The Game Changing Attorney Podcast with Michael Mogill

What if the only thing standing between you and your billion-dollar idea is the fear of looking ridiculous? In this encore episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Richard Montañez, the man behind the creation of Flamin' Hot Cheetos, to unpack the mindset that took him from a janitor at Frito-Lay to a billion-dollar brand builder. Richard shares the childhood lessons, the risks he took, and the relentless hunger that drove him to create opportunity where none existed. He makes the case that owning your background instead of hiding it is what separates the people who break through from the ones who stay stuck. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why opportunity has to be created, not waited for How to spot the idea everyone else is too "expert" to see What it takes to grow from pioneer to settler to purposeful leader Stop waiting for someone to hand you an opportunity and go create your own. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:59) Hunger Is the Antidote to Fear (00:09:22) It's Not About How Smart You Are (00:14:28) Judy and the Power of Partnership (00:23:10) Pioneers, Settlers, and Mentorship (00:29:33) Act Like an Owner (00:36:08) Earning Trust Before Earning a Title (00:39:15) The Spark Behind Flamin' Hot Cheetos (00:47:38) Calling the CEO Himself (00:51:53) Walking Into the Big Presentation (00:53:42) Finding the Courage to Stand Out (01:02:02) Bringing the Story to the Big Screen (01:05:33) What It Means to Be a Game Changer ---- Links & Resources: Flamin' Hot: The Incredible True Story of One Man's Rise from Janitor to Top Executive by Richard Montañez Flamin' Hot (2023 film) Eva Longoria DeVon Franklin Roger Enrico Bob Iger PepsiCo ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 390. Passion, Process, and Pitmaster Wisdom for Law Firm Leaders with Rodney Scott 145. Cliff Bleszinski - Control Freak: Relentless Obsession in Video Games and Success 90. Kara Goldin - Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Building an Empire

A polished interview, a stack of glowing references, and an impressive resume can still land you the wrong leader for your firm. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill dig into why leadership hires and promotions so often go wrong. From the star litigator who wants the corner office to the polished executive who interviews beautifully and then underdelivers once they're in the seat, they trace the gap between performing well and leading well. This episode is a practical playbook for testing competency before you hand someone your team. Here's what you'll learn: Why your best performer might be the wrong pick to lead your team How to test a candidate's leadership skills before you commit to the hire What actually separates a great interview from real competency Your next leadership decision is too expensive to leave to a good interview alone. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:27) New Gadgets Worth Watching This Season (00:06:27) Going Analog: The Tin Can Phone (00:08:57) When Your Top Performer Backfires (00:14:23) Why Big-Firm Hires Don't Always Fit (00:17:49) Testing for Real Leadership Competency (00:20:32) Getting Honest References Out of People (00:21:52) Closing Thoughts ---- Links & Resources: The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist iPhone Duo Apple Vision Pro Dyson toothbrush James Dyson Eight Sleep Pod 6 Tin Can Dark Matter Tim Cook John Ternus ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 405. AMMA - What it Takes to 10x Everything 343. AMMA - No Courage, No Progress: Why Hesitation Is Costing You Big 187. Dan Martell - Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire

What is it costing your firm every time a client walks away feeling like a case number instead of a person who was truly heard? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with human connection expert Riaz Meghji to unpack why so many law firms lose clients they never realized were drifting away. Riaz shares the five habits behind his bestselling book, Every Conversation Counts, and why disconnection was spreading through workplaces and relationships long before the pandemic gave it a name. This is a conversation about what it actually takes to make clients, teammates, and family feel truly seen. Here's what you'll learn: Why certainty in high-stakes conversations pushes clients and teammates away instead of building trust How to tell the difference between sharing from the wound and sharing from the scar as a leader What it takes to make your team and clients feel genuinely seen, not just heard Somebody in your life is waiting for you to ask a better question. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:25) The loneliness pandemic before COVID (00:05:37) From awkward teen to TV host (00:14:06) Ask for stories, not answers (00:18:56) Habit 1: Listening without distraction (00:22:04) Accepting bids for connection (00:26:20) Habit 2: Making small talk bigger (00:33:21) Habit 3: The perfect persona (00:38:13) Habit 4: Being assertively empathetic (00:44:49) Habit 5: Making people feel famous ---- Links & Resources: Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships by Riaz Meghji The Conscious Parent by Dr. Shefali Tsabary Raising Conscious Sons by Dr. Shefali Tsabary John Gottman Chris Voss Hugh Jackman Arsenio Hall ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 493. Why Relationships Matter More Than Anything Else with Eddy Arriola 275. Kim Scott - The Power of Radical Respect 172. Marcus Lemonis - The Three Keys to Business: People, Process, and Product

