream one thing: Workers in America are finished at 40, reports MarketWatch.

Of course, there are exceptions to that.

One had been mega celebrities such as Tom Brady, number 12 in the Patriots. When he is a free agent he will have his choice of plum opportunities.

Another group who seem insulated from the brunt of age bias are brandname lawyers. They range from David Boies to Alan Dershowitz.

But a surprising result from the research of David Neumark at the University of California at Irvine brings hope to older job searchers. That research is published in the National Bureau of Economic Research, which you can read here. 

Neumark investigated the recruitment process at a restaurant chain. When interviews were conducted in-person those over-40 were 46% to 65% less likely to be hired.

However, when they were conducted through automated decision-making systems (yes, think artificial intelligence) the age bias didn't prove out to be a factor in hiring. 

There are two major implications from Neumark's findings.

One, as more recruitment is automated, age bias could actually become less.

Two, aging workers should opt to apply for jobs in which the screening is primarily done through automation. Sometimes automation kicks in end-to-end. That extends from submitting a resume to the actual interview, which is conducted online. Then, what comes in the email are the job offer and the date when the employment starts. 

Another insight from overall research is that more of the aging who need to make income are embracing opening their own businesses or becoming independent or on-call contractors.

As just-in-time hustlers, workers can learn about myriad kinds of new ways to bring in income. In addition, they might gain the knowledge and confidence to start their own businesses. For example, the dog walker for Wag might launch a comprehensive service for canines. That could include transporting them to the vet and groomer.

Or they can land a fresh career path.

One older displaced lawyer who did a gig as a contract security guard wound up managing all the loss prevention staff at the security firm which hired him for a temporary seasonal assignment. Another unemployed over-60 generalist lawyer did a contract job at a collection agency. She hated it, but eventually she was able to be hired for a three-fourths job at a bankruptcy practice. 

Here, free to click open, is my book on making a buck, at any age Download Outwitting ageism

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

 For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

Lawyer and Author - Elizabeth Wurtzel Channelled Wild into Extreme Success

Did Elizabeth Wurtzel make it her business to disrupt?

Or maybe she simply had the genius to make wild into a platform for extreme success.

She got admitted to Yale Law School, despite lousy performance on the LSAT. Next she landed a job at the elite boutique Boies Schiller. Firm founder David Boies, a Unitarian minister, officiated at her wedding to Jim Freed. 

That was all after she had already published iconoclastic and best-selling books such as "Prozac Nation." Many attribute the take-off of the memoir genre to her public confessions of everything from clinical depression to substance abuse. 

It could be added that her flamboyant persona opened the door for others to succeed without taking on a lot of buttoned-down protecting coloring. Consider the early adopters in digital media and the builders of tech companies. In a sense, she also liberated ambitious women. Pre-Wurtzel, so many females were shoe-horned into dressing, walking, talking, and coloring between the lines as The Professional Woman. 

Hopefully, in college right now, iGens are considering "Doing a Wurtzel." That is, releasing themselves into a wild that can channeled into success on their terms. That could be her legacy. 

Today, Elizabeth Wurtzel died of cancer at age 52. 

The Next - Laterals, JD Class of 2020, Career-Changers Have to Get Their Elevator Speeches Just Right

In her 70s, Maye Musk remains a super model. 

In addition, she has become a best-selling author.

About a week ago, her book "A Woman Makes A Plan" was published. Immediately, it caught fire. Currently, it has the amazingly high Amazon ranking of 1,509. 

A central meme of "A Woman Makes A Plan" is the fresh opportunity that comes from starting over. Musk grabbed it during distressful parts of the her life and leveraged it as a platform for personal and professional success.

That's Musk's story.

Your own experience with starting over might not have been so rosy. That could even have begun when you were a 1L in law school. Or, sooner, during the unhinging of being a freshman in college. 

One major problem might have been this: You brought the past with you. Not only internally, that is, in your head, heart, and soul. You also didn't recognize the need to create a new "elevator speech." From the get-go that puts limits of possibilities.

Essentially the elevator speech is a short "commercial" which captures who you are and how that "who" can benefit others - employers, co-workers, subordinates, clients/customers, friends, neighbors, community groups, and other kinds of constituencies. That benefit can be as simple as lifting their spirits and making them feel good about themselves. Or it can inform them how you can be useful in their careers. 

