Julie Q. Brush, Solutus Legal Search

You've eaten the last of the roast beast. The decorations are down, your bags are unpacked and everything in your life is pretty much back in its place. The noise of the year-end has died down, and now there's silence. And a return to those ruminations of how the personal and professional You will be new and improved in this New Year.

From doing this—to not doing that, each one of us thinks at least a little about how a fresh start might inspire … a fresh start. For the legal professional (or any professional for that matter), a reflection of what was, what is and what could be shapes professional desires for the coming year. The cast of characters is well-known: more money, a better title, a new job, a promotion, more business, making partner, becoming a general counsel—all rank among the top goals for those in the proverbial rat race. Fine goals indeed, but nothing new or enlightening for today's legal professional.

So what is? How can we think of career goals this year using a different perspective and diverse focus that will enlighten us in some way? The key is to turn our flashlights inward. So much of our career goals are outward facing, but the ability to achieve any professional goal goes beyond that mere first step. It is one's personal character and qualities that play the most significant role in career success … and happiness. And so it is the goals for our own personal development that influence the career highs we will achieve.