David Pivnick

And I think it really put a ceiling for me on what I would be able to accomplish there. Because I was so focused on trying to look like everybody else. And I'm not like everybody else. And so coming to McGuire Woods, and frankly, working with you and Jeff Clark and others, who basically said, you know, we've got to work, but let you go run it, do it as you see fitting and trusted me

And I think it really put a ceiling for me on what I would be able to accomplish there. Because I was so focused on trying to look like everybody else. And I'm not like everybody else. And so coming to McGuire Woods, and frankly, working with you and Jeff Clark and others, who basically said, you know, we've got to work, but let you go run it, do it as you see fitting and trusted me

to navigate client relationships, navigate opposing counsel, navigate matters, allowed me to figure out how to do things well my own way, how to manage clients, how to interact with people, with judges, with opposing counsel, et cetera. But if I was just spending half my time trying to figure out how to be like everybody else, I would never have figured out how to be great at who I am.

to navigate client relationships, navigate opposing counsel, navigate matters, allowed me to figure out how to do things well my own way, how to manage clients, how to interact with people, with judges, with opposing counsel, et cetera. But if I was just spending half my time trying to figure out how to be like everybody else, I would never have figured out how to be great at who I am.

to navigate client relationships, navigate opposing counsel, navigate matters, allowed me to figure out how to do things well my own way, how to manage clients, how to interact with people, with judges, with opposing counsel, et cetera. But if I was just spending half my time trying to figure out how to be like everybody else, I would never have figured out how to be great at who I am.

And it's a whole hell of a lot easier To be yourself and to be true to yourself every day.

And it's a whole hell of a lot easier To be yourself and to be true to yourself every day.

And it's a whole hell of a lot easier To be yourself and to be true to yourself every day.

And so I really think that unlocks a lot in my career and my potential, frankly, as an attorney, but also in terms of developing business and building a practice when I was able to recognize I can succeed based on my merit and by being me rather than just trying to shoehorn myself into what other people are looking for.

And so I really think that unlocks a lot in my career and my potential, frankly, as an attorney, but also in terms of developing business and building a practice when I was able to recognize I can succeed based on my merit and by being me rather than just trying to shoehorn myself into what other people are looking for.

And so I really think that unlocks a lot in my career and my potential, frankly, as an attorney, but also in terms of developing business and building a practice when I was able to recognize I can succeed based on my merit and by being me rather than just trying to shoehorn myself into what other people are looking for.

Not that sort of global in application. I know several years ago, someone advised you, you could beat me in a race. I think that was poor advice and landed badly for you, but that's not necessarily applicable to most of the listeners. So it's less of a global comment than a specific example.

Not that sort of global in application. I know several years ago, someone advised you, you could beat me in a race. I think that was poor advice and landed badly for you, but that's not necessarily applicable to most of the listeners. So it's less of a global comment than a specific example.

Not that sort of global in application. I know several years ago, someone advised you, you could beat me in a race. I think that was poor advice and landed badly for you, but that's not necessarily applicable to most of the listeners. So it's less of a global comment than a specific example.

I completely agree with that. And as we're already, and it seems incredibly early to me, but we're already starting the interview process for next year's, the 2026 summer associate class. And I think your point about resumes applies just as well to law students and to folks interviewing for jobs in a professional setting where

I completely agree with that. And as we're already, and it seems incredibly early to me, but we're already starting the interview process for next year's, the 2026 summer associate class. And I think your point about resumes applies just as well to law students and to folks interviewing for jobs in a professional setting where

I completely agree with that. And as we're already, and it seems incredibly early to me, but we're already starting the interview process for next year's, the 2026 summer associate class. And I think your point about resumes applies just as well to law students and to folks interviewing for jobs in a professional setting where

having six different associations or clubs or activities or eight different or 10 different on a resume, but where it just says, you know, member of is going to be far less impressive to me than one or two where you were the president of X society and were able to speak about what you actually did in that role and how you helped grow the organization versus just I signed my name up or wrote a $50 check.

having six different associations or clubs or activities or eight different or 10 different on a resume, but where it just says, you know, member of is going to be far less impressive to me than one or two where you were the president of X society and were able to speak about what you actually did in that role and how you helped grow the organization versus just I signed my name up or wrote a $50 check.

having six different associations or clubs or activities or eight different or 10 different on a resume, but where it just says, you know, member of is going to be far less impressive to me than one or two where you were the president of X society and were able to speak about what you actually did in that role and how you helped grow the organization versus just I signed my name up or wrote a $50 check.