Ironically, the elevator speech is not about you. It's about them, via the genius of indirect communications. 

The elevator speech is all positive.

It requires an investment of your time.

And, you bet, you must put it together, fine-tune it, and practice it before you parachute into your Next. Remember you only have about 7 seconds to transmit the right message.

Advanced preparation prevents blowing it because once you're in-place you're overwhelmed. Such stress leads to blurting, disclosing negatives, and ignoring the nuances of human bonding. According to the researchers on mirror neurons, we humans influence each other, cell by cell. It's up to you to leverage that to your advantage. Otherwise you can become downright self-defeating in the new setting. 

Let's look at effective and counterproductive elevator speeches:

Effective: Isn't Cleveland special! (That level of enthusiasm puts you in the conversational driver's seat.) It's such a blessing to have a position with Jones Day. How the kids love their school.

Counterproductive: We're having an adjustment leaving Manhattan (That's an immediate put-down of Cleveland) But Jones Day made me an offer I couldn't refuse (You sound arrogant.)

Effective:  I'm here. Can't believe it. I was 6 years old when my family vacationed in Tucson. The rest of my life I made it my business to return. I want the kind of life you have. How blessed you are. 

Counterproductive: Los Angeles was such a rat race. Too much traffic. (That positions and packages you as a complainer.) I hope this works out better.  Does the heat get to you? (Listeners get annoyed that you didn't factor that in before making the decision to relocate.)

Effective. I want to hear all about you. (There is the Dale Carnegie fundamental of showing a sincere interest in people.) Can I treat you to a latte? (Free can't be resisted). Starbucks, I found, is on the corner. (You sound like you are making a real effect to make this home.)

Counterproductive: When I get settled let's get together. (No body cares about your state of being overwhelmed.) By then, I will probably heal from being unemployed from the crash in the legal market. (You brought the stink along with you.)

Sure, new starts can be brutal rites of passage. But that transition can be transformed into the adventure of taking on another identity. Graduates of elite colleges are willing to earn peanuts just for a shot at being hired for acting roles. Trying on another persona can be equally satisfying. Plus, the return on the investment could be extreme success, in life and work. 

Experts on building power relationships - be they dramatist William Shakespeare or sociologist Erving Goffman - hammer the importance of setting a face to meet all the faces out there. That entails putting together the right elevator speech. Then continually modifying it as time passes. 

After a year in Cleveland and at Jones Day, here is how that could play out:

Effective: Cleveland has been so good to us. But you know the needs more than we do. How can we make a difference? My two boys want to pitch in, too.

Ineffective: The long hours of work. I haven't even gotten to the museum yet. I shouldn't be annoyed but I am that my kids want me to coach their teams.

Takeaway: The most efficient route to success is through other people. It's your mission to talk your way in. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with niche social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

2020 Report on State of Legal Market - No Surprises

The Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession at Georgetown Law School and Thomas Reuters released the 2020 Report on the State of the Legal Market. Here you can download it. 

For those following developments in the legal sector since The Great Recession, there are no surprises.

Even the responses of many law firms to shifts in the marketplace, need for cost control through business management of the law firm, and dominance of technology have been covered in the legal, business, and general media.

Legal media is a highly competitive niche. Those players don't miss anything in what goes down or didn't go down in the legal sector. 

Essentially, the major changes include:

Clients are taking more control.  That extends from recruiting for an outside law firm competitively to discussing how the billing is done. They are also doing more legal tasks in-house. In addition, they are using virtual teams of outside lawyers from multiple law firms.

Bringing in professionals in business to manage law firm operations, including case management. Experts in finance and human resources now sit in the C-suite in law firms. The journey from law as a genteel profession to law as a business is complete. 

Alternate legal services providers being used even by law firms themselves. For example, 65% of those surveyed indicate they use them for e-discovery. And, 52% use them for litigation support. In 2017, alternate legal service providers had captured $10.7 billion global market share. 

Increased outsourcing by law firms. Recently, Law.com covered this trend. As I explain in this article, more law firms are shedding off completely operations such as technology and focusing on their core competence, that is, practicing law per se. Often law-firm employees in those  outsourced operations have to leave the law firm and become employees at the vendor. 

Given the recovery and current strong economy, hiring is up. That is for now. There is the prediction that has been sitting out there for awhile that should the recession come, 10,000 lawyers could lose their jobs. 

