Solos Must Give Themselves A Break

As I’ve written before, too often in solo practice, we’re our own worst enemy.   For example, as I wrote here, we’ll reject an idea out of hand because it hasn’t been done before or because the challenges, at least on the surface, appear insurmountable.   Even worse, we’ll paralyze ourselves with regrets about clients turned down, practice areas not pursued, that we blind ourselves to what lies ahead.  Or we’ll get so caught up in berating ourselves for things we haven’t done that we paralyze ourselves from getting busy.

So that’s why I welcome tonight’s Kol Nidre service, which kicks off Yom Kippur, the big Kahuna of Jewish holidays.   As part of the Kol Nidre prayer, we publicly renounce our vows – not vows or promises made to God or to others, but those we’ve made to ourselves.  In other words, we give ourselves a break.

Many of us in solo practice have started firms after having labored under abusive bosses only to discover that we’re actually the worst taskmaster, constantly riding ourselves without let up.  Tonight, as I chant the ancient Kol Nidre prayer, I’ll experience the gratitude of getting a fresh start, and hope that I’ll make the most of this opportunity in the months ahead.   And whether you celebrate Yom Kippur or not, here’s my hope that all of you who need it will give yourselves a break from looking back and find the strength to start fresh.