Some people believe hardship should be the rite of passage. “I suffered, so you should too.” Today’s guest, Wendy Meadows, chose the opposite: learn, evolve, and then make the path easier for the next woman.

Wendy spent years as a family law litigator before realizing the role no longer aligned with who she is. She turned off the litigation spigot, built a solo practice, and shifted to family law mediation—where curiosity, calm leadership, and practical systems do what conflict rarely can: create durable solutions.

Pain doesn’t have to be a template.

Real leadership looks like shortening the learning curve for others.

Wendy’s lens: use your story to open doors, not gatekeep them.

Mediation lets families design outcomes privately and humanely.

It fits Wendy’s strengths: listening, clarity, and future-focused agreements.

Key shift: from “win/lose” to interest-based problem solving.

Reputation and relationships beat aggressive advertising.

“Top of mind” marketing: consistent presence on LinkedIn and Facebook, clear messaging about mediation services.

Make the ask: tell colleagues you now mediate; referrals follow clarity.

Wendy now coaches burned-out lawyer moms and attorneys who want to go solo. Her coaching centers on:

Defining the work you actually want to do

Simplifying operations (intake, billing, client experience)

Saying no to misaligned matters and yes to sustainable revenue

SEO cues: burnout for lawyers, coaching for attorneys, leave big law, attorney work–life balance

Wendy’s Pause Time Playbook is a simple daily practice:

Set your compass each morning (who you’ll be, what matters).

Rehearse high-stakes moments before they happen.

Reflect at day’s end to lock in learning and confidence.

Pen-to-paper intention turns reaction into leadership.

Get honest about alignment. If the role no longer fits, explore alternatives like mediation or a limited-scope practice.

Tell people what you do now. Clear, repeated messaging builds referral paths.

Systemize once, benefit daily. Intake, payment, templates, and checklists save hours.

Journal with purpose. Decide who you’ll be before the hard moment arrives.

Hear the full conversation with Wendy Meadows on The Seed to learn how she left litigation, built a values-aligned practice, and helps other attorneys do the same.

Keep Going—with Support

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