Take the Bridle Off.

My dad used to say to me, “Son, Take the bridle off.” He’d say too, “Whatever happens son, you’ve got to get up, wipe that blood from the corner of your mouth, and get back in the ring.” “No fear,” he’d say. Of course, he was right. He was a great man. He taught me a lot. How to be a man. To always come from a place of power. My power. And that real men have empathy for everyone. Yes. Everyone.

When I’m preparing for trial, trying cases, even cross-examining witnesses, I hear those words again and again. “Son, Take the bridle off.” “Get up, Wipe that blood from the corner of your mouth.” “No fear.” They’re as powerful now as they were then. And for me, they have made all the difference.

Does that mean I’m never scared? Of course not. Sometimes I’m scared to death. That’s where courage comes in. Courage it has been said is being scared to death and saddling up anyway. Whether you’re scared though, you have to take risks. Taking risks wins trials. No one ever accomplished anything worthwhile without taking risks. No one ever made a difference as a trial lawyer without taking risks either.

What does that mean for the trial lawyer? Everything. You’re in the business of taking risks. Calculated risks to be sure. Risks all the same. When you’re preparing for trial and you find yourself afraid, go there. Straight there. Embrace that. Whatever it is you’re afraid of. Square your shoulders and face it head-on. There’s tremendous value hidden where you momentarily fear to go. Go there anyway. Do that. And you’ll win.

You’ll change things too.

Until Next time,
James Hugh Potts II
We Win. Things Change.