After 500 episodes, these are the twenty conversations that changed how we think about winning. To celebrate 500 episodes of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill brings together twenty of the show's most unforgettable guests, including trial lawyers, entrepreneurs, and elite performers, for a single milestone episode built around the lessons that have shaped how we think about winning. It spans courtroom strategy, business scaling, and the mental game behind sustained excellence, distilling years of insight into one episode. Here's what you'll learn: Why grit, humility, and discipline separate legends from everyone else How to make high-pressure decisions the way elite trial lawyers, founders, and performers do What it takes to build a legacy that outlasts any single win 500 episodes came down to this: the twenty conversations worth revisiting for the rest of your career. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:35) John Morgan: The Fork in the Road (00:12:08) Brian Panish: Day of the Verdict (00:22:11) Nick Rowley: Learning From Losses (00:31:40) Camille Vasquez: Staying Authentic (00:41:42) Marcus Lemonis: The 3 P's of Business (00:53:35) Kat Cole: From Hostess to CEO (01:08:58) Verne Harnish: Scaling Past Plateaus (01:20:47) Dan Martell: Buying Back Your Time (01:30:18) Kevin O'Leary: What Makes Him Invest (01:41:53) Kim Scott: Bias, Prejudice, Bullying (01:53:40) John Maxwell: Leadership Is Influence (02:02:30) Ryan Holiday: What You Can Control (02:12:02) Robert Greene: The Art of Persuasion (02:24:13) Morgan Housel: The Psychology of Money (02:31:37) Jesse Cole: Doing the Opposite (02:41:34) Andy Glaze: Running as Punishment (02:51:29) Kristen Holmes: Sustainable Performance (03:03:06) Tim Grover: Define Winning in One Word (03:14:22) Alex Hormozi: What Founders Get Wrong (03:24:24) David Goggins: Taking Souls Links & Resources: John Morgan Brian Panish Nick Rowley Camille Vasquez The Depp v. Heard defamation trial Marcus Lemonis The Profit (CNBC) Kat Cole Verne Harnish Scaling Up by Verne Harnish Dan Martell Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell Kevin O'Leary Shark Tank Kim Scott Radical Candor by Kim Scott John Maxwell Ryan Holiday The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday Robert Greene The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene Morgan Housel The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel Jesse Cole Andy Glaze Smile, or You're Doing It Wrong by Andy Glaze Dr. Kristen Holmes Tim Grover Relentless by Tim Grover Alex Hormozi David Goggins Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 400. The Most Important Lessons After 400 Episodes 100. Game Changing Stories: 100th Episode Spectacular 66. The King of the Jungle Returns: LIVE from the EVOLVE Summit

