President's Perspective: Resolve to Make a Difference

By Steven R. Sorenson

Charles F. Kettering said, "It's amazing what ordinary people can do if they set out without preconceived notions." This is a wonderful message to keep in mind as we transcribe our New Year resolutions. A year ago, as I prepared for the January Board of Governors meeting, I wrote out my dream for "Project Vision - A Step Into the Future." I had no preconceived notions, no hidden agendas, just a sincere desire to break out of the box and discover who we are as an association and what we really want.

Project Vision  embraces the very essence of the challenges we all face at this time of year. It requires the State Bar of Wisconsin to take a chance, to dare to take risks. There are risks and there will be costs associated with them, but the risks we chance now will be far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. Likewise, we as individual lawyers must recognize that inaction or constant reflection without vision and implementation is like the airplane that never flies - it goes nowhere.

Change is easy to criticize. The unknown is always susceptible to negative comments because it has no form short of the vision of its proponents. Yet, we cannot stop the advance of time, technology or other factors of life we seem to fear. We need to commit to action. We need to commit to our future and to the future of the State Bar. The minute we quit holding back and thrust forward, all sorts of unforeseen assistance and success will rise up. As Napoleon Hill said, "The simple act of commitment is a powerful magnet for help." It is not easy, but it is necessary. If we are honest with ourselves, many of us will recognize that anything we have ever done that was truly worthwhile initially scared us to death.

So I ask you as an individual and as a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin to accept the challenge of creating two resolutions for 1998. Step out of your box, dare to be different, create your vision and set at least two unique and personal goals. Setting a goal is like recording your flight plan on your airplane computer. Once it is locked in it will guide you to your destination through the roughest air currents and fiercest storms.

Resolution One: Examine this entire publication. The challenge is to commit to do something within the State Bar to serve your profession. There are more than 19,000 names in the attorney alphabetical roster that lists all Wisconsin-licensed attorneys, but there are only a few hundred members listed under the State Bar tab. We have left the critical mission of professional service to ourselves and to the public to a handful of dedicated volunteers.

The State Bar section offers many areas where one can comfortably satisfy a New Year's resolution of service to the State Bar. Perhaps it will be in committee service, writing an article for the Wisconsin Lawyer, judging mock trials, answering a hotline question, counseling a colleague through WisLAP or contacting a legislator  regarding a new bill. Any commitment will have a continuing reward - like a pebble tossed into a pond, its effect will keep rippling. Actions speak louder than words.

Our duty to our profession is to proceed as if there are no limits, for limits are only preconceived notions - not realities. No one can stop you from making a difference but you.

Resolution Two: Look inward. Everywhere I go this year as State Bar president, whether to a local bar meeting or an ABA conference, the message that haunts me is lawyers are unhappy, they are afraid, they are troubled and they want out. Too many of us see no future, find no contentment and, worse, have resorted to artificial escapes. Therefore, I remain committed to my goal of helping the lawyer and the person. Our Annual Convention in Lake Geneva in June is devoted to this theme: Human First, Lawyer Second - Balancing our Priorities.

Commit yourself to a resolution that helps you, the person. Don't restrain yourself with notions of inability or fear of failure. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." We all need to commit to deal with our personal frustrations. Resolve to deal with at least one personal anxiety this year. It is important to know what your goal is and how you will reach it. Quality change takes time.

It would not be fair if I did not practice what I preach, so let me be personal. I have resolved to: 1) devote more time to the WisLAP program; and 2) get back into aerobic exercise.

I have allowed my interest in physical fitness and training to evaporate as I spend more and more time on Bar-related activities. From my training I know how important balance is in one's day, and I need to attain it. So it's back to the treadmill, weights and aerobic studio. And I have to remember that success does not occur overnight; it's only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis.

My second commitment is to strengthen my outreach to others in need. The Bar's vision is to have local assistance programs available statewide. The initial strategy is to identify those who are interested in helping and provide them with the tools. Next we will develop the communications link to ensure a rapid and effective response. I believe the best place for me in the State Bar in the future will be assisting members with their practice issues, so why not start now? This next year I hope the Bar can complete both the creation of local WisLAP teams and the implementation plans. This is my personal State Bar goal.

There is much to be done. Our personal needs are great. We need to prioritize our family, friends and community. The State Bar's needs are great. We need to develop enhanced CLE delivery systems, better member communications and effective member outreach, commitment to professionalism, a stronger and more independent judiciary, broader legal assistance to the unserved and underserved, alternative career counseling, improved technical training facilities, legislative bridges and much more. Finding a couple of New Year resolutions should not be difficult for those who care about themselves and their profession.

How can one act on a resolution? Visualize the goals you want to set. See them, feel them, believe in them. Form a mental strategy, a blueprint, a plan, then begin. Don't sell yourself short. Get excited, be filled with expectation, faith and confidence.

Remember, if you keep flying where you've always flown, you'll never go anywhere except where you've already been. So break the mold, set a new course and try something new and challenging.

Wisconsin Lawyer