When I was younger, I used to tell people I wanted to be a lawyer just to get a reaction out of them. I wasn’t yet fluent in English, and it was more a joke than anything else.
But there’s some truth to every joke. Over time, I actually developed a desire to be a lawyer. One day, I told someone, and they laughed at me. When I told my dad how the person laughed at my aspirations, he simply said that they had an imagination problem.
That was one of the many great lessons my dad taught me: Imagine it, and it will become a reality.
Now, this doesn’t mean you can daydream all the time and expect to be a successful millionaire. What it does mean is that you yourself are the biggest cap to your potential. If you cannot imagine yourself doing something, then you’ll never achieve it. If it can’t even exist in the realm of your imagination, how will it ever come to life in the real world?
Imagination is like a womb for reality, a concept which I recently discussed on the Legal Grounds podcast with Mike H. Bassett.
But, for something to be birthed, it must be nourished and allowed to grow first. One of my destressors is using Google or doing research. If I find a problem or if I’m upset by something, I will learn all I can about it and any of its proposed solutions. Then, I will use that knowledge to solve the issue for myself.
Worrying is usually a product of overthinking. To do away with overthinking, you need to act, and informed action is the best kind. When it comes to your imagination, you should color it with knowledge. When you learn enough about all the different paths, ideas, incidences, and solutions, you bring a 2-D thought into a 3-D world — your imagined future is halfway to being real.
Now, this may seem like it’s a bit too artsy for law, but it teaches you to deconstruct complex ideas by adapting them into a narrative inside your head — an ideal skill for any lawyer. You must be able to communicate complicated things in a convincing and easy-to-understand way.
What better way to do that than with a story?
People are so prejudiced that, often, I don’t know if it’s because I’m foreign, female, or perhaps just too quirky. My dad taught me well, though, so I don’t even worry about those things anymore. I don’t have time for unproductive narratives. If I allowed myself to be fixated on what people think, then I’d never deal with the real issues. If you ignore the unproductive narratives, you can start solving problems much faster, leaving you in a better mindset.
I’ve mentioned my dad quite a lot because he’s what I call an “adopted mentor.” He doesn’t really know how big of an influence he is for me, nor does he play an active role as a mentor. The way that he lives, his perspectives, and his lifestyle, however, all impact me. I draw from his life without asking.
In today’s world, almost anyone can become a mentor — maybe not the kind you sit down with for coffee but through observation and reciprocation, we can mimic the most powerful thing about them: the way they live. There are many inspirations online!
I have applied these principles to my legal career for many years, and I am still enjoying the benefits. You’ll be amazed at the change that comes with a more active imagination. It is very impactful. Focusing on our visions is exactly where we should start 2021.
Olga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat and Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security. You can follow Olga on Twitter @olgavmack.