What if the key to unlocking your law firm’s full potential wasn’t in the resumes you review but in understanding how your team is instinctively wired to take action? In this encore episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill is joined by David Kolbe, CEO of Kolbe Corp and a thought leader in conative assessments. David shares his journey from the legal field to becoming an influential figure in helping organizations understand and harness instinctive strengths through the Kolbe assessment. The discussion dives into his insights on team dynamics, revealing the potential of both professional success and personal satisfaction by understanding one’s inherent strengths. Here’s what you’ll learn: How understanding conative strengths through the Kolbe assessment can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction Why aligning team roles with natural inclinations reduces burnout and enhances overall firm efficiency and growth How leveraging Kolbe insights can improve both professional relationships and personal dynamics, leading to more harmonious and effective interactions This episode holds the game plan for building a cohesive, motivated, and insanely effective team - the kind of team that doesn’t just help you grow, but helps you dominate your market. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:29) Why David Kolbe left legal practice (00:04:34) The three parts of the mind (00:10:00) Why your natural strengths don't change (00:12:16) The hidden energy cost of certain tasks (00:18:18) Using Kolbe to make better hires (00:28:24) Building a team with complementary talents (00:31:37) Using Kolbe to strengthen relationships (00:41:47) When the right person is in the wrong role (00:46:20) AI and the future of human strengths ---- Links & Resources: Kolbe Myers-Briggs (MBTI) DiSCStrategic Coach and Kolbe - Mastering the People Component™ Predictive Index LSAT SAT EOS Florence Mykonos AI ChatGPT ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 406. How to Build a Law Firm Culture That Actually Works 425. Season 6 Finale: The Non-Negotiables of Elite Brands and People 355. How Two Lawyers Took on Legal Giants and Won with Spetsas Buist

The fastest way to kill a good initiative inside your law firm is to bring in too many decision-makers and give them no deadline. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill answer listener questions about why good ideas stall inside law firms, when impatience is an advantage versus a liability, and what effective delegation actually requires. Here's what you'll learn: Why reducing the number of decision-makers is the fastest way to eliminate operational friction How setting deadlines and working backwards from a go-live date forces real execution When a high-upside initiative deserves patience and when low returns signal you should move on Why delegating without clear context and constraints puts the outcome outside your control If speed and patience feel like opposites inside your firm, this conversation will sharpen how and when to use both. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:00:54) Best Time to Be Alive (00:06:04) AMA Setup (00:07:02) Q1: Getting Your Firm to Move Faster (00:09:44) Fewer Decision-Makers, More Speed (00:10:18) Deadlines Force Action (00:14:00) Q2: Impatience vs. Long-Term ROI (00:17:00) High Upside Deserves More Runway (00:20:00) Q3: Delegating With Clear Context (00:23:00) ICs vs. Leaders (00:26:00) Wrap Up Links & Resources: Game Changers Summit 2026 Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 395. AMMA - Why Consensus Slows Growth and How to Fix It 456. AMMA - Why It's Your Fault If Your Team Isn't Performing 405. AMMA - What it Takes to 10x Everything

Time management will only take you so far. The real edge comes from managing your energy. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Klaus Kleinfeld, the only executive to have served as CEO of two Fortune 500 companies on two continents. Years ago, Klaus watched a founder he knew collapse on the floor just weeks after closing a major funding round. That moment pushed him to put his leadership philosophy into his book, Leading to Thrive: Mastering Strategies for Sustainable Success in Business and Life. Klaus walks through the energy management framework that grew out of moments like that one, and why he's convinced discipline alone is never enough to sustain a career. Here's what you'll learn: Why pushing through exhaustion leads to worse decisions, not better ones How simple breathing techniques help executives stay in control during high-stakes negotiations What separates brutal, effective criticism from criticism that just shuts a team down This episode is the reminder every overscheduled leader needs: energy, not time, is the resource that actually runs out. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:51) Why Klaus decided to write his book (00:04:53) Inner game vs. outer game explained (00:06:33) Time management vs. energy management (00:09:25) The four sources of energy (00:15:48) How to recharge and build micro-habits (00:19:27) Reframing stress through breathing (00:22:52) CEO of two Fortune 500 companies (00:28:27) Five pillars of a high-performance team (00:32:43) Leading Alcoa through a commodity crash (00:36:05) What's next for Klaus ---- Links & Resources: Leading to Thrive: Mastering Strategies for Sustainable Success in Business and Life by Klaus Kleinfeld Jeff Bezos Elon Musk Omni Biotic Life Alcoa ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 435. The 15-Minute Habit That Prevents Attorney Burnout with Leah Lagos 276. AMMA - The Myth of Work-Life Balance: What Law Firm Owners Need to Know 172. Marcus Lemonis - The Three Keys to Business: People, Process, and Product

