Deena Burgess
Law Offices of Deena Burgess - Managing PartnerNew York,
http://www.ebusinesslawgroup.com
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Over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking about how connected I am. It's annoying to me that I can't seem to go more than 20 minutes without checking my email.
Whether it's by my web-enabled cellphone or on my computer, I just can't seem to let time go by without checking if someone needs me.
Now, I have a semi-credible excuse. My law firm is run almost exclusively online.
I need to be available to my clients. My clients appreciate that I am able to respond quickly to their needs and questions and I think that puts me a cut above my competition.
That being said, I don't do criminal law. I don't have clients calling me from jail. There are no "emergencies" in the kind of law that I practice.
And worse yet, I feel guilty about constantly checking my mail while I'm spending time with my kids, my husband or even just trying to read a book. I reminisce about the days when I didn't have a cellphone at all.
So, why can't I just cut the cord?
I realized that reminiscing about the cellphone free days is a lot like reminiscing about being pregnant after your kids have passed their second birthday. It always seems better in your head than it really was.
You forget about having to carry quarters with you and missing calls that you needed to get. Or waiting at home for a call that you don't want to miss.
After all that angst, I've decided that my online leash is a necessary evil.
It allows me to focus on the priorities in my life, namely my two little boys. I don't ever have to miss a doctor's appointment, a playground trip or a playdate because I work for a living.
And that's pretty cool...
I've decided another thing too. In the vein of my New Year's resolution to stop beating myself up, I've found another thing to add to my list of things to stop beating myself up about.
I'm going to embrace how connected I am and how it enables me to focus on what really matters most... my family.
Goal: To launch my law firm and raise my kids without losing my mind...
Read Deena's other blog entries >
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