STUNNER: Paul Weiss' Brad Karp Gives Us Permission to Ask If We Humanly Can (not should) Work So Hard

"’I'll have to figure out whether I have the energy and strength,’ [Brad] Karp said.” That had been in the July 25th interview with Casey Sullivan at the Insider. The subject was if Karp, Chairperson for law firms Paul Weiss for about 15 years, would re-up after his contract expires in May 2023.

The stunner. It admitted, well, human limitations. And that was by the symbol of tireless achievement for clients, the law firm, and the oppressed little people. 

For me, there was the immediate Ah-Ha Moment: Karp is giving all of us driven strivers permission to assess if we can “keep it up.” Not if we should. But if we could. 

That’s scary. If we answer “no” then, hell, so much in our careers could unravel. So could the whole world of work as it operates currently.

This goes beyond the platitude of work/life balance. It cuts to the bone of society’s expectations of how much work should be done and perfectly.

Consider also this: If we answer “yes,” then we are doomed to be locked into our current work lives. I have to bet you don’t find that joyful. My satisfaction did pick up some, though, after I dumped doing legal assignments. No, I couldn’t do all that anymore, I realized.



Here’s where we could be. Karp’s a visionary. Just read his interviews in Bloomberg Law and Leaders. However, he probably never envisioned getting us to think in these unthinkable ways about work and what’s humanly possible.

Purpose-driven intuitive career coaching, including Tarot Readings. For more information or a complimentary consultation, please contact janegenova374@gmail.com or text 203-468-8579. 

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