I ran a group of companies in Europe for a while, and one of the companies was in the building and construction sector. There was a special set of laws that applied to this sector. The company was in major trouble when I was tasked with keeping it alive and then turning it around. There was litigation and threats of litigation all over the place in my first 12 months.
This was the only business in the group in the construction industry, so there was no relevant in-house legal expertise. I had studied law at university and decided as Chief Exec to attend regular seminars delivered by a dry-witted law professor who specialised in BauRecht.
All of my classmates were owner-operators or managers with extensive industry knowledge. I was the only industry-ignorant participant when I started. I also had to run this company in German, and there were several other "challenges", including a mafia boss. That's another story altogether!
All of us had our own views on the legal profession, which made us laugh when we found out what the law professor thought about our industry. He dryly announced during the first seminar that he had thought of writing a book on the construction industry based on his personal experience and that of his family and friends and that he wasn't to name it "Swimming with Sharks."
Many in the course laughed out loud, amused and self-aware, but not disputing the joke.
Over the years, I have helped many lawyers with their careers both in private practice and within large organisations. There are very few sectors where life can change so dramatically with just one promotion. A senior associate or associate could increase their earnings four-fold or more by becoming a Partner - a life-changing event.
This is also true if you become a Partner in any major Professional Services company in accounting, consultancy or law - especially if you can enter as a reasonably highly ranked Partner.
Click the link below to see my experience working in shark-infested legal waters.
I ran a group of companies in Europe for a while, and one of the companies was in the building and construction sector. There was a special set of laws that applied to this sector. The company was in major trouble when I was tasked with keeping it alive and then turning it around. There
Read MoreWhen I first landed in Europe, I was asked several times whether we had lions, springbok, and leopards outside our house. I often lied and shrugged nonchalantly. I found that funny. I found it not funny when a colleague came up to me sympathetically and whispered to me conspiratorially: “I don’t like them either.” I
Read MoreThe loudest person doesn’t always have the biggest voice Rebecca is quiet, calm, and determined. She speaks about sobering things. This 2014 TEDMED talk rocked me. And divided me. Rebecca is a deeply impressive and warm human who follows a brilliant path: talk about other people, not about yourself. She also has done so many
Read More10 Steps on How to Handle a Crisis as a Leader: Whether you are leading an ambitious startup, a company that is ticking along nicely, a company pivoting and changing direction or pace, or managing a turnaround situation – crises (plural) come with the territory. Some crises, like wars, financial volatility, pandemics, supply chain challenges
Read More