Alone in a Crowd

  • December 22, 2020
  • Jason E. Bogle

Many people are under the misconception that being a sole proprietor is a venture of arrogance and solitude. They couldn’t be more wrong.

The decision to open one’s own practice is certainly not for the faint of heart, but it is also not for those who do not know how to be humble and appreciate that their success rests squarely on the generosity of others. Whether it be our clients or our colleagues, we innately depend on others for our professional survival.

My journey began after articling. Young, inexperienced in business management, and having little idea about the pitfalls that had claimed the careers of so many of my colleagues, I decided to go for it. Despite all the naysayers and doubts I had, there were several things that I had going for me: I knew I was intelligent—my mother told me so. But more importantly, I had made it through those grueling Bar ads. I had a clear understanding of who I was and what I wanted to accomplish. Finally, I knew I had a great deal to learn, and despite the bravado most criminal lawyers or litigators naturally have, I wasn’t afraid to ask questions of my colleagues and give credit where credit was due.