After 25 Years as an Attorney, This Program Helped Me Find My True Calling

For over 25 years, I practiced law. I stood in courtrooms, argued cases, and lived in the language of legal briefs and precedents. But somewhere along the way, maybe buried under the weight of daily motions and courtroom appearances, I began to feel a shift. I didn’t want to be an attorney forever. In fact, I realized I never really wanted to be one in the first place.

The truth is, my heart had always been somewhere else, on a stage, behind a mic, or in front of a camera. As a child, I dreamt of working in media, journalism, or broadcasting. But like so many of us, life rerouted me down a more “practical” path. Until recently, I assumed that part of me had been permanently packed away.

Then, I stumbled across a video from Taylor and the team at Leadr.co. I clicked on it almost by accident. But by the end, I knew, deep down, this was the bridge I had been searching for: a way to transition from what I had done for decades to what I truly wanted to do next. And more specifically, a path to the TEDx stage, something that had been a distant dream since I first started listening to TED Talks on the radio and through podcasts.

The Struggle to Shape an Idea

When I first started the process, I was overwhelmed. Like many others, I had dozens of ideas, too many, in fact. Some were half-formed, others too vague. And while my enthusiasm was high, clarity was lacking.

But then I enrolled in Leadr.co’s application intensive and followed it up with their workshop. Those two pieces together gave me something I hadn’t had before: direction. Structure. A system to take my jumbled thoughts and shape them into something real.

The most powerful part? It didn’t take long. In just a couple of months, I had an idea I could see. I could visualize myself speaking it. I could feel the moment. For the first time, a TEDx Talk didn’t feel like a fantasy, it felt like a goal with a clear roadmap.

Coaching that Meets You Where You Are

I grew up playing sports. I know the value of a good coach, someone who sees what you’re capable of and pushes you toward it, even when you’re stuck. That’s exactly what Leadr.co gave me. But it wasn’t just one coach, it was a full team.

At every turn, someone was there to offer feedback, nudge me forward, and remind me that I wasn’t as “stuck” as I felt. Even a quick text, “I’m stuck” was met with an encouraging nudge: “You’re not. Keep going.”

And it wasn’t just top-down support. The other participants in the program became part of the lift. Each of us is in our own lane, but we’re running the same race. And there’s real power in that shared experience.

The Unexpected Gift: Community

When I signed up, I expected coaching. I expected guidance. But what I didn’t anticipate was the deep sense of community. Leadr.co isn’t just a program, it’s a network of people who are rooting for each other.

Every group session, every practice talk, every round of feedback came with encouragement, not empty praise, but real, thoughtful support. People gave constructive criticism that lifted you higher, not weighed you down. It was inspiring to see others grow alongside me, and to realize that everyone, regardless of where they started, had something powerful to share.

What made it even more real was watching the coaches themselves, people who had already been on the TEDx stage. They shared their own talks, reflected on what they wished they’d done differently, and brought a level of transparency that was both humbling and motivating. You realize that even after 30,000+ views, they’re still growing too.

A Bridge to What’s Next

I joined Leadr.co because I needed a change. I didn’t want to be a lawyer who just slowly faded out of the profession, I wanted to evolve, to do something meaningful, something rooted in purpose. And now, for the first time in decades, I feel like I have a tangible path to get there.

Leadr.co helped me reconnect with a dream I’d quietly carried for years. They helped me shape it, believe in it, and begin the journey to bring it to life.

For anyone who’s ever felt stuck between what you’re doing and what you want to do, I can’t recommend it enough. You don’t have to make that leap alone. You just need a team who believes in where you’re going, even when you’re still figuring it out yourself.

And thanks to Leadr.co, I’m no longer wondering if a TED Talk is possible.

Now, I’m preparing for it.

This article is published on DuoVoltArt