Quintus Curtius

I receive an email asking about the personal and professional aspects of litigation. Do things stay professional, or can things get personal? I offer some thoughts and comments from the trenches of the legal world.

A reader emails me with a question about a painful failure he just experienced. He wants to know if I've experienced similar setbacks, and how I've handled them. I give my thoughts on the subject, and arrive at some general rules.

So many people today are totally possessed by their fears. Our society encourages this way of thinking. They take counsel of their fears, they stoke their fears, and they let their fears control their minds. The result is permanent stagnation. Stop being ruled by worry and fear. Break free of this mentality, and learn to have the confidence that you will handle anything that comes your way.

A reader asks a question about his personal situation. He feels like he's working harder and harder, but not getting ahead. He also feels underappreciated by his in-laws, for whom he has done a lot. But instead of worrying about the opinions of others, maybe he should be focusing on his own opinion of himself. And then, he'll know what he needs to do.

Sometimes the game is fixed against you. Sometimes what appears to be a level playing field, turns out to be a rigged game. What can be done in such situations? How does a man maintain his honor and dignity? We discuss.

In this podcast, I offer a short selection of Latin readings from Cornelius Nepos, Cicero, and Sallust, at the request of a follower on Twitter.

Gratitude is what determines our attitude and outlook on life. When we are imbued with a sense of thankfulness, when we look at the world from this perspective, doors open up for us. But if we see everything from a negative, grievance perspective, then we are unable to make progress--and in fact go backwards. We discuss an example.

Last week the new translation of Cicero's "On The Nature Of The Gods" was published. It is available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle. An audiobook version will come out next month. This podcast explains what the book is about, why it is important, and the special features my translation has. You can find links to the book on my site, qcurtius.com.

There is a certain personality type that anyone offering a service is aware of: the Excessive Questions Warrior. This is someone who peppers you will extended, excessive questions about their issue, with an inordinate focus on your capabilities. The purpose is to exert control or dominance over the interaction. Such people are never going to hire you. Either someone trusts you and is willing to take guidance from you, or they do not. We discuss how to spot these types, and how to handle them.

If you are in a job where you have to deal with clients or the general public, be alert to the small clues or "tells" that reveal a person's state of mind and attitude. If a prospective client fails to show a willingness to comply with reasonable, basic rules, it almost always means the person is going to be a problem client. Do not ignore these subtle clues.