If your team keeps bringing you problems instead of solutions, the pattern started with you, not them. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill tackle three listener questions that all trace back to the same root problem: staying stuck in reactive mode. From training a team to solve its own problems to enforcing adherence to a process everyone claims to support, this episode unpacks why solving fires as they come keeps a firm from ever building the systems that prevent them. Here's what you'll learn: Why solving every problem for your team keeps them from solving any problem on their own How one four-word question shifts a team from asking to thinking What it actually takes to enforce adherence to a process your team already has Your team's problem-solving muscle only grows if you stop doing the lifting for them. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:05:39) Why your team hands you problems (00:06:32) The four-word question that fixes it (00:10:10) The intake leak that keeps returning (00:13:51) Firefighter ego vs. proactive leadership (00:15:44) Lay the groundwork now ---- Links & Resources: Dyson CameraJet ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 456. AMMA - Why It’s Your Fault If Your Team Isn’t Performing 423. AMMA - How to Actually Scale Your Standards 187. Dan Martell - Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire

The instinct that built your practice from scratch is the same instinct that's keeping it dependent on you. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Sam Goodner, a former officer in the Swiss Special Forces who went on to build and sell multiple technology companies, including Catapult Systems and Flash Parking. A call about his father's cancer diagnosis once pulled Sam out of his business for five weeks. He came back to find his team running things better without him, and realized he'd been the bottleneck all along. Now the author of Like Clockwork: Run Your Business with Swiss Army Precision, Sam breaks down how founders can build a practice that runs independently of them, from staging decision rights to designing a first day that sets the tone for years. Here's what you'll learn: Why the best predictor of future performance is a candidate's past, not a hypothetical answer What it takes to train your own replacement before anyone asks you to How codifying your best practices lets you step out of the day-to-day without losing quality If your firm still runs through you on every decision, this episode shows exactly where to start letting go. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:23) From Texas to Swiss Special Forces (00:06:17) Time-telling vs. clock-building (00:09:08) The call that exposed the bottleneck (00:13:53) A special forces first day (00:19:58) Cultural indoctrination day (00:22:27) Codifying your best practices (00:29:10) The topgrading interview method (00:31:18) Training your own replacement (00:42:12) Be different, not better ---- Links & Resources: Like Clockwork: Run Your Business with Swiss Army Precision by Sam Goodner Sam Goodner Built to Last by Jim Collins Good to Great by Jim Collins Atomic Habits by James Clear Topgrading by Bradford D. Smart Scaling Up by Verne Harnish ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 359. The Ultimate Guide To Retaining Top Talent 287. Dan Martell - Buy Back Your Time: Mastering the Art of Delegation 282. AMMA - Beyond Business Cards: Building Real Relationships

What if not wanting to be a leader is exactly what makes you a good one? In this AMMA episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill tackle three questions law firm owners keep sending in: why good employees walk out the door even after a raise, whether leadership can really be taught, and what to do when you catch yourself repeating the exact behavior you swore you'd never repeat. It's a candid conversation about what it actually takes to lead people, even when leading was never the plan. Here's what you'll learn: Why turnover in your firm rarely comes down to one cause How to lead your team when management never came naturally What it takes to stop repeating the leadership habits you swore you'd avoid The best leaders never stop asking whether they could be better. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:21) Why We Go To Bed At 8:30 (00:04:47) Why Discipline Feels Like Freedom (00:08:09) Diagnosing Sudden Employee Turnover (00:11:42) Exit And Stay Interviews Explained (00:15:12) Can Leadership Really Be Learned? (00:18:31) Why Leading Yourself Comes First (00:19:54) When You Become The Boss You Hated (00:22:44) The Power Of Asking What's The Argument ---- Links & Resources: Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual by Jocko Willink Shark Tank ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 460. AMMA - Why Your Top Talent is Secretly Quitting You 419. AMMA - The Harsh Truth About Leadership Nobody Wants to Hear 279. AMMA - Building Trust Through Authentic Leadership