Overall, by one's own reading about trends in the legal sector and through this report, it seems that many law firms have been able to change with the times.

Of course, the sector still seems to operate in myriad un-businesslike ways.

At the top of the list is hiring so many associates, expecting the majority of them to wash out in a few years or less. Couldn't they establish a recruitment system which attracts and selects those most likely to succeed in the long term.

Another is the high compensation for inexperienced lawyers.

A third, at least it seems from reading Glassdoor, is demotivating staff by allegedly treating them like second-class citizens. 

A fourth seems a resistance to diversity. That's not smart business. It hardens a culture which should be more open to change as the world changes. Also, it results in negative branding, along with lawsuits. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with niche social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

1:47 P.M. ET, 1/2/20 - Abovethelaw's Game-Changer in Legal Journalism Elie Mystal Announces His Departure

Here it is.

Yes, you heard right: Elie Mystal posted a notice to his followers on Abovethelaw.com and his nemesis The Republicans that he is leaving.

Sort of.

Although he is exiting his leadership position and daily content-creation, he will parachute in for the occasional podcast and stories that need to be told.

Those kinds of articles, as is Mystal's signature, will be about stealth mischief by the power structure which have  to be unmasked.

Back when The Crash generated massive layoffs in the legal sector, Mystal exposed how law firms were positioning and packaging them as firings for performance reasons.

It was Mystal who brought mainstream the term "stealth layoffs." Since it's predicted that in the next economic downturn, 10,000 legal sector jobs could go poof, Mystal probably will be returning for a few articles to reassure those axed that they are victims of stealth layoffs. 

That notice at 1:47 P.M. ET mirrored Martin Luther's nailing his manifesto against Roman Catholicism on the Church door. Mystal is going out there as a total reformer. His mission is to really make a difference. His territory, of course, includes the legal sector.

Meanwhile, Mystal leaves behind a legacy of bringing legal journalism into the digital era. In 2008, he joined the news site, created by David Lat. His approach was conversational. As did the early adopters in blogging, he injected himself. The content, often resulting from leaks from law firms and law schools, was the antithesis of spin. 

What initially bonded so many of us to Mystal were his soul-wrenching but hilarious anecdotes about taking the wrong turns on the road.

His pursuit of academic excellence at Harvard undergraduate and Harvard Law School resulted in a career path rejected early - and $150K in student loan debt. When landlords saw his credit rating their eyes popped.

We figured: If Mystal can forgive himself for that kind of myopia, hell, so could we. Yes, I was among those who took that leap into, first, self-forgiveness, then self-love. (I had been to Harvard Law School also. Lordy, what was I thinking!)

When Mystal branched out to social networks he essentially operated a Daddy Blog. In detail, for instance, he recounted the extreme frustration of the two boys' bedtimes, which naturally they resisted. 

So, what should we think about this new development - Mystal's exit?

My sense is that his mission had expanded beyond the parameters of Abovethelaw.

He needs a bigger sandbox to play in and to invite different kinds of kids in with him.

Question: Does he want his two sons to join him in that sandbox? Or does he wish them a safer journey?

This blog wishes Elie Mystal whatever he wants.  

Smart global ghostwriting, with niche social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

The Legal Sector & Wellness - 8 Alternates to Therapy In Boston and Around the World

Boston, the city of psychotherapists, is still stuck with the stigma against this formal mode of treatment for emotional distress and more.

In Boston Magazine, Tessa Yannone covers that.

That's unfortunate.

The Boston Metro area is also the setting for a top law school - Harvard. Throughout the student body of Harvard Law School, a recent survey documented, is essentially an epidemic of anxiety, depression, inability to get restful sleep, and excessive drinking.

In addition, the region houses successful legal practices. You can land a plum position in Boston or surrounding cities and suburbs.

Having on your "record" that you have been in psychotherapy can prove to be a flaming hoop you will have to jump through in order to be admitted to a state bar. There are initiatives against that but, currently, that's the way it is in too many states. 

In addition, although studies prove out that psychotherapy is effective, that doesn't mean it will be for you. There are so many variables at play.

I don't know if my three years of therapy, multiple times a week, and later on an intermittent basis with David W. Harder, Ph.D., based in Lincoln, Massachusetts, were or were not effective. Reconstructing the past is tricky business.

