Writing this newsletter entry on a rainy Sunday got me thinking about how grateful I am for the ability to have this newsletter to write about reflections in life and business, and an outlet to practice the art of thankfulness that continuously teaches me that there is always more to be thankful for. Fifteen years of writing introductions for this newsletter has provided me with a connection to our audience that has spawned thought provoking dialogue and bound me with enduring ties. The idea for this monthly newsletter project started when I had just turned thirty and will continue until it feels right to stop writing, hopefully well into my eighties.

In these intervening fifteen years, a time that will be marked as the happiest of my life in large measure because those who have inspired or consumed this newsletter made them so, the newsletter has given more to me than I have to it. I’ve read that authors of books should usually refrain from burdening readers with “lessons,” for the reader is smart enough to figure those out for themselves, but I’ll be damned if I haven’t repeatedly, first unintentionally, and then unapologetically broken that rule. What follows is no exception to my new rule or rule breaking.

On occasion, my addiction to thinking and fixing comes back to haunt me. Loan me a canvas and I will let down my guard to paint. Loan me your time and you will see infinite versions of me being reborn through service. For the no overt lessons rule there is a special exception for lawyer poets in newsletters they write for their amazing clients and beloved relationships. Today, I’m going to take advantage of the leeway to offer you a message in a bottle, for whenever you get around to reading these words.

Here goes: The course of your life is forged by both the creations you bring into existence and the individuals you collaborate with in their making. Often, we expend considerable concern on the former while neglecting the significance of the latter. This law firm and the results it has delivered have been a byproduct of many of creations I played a role in, but the real creation was the relationships that were produced along the way.

As our year end closes, I have no duty more urgent than giving thanks to the Partners of our firm for their valued contributions to the fulfillment of our mission. Our partnership is not a posture or status, so much as it is a continuous process that grows stronger each year as we devote ourselves to the common pursuits enveloped by common values.

The story of our firm’s journey isn’t just about people banding together to shape a firm—it’s about how banding together shaped the people in the firm themselves. How we pushed and prodded and demanded better of one other. How we’ve unclenched our fists at times to shake hands. How we’ve laid just enough track together to stay ahead of the train. How we committed to quality. And to service. And to results. And to each other.

As readers of this newsletter, I hope you find partners like that, too, and that you make things with them. That sounds simple—but it's awfully hard. I’ve been fortunate; I’ve had a sequence of those people in my life, many of whom I still have the privilege of serving as counsel or serving as their colleague, but none more important than the Partners of our firm. They are the people who hold me to account and push me to deliver time and time again. We don’t just enjoy one another's company; we make each other better. We provide for one another. We are responsible for and to one another.

Some parts of the bond our Partners share rest on this productive discomfort of duty, and we love each other enough to say what needs to be said. Through a commitment to mutual accountability, our Partners have cultivated a garden of trust and respect, where constructive feedback and authentic encouragement is the radiant warmth of the sun that cultivates the harvest over time. These bonds, resilient as a rise after a fall, emerge as stimuli for positive transformation, propelling us toward our preferred grand design while sheltering us from life’s inevitable storms. We issue spot and issue clear, all in line with being aligned.

As the saying goes, your friends are the family you get to choose for yourself. Tell me who you walk with, and I will tell you who you are. To this end, my Partners at Jimerson Birr are now Partners, friends and family. If they are who I am, I am happy with that and ready to strike a trot. I will rest on them, they on me, and we will not break. And in that small space, sometime a space of chaos and change, we’ve found plentiful room for human feelings, maybe forbidding, maybe tender, full of wiles or never-ending kindnesses, but always open to create more space for support and commitment to exist. We will continue to make visible what, without us as us, might perhaps never have been seen.

Selecting the right business partner is as complicated as navigating a complex maze with multiple hidden passages, unpredictable twists, and the need to make crucial decisions at every crossroad. The dynamics can be as intricate as a long-term romantic relationship. The stakes are high, with early-stage startups often facing demise not due to the business concept but due to conflicts among partners. So, how do you find your entrepreneurial counterpart?

First, seek partners with a complementary temperament and shared values. Look for dynamic and skilled peers who fill the gap around your hard and soft skill strengths, creating a balance that benefits employees, other partners, and investors alike. Don’t be swayed solely by resumes or LinkedIn profiles. Love at first sight is possible, but it often pays to get a second look. Sure, skills matter, but finding the right partner goes beyond a checklist of qualifications. Look for those whose values align with yours, individuals who not only talk the talk but walk the walk. Trust your instincts—it's often the unquantifiable qualities that make a partnership flourish.

Only after ensuring values aligned should you prioritize a mixture of operational skills. If you excel in product development, consider partners with business development or sales expertise to bring your vision to market. Operational strengths should complement, not duplicate, ensuring a well-rounded approach to business building. The quest for the ideal partner also involves aligning on work habits, fostering self-sufficiency, and establishing a history of collaboration. Moreover, emotional buoyancy, total honesty, and shared overall vision are essential qualities that lay the foundation for a successful entrepreneurial partnership. Lastly, don’t overlook the significance of personal affinity; liking your partners is a fundamental element that sustains the collaboration through the highs and lows of building a business together. Chemistry is vital, and understanding who your potential partner is on a personal level can save you from potential clashes down the road.

May the imperative of forging partnerships steeped in shared accountability resonate with you. If done right, whether it is a business partner or any other connection of consequence, these connections become reflective mirrors, unveiling the beauty of our own strengths and the fertile grounds within. Partnerships are healthy and self-healing when “I” is replaced with “we,” as illness becomes wellness.

In closing, to the exceptional Partners of Jimerson Birr, as the year concludes, I feel compelled to extend my deepest gratitude for the extraordinary journey we’ve embarked on together. Your unwavering belief in our collective vision, paired with the collaborative spirit that defines our partnership, has been the cornerstone of our success and the success of our clients. Your dedication, support, and shared commitment to our mission have not only shaped our firm but have also forged bonds that transcend the conventional realms of business. It’s a privilege to work alongside individuals of such caliber, and I am genuinely thankful for the trust you've placed in me. Here’s to another year of growth, shared accomplishments, and the continued strength that comes from our remarkable collaboration. As Ben Franklin said, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

Wishing everyone a blessed holiday season and happy new year.

Very truly yours,