Eddy Arriola has built and sold multiple companies, and by his own account, he did it without ever being the smartest person in the room. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Eddy Arriola, founder of Apollo Bank and author of It's All About Relationships, to talk about the real driver behind his companies' success: the people around him. Eddy walks through the six categories of relationships every leader has to manage, why pausing before you react can save a partnership, and how trust is what actually holds a growing business together, more than authority ever will. It's a grounded, practical look at how the best leaders build the kind of teams and networks that carry them through hard times. Here's what you'll learn: Why relationships, not strategy or capital, are what actually scale a business How to build trust with your team instead of just demanding compliance Why pausing before reacting can save your most important partnerships Your business will only grow as fast as the relationships holding it together, so start building the right ones today. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:39) Growing up in an immigrant family (00:04:16) Starting Inktel in 1997 (00:10:38) A mentor who opened doors (00:12:49) Earning credibility in banking (00:15:46) Why he wrote the book (00:18:16) The six key relationships (00:23:43) The hardest relationship to build (00:27:21) The CARPET framework (00:30:16) The power of the pause (00:32:48) Trust over authority (00:33:49) Relationship with yourself (00:37:22) The Mr. Cooper story (00:40:38) The biggest lesson he's learned ---- Links & Resources: It's All About Relationships: Mastering the Art of Relational Leadership by Eddy Arriola Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 394. How to Grow Without Losing Culture (Or Your Sanity) with Varghese Summersett 282. AMMA - Beyond Business Cards: Building Real Relationships 47. Jessica Mogill - A Transformational Partnership: How Opposites Attract

Most entrepreneurs are surrounded by people who love them and still have no idea what they're going through. In this AMMA episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill unpack why building a business can feel so lonely, even when you're surrounded by people who care about you. They answer three listener questions: how to close the gap with a spouse who can't fully relate, why chasing a challenge outside the business keeps you sharper inside it, and why family members and peers are rarely equipped to give meaningful advice. Michael's advice is simple: stop trying to get people to understand, and go find people who already do. Here's what you'll learn: Why the people who love you most still can't relate to what you're building How to invest in yourself in a way most entrepreneurs overlook Where to find people who've actually lived what you're going through Feeling isolated right now doesn't mean something's wrong. You just haven't found your people yet. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:47) Starting the Show With House Music (00:06:30) Q1: Business Straining My Marriage (00:10:31) Marriage Is 100/100, Not 50/50 (00:14:32) Q2: The Most Underrated Investment (00:15:10) Find a Challenge Outside the Business (00:17:08) Q3: When Your Spouse Can't Relate (00:17:51) Stop Seeking Advice From Civilians (00:22:00) Business Is Hard, Suffering Is Optional ---- Links & Resources: Hyrox Ironman Triathlon ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 490. AMMA - Why the Room You're In Changes Everything 480. AMMA - Why Dark Energy Becomes Dead Weight Over Time 462. AMMA - The Voices That Actually Matter for Business Growth

