The call came with just a day and a half’s notice: A huge law firm in the Bay area was having a retreat in Monterey area for all the attorneys and spouses. But their big name speaker was snowed in back in Europe and they needed a speaker with a "Work/Life Balance" topic.

"Great. I can be there. Now, may I talk with the Managing Partner?"

"Sorry, that’s not possible. He’s tied up. We’ll just expect to see you there."

Well, this was for a full fee. My day was open. It was just up the coast. No problem.

No problem, except that my instincts were telling me that "work/life balance" in a law firm is less-than-attainable unless the firm is ready to change the traditional way of making money. No problem, except I was unable to talk with anyone about the venue.

The real problem #1: I never in my life have seen such a bunch of scared employees harboring undercurrents of revolt. Balance? HA! The partners had no intention of lowering their performance expectations and all 150 attorneys knew it.

The real problem #2: Besides the total lack of credibility, I spoke outside, standing in a flower bed in order to be seen, with a microphone that was next-to-useless (maybe the partners didn’t want me to be heard after all). Try to be taken seriously while standing in a flower bed! The employees’ responses were deafening: total silence and disdain.

Solution #1: Become a waitress.
Solution #2: Listen to what my instincts tell me. If I can’t talk to the main people, if I can’t find out the full venue and all the side issues, no amount of money is worth it. Oh…and I will never again speak standing in a flower bed.