My mistake, Your Honor. Let's look at Exhibit 14 instead.
Then he went right back into the rhythm of the questioning.
That moment taught me more about trial work than any textbook.
It wasn't about being perfect.
It wasn't about knowing every fact by heart.
It wasn't about never making a slip-up.
It was about composure.
In high-stakes environments, people aren't looking for perfection. They are looking for leadership. And leadership is most visible when things go wrong.
When you stumble, the people around you take their cue from your reaction.
If you panic, they panic.
If you lose focus, they lose confidence.
If you stay calm, they stay with you.
The exhibit number didn't matter. The recovery did.
We spend so much time trying to be flawless. We check the brief ten times. We rehearse the presentation until we're numb. We obsess over the details.
Details matter. But the ability to handle the "wrong chord" matters more.
Because the plan will always change.
The witness will always surprise you.
The technology will always fail at the worst time.
Don't aim for a career without mistakes.
Aim for a career where you know exactly what to do when they happen.
Stay calm.
Pivot.
Play the next note.
<end of post>