The same instincts that make a great lawyer can be the exact thing keeping them from asking for help. In this encore episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Brian Cuban, an attorney, author, and long-term recovery advocate, for a raw account of the depression, eating disorder, and addiction that nearly ended his life, and the moment he finally chose to fight for it. Brian pulls back the curtain on what drives so many lawyers toward substance abuse in silence, and why the legal profession's culture of strength makes it one of the hardest places to ask for help. This is a candid look at what recovery actually requires, and what it means to build a profession where struggling colleagues don't have to hide. Here's what you'll learn: Why lawyers face a higher risk of addiction, and why the profession makes it so hard to admit it How to spot the early warning signs before they become a rock-bottom moment What it takes to build a compassionate community that helps colleagues before they have to hit bottom Brian walked back from the edge. His story is here for anyone who needs to know it's possible. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:04:05) A childhood shaped by shame (00:14:55) Choosing law school to hide (00:27:04) His brother steps in to help (00:33:38) Trading tickets for cocaine (00:41:23) His first 12-step meeting (00:43:58) Writing The Addicted Lawyer (00:47:23) Addiction's toll on lawyers (00:53:43) Why compassion matters most (01:00:00) Careers rebuild, lives can't ---- Links & Resources: Brian Cuban The Addicted Lawyer: Tales of the Bar, Booze, Blow, and Redemption by Brian Cuban Mark Cuban Texas Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) 2016 ABA/Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation study on lawyer well-being Karen Carpenter ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 469. How to Turn Your Darkest Failures into Unstoppable Drive with Ken Rideout 412. Why Doing Hard Things Is the Ultimate Advantage with Joe De Sena 141. David Goggins - Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within

Consistency isn't a personality trait. It's the product of commitments you refuse to negotiate and environments that won't let you coast. In this AMMA episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill dig into why most law firm owners plateau not because of talent or effort, but because they've outgrown the peers around them. From honoring the commitments you made when you were clear-headed to seeking out rooms where friction and accountability are features (not bugs), this conversation is a blueprint for the kind of consistency that compounds over years, not weeks. Here's what you'll learn: Why the commitments you make when motivated can't be renegotiated when you're not How to identify and seek out high-friction environments that attract higher-caliber peers What it takes to build systems that outlast motivation and make consistency automatic If you've been coasting on talent and wondering why results have flatlined, this episode will help you level up. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:39) The Power of Consistency (00:05:57) Systems Over Motivation (00:07:29) Nine Years of Daily Journaling (00:09:13) Q1: Outgrowing Your Peer Network (00:12:09) High-Friction Environments Win (00:14:04) Q2: What's New at the Summit (00:16:24) Q3: How to Keep Growing as a Leader (00:18:54) Curiosity as a Practiced Skill ---- Links & Resources: BoJack Horseman Conor McGregor EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization) YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) Tiger 21 ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 488. AMMA: Controversial Leadership Opinions That Will Make Your Firm Better 468. AMMA: Why Dark Energy Becomes Dead Weight Over Time 375. AMMA: Stop Being The Bottleneck: Lead Your Firm Without Being Needed

Winning a hand doesn't mean you played it well. Losing one doesn't mean you didn't. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Annie Duke, former professional poker player, World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and best-selling author of Thinking in Bets and Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, to talk about why a great decision can still end in a loss, how confirmation bias hides behind our smartest instincts, and what it actually takes to know when to walk away. Here's what you'll learn: Why a good decision can still produce a bad outcome, and a bad one can still win How confirmation bias convinces smart people they've already got it right What it takes to know the difference between grit that pays off and grit that's costing you Good decisions and good outcomes are not the same thing. This episode will help you tell them apart. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:33) Why Annie returned to finish her PhD (00:04:48) How Annie built a $4M poker career (00:14:56) Why good decisions can have bad outcomes (00:20:16) Inside Pete Carroll's controversial call (00:27:29) Why confirmation bias feels so good (00:35:16) Why smart people have bigger blind spots (00:37:17) Why waste is a forward-looking problem (00:40:22) When grit stops being a virtue (00:42:59) How mental time travel aids decisions ---- Links & Resources: Annie Duke Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Grit by Angela Duckworth Confirmation bias Pete Carroll ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 443. Poker Face: The Framework for Navigating Professional Uncertainty with Tiffany Michelle 334. Dr. Benjamin Hardy - From Limiting Beliefs to Limitless Potential: A Guide to Personal Growth 161. Joe De Sena - The Spartan Mindset: Embracing Discomfort and Unleashing Mental Toughness

