In the 15 years that I have been writing this column, the most-requested series was the one that discussed the most common attributes of the most successful lawyers I have worked with or otherwise have known in my 35-plus-year career. As almost a decade has passed since the original publication, I have decided to revise and update that series. Most of it has stood the test of time (I hope!), but there are some new attributes and tweaks that have been made.

I was staring at the sea of young players I was about to coach many years ago and wondered not only about who would make the team, but which ones would be our stars. I called a coaching mentor that night, who explained that while talent was important, I should focus on a range of other characteristics, too, if I hoped to select a group that would become a winner.