In this episode, Jeff and Janet discuss: 

• Janet’s unique professional journey from Miss North Carolina to being a personal injury lawyer. 
• Being open about who you are and what you believe. 
• Showing what you believe by your calendar and your checkbook. 
• The shift in culture that comes with including your employees in giving. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Your first law path may not be your ultimate path. Be willing to take a chance and see where your path may take you, even if it isn’t where you think you’re going to go.
• Join the groups where you can learn from those who are running their businesses in a way that you aspire to. 
• Be authentic to who you are. The bolder you are, the more you are protected. 
• With the Lord, you can do more than you have ever been able to do on your own or in previous years. 

"We want to make sure that we're doing our philanthropy with the same kind of strategic planning that we're using in operating our law firm. We don't want to be sloppy in what we're doing with the Lord's money." —  Janet Ward Black

About Janet Ward Black: 

Attorney Janet Ward Black is the principal owner of Ward Black Law located in Greensboro. It is one of the largest woman-owned law firms in North Carolina. The firm represents people injured at work, in accidents, and by dangerous products and environmental hazards across North Carolina. Her firm has been named as one of the Best Law Firms in America by US News & World Reports since 2010.

A graduate of Davidson College cum laude in economics and Duke Law School, Black served as the third woman president of the North Carolina Association of Trial Lawyers and the fourth woman president of the North Carolina Bar Association. She was the second lawyer in history to serve as president of both organizations.

The program she created while president of the 16,000-member Bar Association, “4 ALL,” has been used as a model in the United States and Canada for providing free legal services to those in need. More than 100,000 North Carolinians have talked to a lawyer for free since “4 ALL” began in 2007.

Black is a frequent lawyer educator and motivational speaker. She is a Trustee Emeritus of Hood Theological Seminary and has served on many non-profit boards and on many international mission trips. Black has been named The Best Lawyers in America since 2007. She has been a member of C12, Christian CEOs, and Business Owners’ Group since 2005. She was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2016, the highest civilian honor in the state of North Carolina by Governor Pat McCrory.

Black served as Miss North Carolina 1980. She won a Grand Talent award at the 1980 Miss America pageant playing Chopin’s “Revolutionary Etude” on the piano.

Her law firm's philanthropy was spotlighted on the 700 Club national broadcast in 2020. https://www1.cbn.com/doing-impossible-bless-others

Connect with Janet Ward Black:

Website: https://www.wardblacklaw.com/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMPC2G3je92ZufeD5R3lWWg

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-ward-black-831a8511/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ward-black-law/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wardblacklaw?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wardblacklaw/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wardblacklaw/

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/