Some of the most useful things a leader will ever hear are the ones nobody says to their face. This greatest-hits AMMA episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast pulls together six of the questions firm owners struggle with most, and Michael and Jessica Mogill answer each one with the candidness that comes from experience. The underperformer you keep protecting. The high-stakes call you can't seem to make. The endless learning that never turns into action. The anger that built your firm and now runs it into the ground. These are the takes most leaders only wish someone would tell them. Here's what you'll learn: Why the hardest conversation on your calendar only gets more expensive the longer you delay it How to make a high-stakes call with 70% of the information instead of waiting for certainty that never comes What it takes to trade spite-driven hustle for a vision that actually lasts The advice most leaders need isn't complicated. It's just hard to hear. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:33) When to let a bad hire go (00:04:21) Making decisions at scale (00:05:56) A framework for tough calls (00:07:45) Decision quality vs. outcome (00:10:45) Why you're the last to know (00:12:33) Setting rules of engagement (00:13:39) The information consumer trap (00:15:54) Why knowledge isn't power (00:18:32) The team member who drains you (00:22:07) Setting boundaries that work (00:22:47) When anger stops fueling you (00:27:09) Playing the infinite game ---- Links & Resources: The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek Mark Manson Roger Federer’s 2024 Dartmouth Commencement Address John Morgan Nike, "Just Do It" Star Wars ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 468. AMMA - Why Dark Energy Becomes Dead Weight Over Time 432. AMMA - When Loyalty Backfires: The Hidden Cost of Tenure 247. John Morgan - Fortune Favors the Bold: How to Build a Legal Empire

What if the real reason your best people leave has nothing to do with money, and everything to do with the first 100 days? In this encore of episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill welcomes Joey Coleman, client experience expert and New York Times bestselling author of Never Lose an Employee Again, to break down the 8 phases every team member moves through and what it actually looks like to build a workplace people refuse to leave. Here's what you'll learn: Why "new hire's remorse" kicks in seconds after someone accepts your offer (and how to counteract it) How to make a team member's first day so remarkable they can't stop talking about it when they get home What separates firms with true advocates from those who can't even get an internal referral If your onboarding still looks like a binder and a benefits form, this is your playbook for something better. (00:00:45) Introduction (00:02:49) Joey Coleman returns to the podcast (00:04:28) Why new hires quit in the first 100 days (00:07:05) Show, don't tell: proving you care about your people (00:08:27) The 8 phases of employee experience (00:15:45) The ROI of remarkable onboarding (00:17:34) Job postings that actually stand out (00:22:14) Notre Dame's legendary offer letter (00:29:51) Creating a remarkable first day (the JAM example) (00:35:14) Coworkers vs. colleagues (00:44:29) The 2-minute video challenge ---- Links & Resources: Never Lose an Employee Again by Joey Coleman Never Lose a Customer Again by Joey Coleman Tribute Yoko Co Bonusly Jim Kwik ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 220. Excellence Wins: Become the Best in a World of Compromise with Horst Schulze 162. Radical Candor: How to Be a Kickass Boss with Kim Scott 7. Ditching the Drama & Creating a Culture of Excellence in Your Law Firm with Cy Wakeman

You can do anything. But you can't do everything all at the same time. So why do so many firm owners keep trying? In this AMMA episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill tackle questions that all circle the same problem: spreading yourself too thin and expecting elite results. From personal brand building that never seems to pay off, to years that vanish on autopilot, to firm initiatives that stall because no one can focus long enough to finish them. The through line is clear: the fastest path to growth is doing fewer things with far greater intensity. Here's what you'll learn: Why building a personal brand with the intent to monetize it immediately almost always backfires (and what to do instead) How to break out of "NPC autopilot mode" using weekly reflection prompts that force honest self-assessment Why the best results in business come from serious, singular commitments rather than surface-level effort across five priorities If you want to see results faster, stop adding and start subtracting. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:07:10) Show rec: Dark on Netflix and the case for deep commitment (00:09:07) Surface-level investment, surface-level payoff (00:12:30) Three types of GCA episodes (00:13:13) Q1: When does personal brand work start paying off? (00:15:22) The "high school club collector" trap (00:16:29) Doing fewer things with higher intensity (00:17:42) Q2: Where did all the time go? (00:18:41) The NPC autopilot phenomenon (00:20:28) Weekly reflection prompts to stay intentional (00:22:24) Q3: Why you can't run three major initiatives at once Links & Resources: Dark (TV series) Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 450. AMMA - When Hiring Smart People Makes You Dumber 349. AMMA - The Leadership Shift: Building a Firm That Doesn't Depend on You 288. AMMA - The Art of Being Decisive

