Notes

Right I'll take the notes down and see what happens - can always send it into the email account. I've struggled with a lot mentally the past few months. I've REALLY struggled. It's not easy growing up - well, not always! I need to figure out where I want to be in 5 years or at least I want to be able to look back and say "yeah, that's what I wanted to achieve - that wasn't time wasted." Nothing is a waste even if you try something you don't like or love - it just means you've figured out one thing you don't want.

OK - so what have I struggled with, why have I struggled and what can I do or change to avoid these struggles?

Obviously the Boult thing was such a pain - a real disappointment! I assumed I had it all signed, sealed and delivered but then it just fell through right at the end. So yeah, that was tough. Mainly becuase (a) I had basically stopped working for H in my mind. No longer an employee in my head. And (b) I had to battle with the move to LDN in my head, came to the conclusion it was what I actually wanted and then ended up staying here! That is hard! But it's what has been thrown at me. And now I have to adapt.

Looking at my time in Leeds - it's been good! It's got me onto a career ladder. Exposed me to office life IMMEDIATELY after university. Was a great opportunity. In that time, I've met some friends. Some will probably last longer than others. And that's OK - that's life to be honest. I've learned a lot in terms of dealing with difficult people, socialising, have been inspired by entrepreneurship - there's been a lot. I also had fun in the first couple of years, lots of going out, drinking, Headingley, Leeds etc. As a very young professional, that was grand for me - didn't have many other ambitions. Now recently - the lifestyle of just drinking, going out, watching TV, playing PlayStation, football - that's literally IT - whilst that was fine before - maybe because before I was still making progress, I was still experiencing new things - it's not fine now. I can't really go on ONLY doing that. I feel like nothing will ever be achieved. That;s fine if you don't want to achieve anything or don't believe you can - but I WANT to achieve things and DO believe I can. I WILL NOT ACHIEVE ANYTHING ONLY PLAYING FIFA, WATCHING TV AND DRINKING. Whilst those things can be part of life, you will never be fulfilled by them and you will 100% look back at a life wasted. And I don't want that - I want to look back at a life of fulfilment, zest, with the knowledge I gave it the best possible shot. Where I've succeeded and inspired and worked hard for my success. I do NOT want to look back at a life of nothing. Waste. Literally here once. Once on earth. You're going to die.

But what is it that I want to do - what are these things. It's very easy to say "I want to have zest and fulfilment but where will that come from specifically? Where will the "life" come from? One answer that you know is - it won't come from FIFA, or Sopranos or pubs. Those things can add that escape and enjoyment from life - but that's all they should be. They can't be your life.

And actually you're life shouldn't come from any one thing - it should be multiple things. Career, relationships, journeys etc.

But I KNOW that I want more than what now consists of. Where is it going to come from? Where is the more.

Career - OK so I don't know if I want to be a Trade Mark attorney. The plan is to, at the very least, get to qualification. Sometimes the job is good, if not great sometimes, other times it's terrible. Often it's at it's best when I'm doing really well. If I'm doing terribly or not handling the workload or am stressed out - then I don't like the job all that much.

So there's an argument to be made that there is a very simple short term solution - get better at the job. If I feel I enjoy it a lot more when I'm good at it, then being good or great all the time should surely make it loads better and give me that honest assessment of well, whether this is for me. Simple. To get better that requires, discipline, efficiency and commitment. Really going for it. If the plan is to get to qualification - irrespective of what firm or location you're in - you should be going all in on trade marks. Career is so important. This is your current career, you're in it until qualification. So you may as well dive in, right? Absolutely!

So what does diving in mean? It means during the 9-5.30, you're truly on it. You're focused, concentrated and efficient. No 45 minute breaks or distractions. Pure and utter discipline. Why is that important - the more efficient you are, the more you do, the more you do the more you learn, the better you'll be and the less stressed you'll be. Crucial.

Beyond that - you need to be putting in hours outside of 9-5.30. These hours are for (a) studying the law, (b) studying the practice, (c) reading cases and what's going on in the TM world and (d) attending the odd event. It's all interesting anyway. The specifics we will come to. But those two broad things (efficiency in work and extra hours outside) will bring you up so many levels you won't even believe. 100%. Timetable at the end.

OUTSIDE CAREER - So you work on improving the career you have, you work on making you the best employee you can be in that career - but also - so that by the time you're qualified or afterwards, you can look at what else is out there, what else tickles your fancy - you can look at other things. Trying other things. What things? Well there are loads - coding, digital and social media marketing, sales, entrepreneurship and e-commerce.