Looking back, one of my most meaningful experiences in law school was catching the Red Line at the Jackson stop in Chicago.

If I walked down the stairs and the train was just leaving, I knew that if I sprinted, I could catch the train at the Monroe stop. It was a point of pride to be able to do it carrying a couple casebooks.

There are two aspects to this that reflect patterns of success I've observed in lawyers.

Being High-Agency

I could have waited for the next train. But being high-agency means looking for opportunities to control your destiny.

Playing a Sport

Catching that train was sport for me. In my head I hoped the crowds would admire me, and maybe one or two people noticed, but in reality the scoreboard was internal.

Two Types

As a podcast host and as a recruiter, I have conversations with some of the highest-credentialed and accomplished lawyers. The reality is that the lawyers who don't show agency, the lawyers who don't have a craftsperson mindset, struggle to advance themselves and find gratification.

When you ask these lawyers to describe their experiences, they point to a list of tasks, rather than outcomes and insights. They say "leadership won't let me" or "I'm not getting these opportunities." They get interviews, but they can't communicate a sense of purpose, and don't advance.

On the other hand, there are lawyers, credentialed or otherwise, who didn't rest on their laurels and wait for the work to come to them. They were entrepreneurial and had a mission. These lawyers are the ones who are still finding joy with all the hard work and drudgery.

Take Control

Here's the thing: high-agency lawyers look for opportunities to shape their own path. They don't wait for permission or point to external obstacles. They find a way to catch the train.

And the lawyers who struggle? They're often waiting at the platform, hoping the next opportunity will just arrive. But it rarely works that way. The ones thriving have a craftsperson mindset and an internal scoreboard driving them forward. If you're looking to make a move, understanding why working with multiple recruiters backfires can help you approach your search with that same intentionality.

Each of us has control this week to shape the next. I hope it's a productive one for you.