What if the very thing that made you a great lawyer is the thing preventing you from building a great firm? On this special mashup episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Justin Chopin of Chopin Law Firm, Alex Limontes of Hurst Limontes LLC, Lawrence LeBrocq of Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq, and Charlyn Ho of Rikka Law Group. Together, they share how they stopped trading time for dollars and built scalable, multimillion-dollar firms on their own terms. From ego checks and data-driven marketing to AI adoption and community-first branding, these law firm owners reveal the mindset shifts and systems that set them apart. Here's what you'll learn: Why removing yourself from day-to-day operations is the fastest path to firm growth How data-driven marketing and strategic community activation outperform gut-feeling ad spend What proactive AI adoption looks like (and why firms that ignore it risk extinction) (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:44) Justin Chopin: Betting on Yourself and Building a Firm from Scratch (00:09:38) Growing Through Leadership, Hiring, and Team Culture (00:18:45) Leading Through Crisis and Investing in Your People (00:29:42) Alex Lamontes: Building a Mission-Driven Brand (00:42:10) Scaling with Data, Partnerships, and Community Impact (00:56:31) Lawrence LeBrock: From Trial Lawyer to CEO (01:07:35) Creating a High-Performance Culture Through Accountability (01:13:26) Embracing AI and Leading Organizational Change (01:20:36) Charlyn Ho: Building an AI-First Law Firm (01:35:26) The Future of Legal Innovation and Entrepreneurship (01:45:44) Final Thoughts and Takeaways ---- Links & Resources: Justin Chopin, Chopin Law Firm Alex Limontes, Hurst Limontes LLC Lawrence LeBrocq, Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq Charlyn Ho, Rikka Law Group ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 477. Mike Brown - The Nitty Gritty of AI 431. Rory Baden - Branding Secrets Your Firm Needs to Scale 451. Firm of the Year Winners - Growth Secrets From the Best of the Best

What if the quality your team calls "intimidating" is the same thing responsible for every result you've ever produced? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill tackle three listener questions about the uncomfortable truths of firm leadership: what to do when anonymous feedback calls you intimidating, how to stop letting partner consensus paralyze decisions, and why the partner who drives accountability always ends up labeled the villain. This conversation draws a clear line between high standards and bad behavior, and shows why getting to the truth matters more than being popular. Here's what you'll learn: Why seeking 100% partner consensus on every strategic decision is quietly stalling your firm's growth How to hold exceedingly high standards and still create a culture where your team tells you the truth What "disagree and commit" looks like in practice, and why it builds more trust than endless debate If your firm's best ideas keep dying in committee and your team's real feedback never reaches you, this episode explains exactly why. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:52) The World Cup and Being a Fan (00:05:51) Maturity Is Recovery Time (00:09:59) Q1: My Team Calls Me Intimidating (00:12:26) High Standards and Kindness Coexist (00:14:28) Not All Feedback Deserves Action (00:16:11) Q2: My Leaders Resent My Decision (00:17:31) Why Full Consensus Stalls Growth (00:20:49) Disagree But Commit (00:21:34) Q3: I'm the "Bad Guy" Partner (00:24:35) You Don't Have to Be Loved (00:26:08) Wrap Up Links & Resources: Radical Candor by Kim Scott FIFA World Cup 2026 Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 456. AMMA - Why It's Your Fault If Your Team Isn't Performing 375. AMMA - Stop Being The Bottleneck: Lead Your Firm Without Being Needed 284. AMMA - Elevate Your Leadership with Emotional Intelligence