From Lawyer to Law Firm Owner: How to Make Big Decisions with Jordan Ostroff | Ep 192

Starting a law firm is one of the biggest decisions an attorney can make, but the real skill isn't deciding to open your own practice. It's knowing how to make that decision, and every one after it, without losing sight of the life you actually want. In this episode, Steve Riley sits down with attorney, entrepreneur, and Atticus Practice Advisor Jordan Ostroff to unpack his framework for making hard decisions with confidence. Jordan shares the moment his wife's pregnancy announcement collided with $200,000 in firm debt, and how it pushed him to cut his marketing budget to almost zero just to get time back with his newborn son. He lays out a four part approach to high stakes decisions, including a Harvard study showing people are often happier when they can't change their minds, and explains why he wrote his own obituary to figure out what actually mattered. If you've ever wondered whether you're building a business that serves your life, or a job that owns you, this conversation will challenge the way you think about both success and the decisions that get you there. ____________ In this episode, you will hear: How to stop building your law firm around someone else's definition of success. A practical framework for making big business decisions with more confidence and less second-guessing. Why most decisions don't deserve your time, and which ones actually shape your future. How to transition from being a busy attorney to becoming the owner of a business that supports your life. Simple ways to test major decisions before making commitments you can't easily undo. ___________ Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. ⭐Like what you hear? A quick review helps more people find the show.⭐ If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at [email protected]. ___________ Supporting Resources: Jordan Ostroff, Practice Advisor & Attorney https://atticusadvantage.com/team/jordan-ostroff/ Podcast: From Esq. to Owner https://atticusadvantage.com/podcast-esq-to-owner/ Harvard Study: Decisions and Revisions: The Affective Forecasting of Changeable Outcomes https://dtg.sites.fas.harvard.edu/Gilber%20t%26%20Ebert%20%28DECISIONS%20%26%20REVISIONS%29.pdf Ep 99: Do Happy Lawyers Make More Money? with Kevin Snyder https://atticusadvantage.com/podcast/do-happy-lawyers-make-more-money-with-kevin-snyder/ Kevin's Happiness Scorecard https://atticusadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Scorecard-Happiness-Advantage.pdf Book: The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward by Dan Pink https://a.co/d/0f2zyqy1 My Great Life Focus https://mygreatlifefocus.com Atticus Newsletter https://atticusadvantage.com/newsletter-signup Atticus Summit https://atticussummit.com/ Listen to From Esq. to Owner Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts:   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrh5y6Kzkyb3qfxys1KV_cl8u7BGooZKe Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leid-back-life-loving-entrepreneurship-and/id1782958064 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7L8yJ0rRL66Nrjfe5uX418 ___________ Curious about growing your own practice without burning out? Contact Atticus to see whether our law firm coaching can help you strengthen attorney success, refine your law firm business strategy, and build a practice that actually supports your life. This podcast for lawyers is part of our broader legal podcast library, offering practical insights on how to grow a law firm through stronger law firm leadership, law firm pricing and management, smarter marketing, intentional hiring, efficient operations, healthy law firm culture, and sustainable profitability, all while addressing law firm burnout and the realities of modern practice. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get practical insights on how to grow a law firm: from law firm leadership and management to marketing, hiring, operations, culture, and profitability, so you can build a Great Practice and a Great Life.