What I do know is that from the get-go, I should have demanded to have access to what he was putting in the clinical records. When I finally had a lawyer obtain those records I concluded, by the tone and content, we were not a good fit.

In therapy, as in just about every other aspect of life and work, fit is everything. If your insurance coverage involves managed care, you may have limited or no choice on the therapist you will be working with. You may or may not be able to interview, on a complimentary basis, several. 

Also, there's the cost of therapy. In law school, that could be absorbed in other prepaid fees. Once sprung into the real world of work, if your employer kicks in for your health insurance, the co-pay can eat into a budget. There even could be double-dipping. There could be a co-pay for the psychiatrist who's prescribing medication and also for the psychotherapist. No health insurance? A session could run three digits.

The good news is that there are no-cost or low-cost alternates to therapy. That doesn't mean they are appropriate for you at whatever phase of emotional distress you are at. If you feel you are becoming undone, those in the mental health field worth their salt mandate: Call 911.

But, if you have a hunch you can try other ways to navigate the whatevers, here are 8 tips.

Free, 24/7 confidential hotlines. Several of my clients who had lost jobs in the legal sector obtained immediate relief - and hope - by speaking with the trained human beings at the other end of the phone line at The Samaritans. In the U.S. the number is 212-673-3000. No, you don't have to be suicidal to contact those capable of deep listening. Sensing you are going through emotional distress is enough. Just let them know that's how you are feeling. Globally, through Befrienders Wordwide, there is also help.

Meditation. Research and experience indicate this is a useful way to calm the "monkey mind." Here is a free online video introduction to the basics by American Buddhist nun Pema Chodron. While meditating in a group can seem to increase its impact, there is no reason why a daily practice can't be done alone - any where - multiple times a day. Yes, before pitching to a key prospect, meditate. 

Exercise. Working out isn't just for body contours and a healthy heart. It's a natural remedy for clinical depression and anxiety. The trick is to incorporate it into a daily routine. Do that and the body will hunger for that kind of ritual.

A trusted friend 0r Fido. Those in the mental health field who understand healing will tell you that a close friend who knows how to listen and to maintain confidentiality can be SuperTherapist. The edge that person has is knowing what you're about. Other options can be the sponsor in a 12-step program, a stranger on the seat next to you during a plane flight/Amtrak trip, or your dog. Regarding the latter, because the four-leggers in your life are empathetic and non-judgmental, they can provide solid platforms back to hope.

Herbs et al. Bless the internet. You no longer need to purchase a book on what non-prescription substances can be effective. Here, for example, is a run-down of them. Some contend any effectiveness results from the placebo effect. The attitude of those who receive relief smirk and respond, "Bring it on." All forms of mental distress cause pain. Whatever reduces that could be worth experimenting with. Many of the natural treatments do not have the possible severe side effects of a number of prescription remedies.

Spirituality. Very different from formal kinds of religion, spirituality essentially entails a surrender to some force greater than yourself. That takes the burden off you for controlling every aspect of your life and work. You can get out of the driver's seat. No longer do you have to be hyperalert and compulsively focused on goals. Incidentally, this kind of "turning over" is the core of the Alcoholics Anonymous approach to sobriety. The joke there is: Being in charge of the universe is a big job and we're not getting paid for it. 

Psychics. Those with the powers to "read" a suffering human being are being embraced as the new therapists. Lawyers, listen up: To protect themselves from  lawsuits, most post the disclaimer that their services are for entertainment only. However, there is usually extreme earnestness in the encounters between them and those who reach out to them in-person, by phone, or through email. Their methodologies range from pure intuition to tarot cards to crystals. As with myriad other services, this field has its share of cons. It's necessary to ask around for a "legit." 

Coaches. More and more professionals are simply hiring coaches instead of interviewing therapists. Coaches are usually specialized. Those niches range from overall life to career. Most will provide short complimentary sessions for you to check out the chemistry. Since there is no stigma, this could be what to try first. Over the holidays, an underemployed 63-year-old lawyer came to me for help with getting more work. What we decided was her immediate need was for a life coach. 

What's labeled as "mental illness" could simply mean hitting the mid point of the continuum of stress. You could be heading toward impairment of the ability to function. So, if you perceive yourself as gravitating out of what's today's norm for stress, take action. That could be the now-traditional way of finding out what kind of therapy your medical insurance covers to lighting a candle and turning over your will to something bigger than you. Should you sense you are in crisis, call 911.

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.