You can spend a lot of time trying to climb the greasy pile by whatever means possible... But that's not for me and I'm happy to never be the best - but be happy with myself.
And if it is, is this a bad thing? Getting back seriously into law practice, I found out that in the civil suits that I follow, things tend to get personal, in the sense that beyond the will to apply correctly the law, to win the case for the client, to reaffirm and compensate a broken right, I always feel the presence of the other lawyer(s) - as persons - behind the procedural aspect. I want to prove that I am better than they are, I am a better lawyer and I know more than they do. When things get down to annoying stuff, like especially appeals, or when I get the idea that they are trying to sidetrack the case, or to mislead the judge, I get really really angry. I don't want anymore to just win the case, I want to crush the other lawyers into oblivion, I'd like to make them cry in Court. I am terrified by the idea that they could win by playing dirty, and I can't comprehend how some judges are so easy-going and superficial. I realize that this can lead to a very high level of stress, but I can't help it. What do you think? How do you live your jobs? Do they get on a personal level?
I am a better lawyer and I know more than they do.
Most of the stress comes from other parts trying to push trials on and on forever, and judges allowing it. The one that's giving me stress now dates back to 2005...
In my current job my challenges are very different, but I still try to act with integrity even when there is the chance to put the knife in. I reckon I'll be working for another 40 years, so I'd rather be building a reputation as reasonable and fair than collecting enemies. I figure the payback in terms of opportunities, respect, and sleeping easy will far outweigh the loss of a few short term victories.