Welcome to episode 56 of The Earley Show podcast, hosted by personal injury attorney Christopher Earley! For this conversation, both Neal Goldstein (Co-Founder of Goldstein & Bashner, P.C.) and Steven Eichenblatt (Founding Partner of Page and Eichenblatt) make their return to the show.
In this candid and deeply personal episode, Chris, Neal and Steven discuss childhood trauma, resilience, fatherhood and the unexpected power of writing a memoir. All three are personal injury attorneys who have not only built thriving practices but also published books about their most difficult life experiences. They discuss what drove them to write, how they got their books into the world, and why vulnerability might just be the most powerful marketing tool a lawyer has.
Chapters:
1:40 Neal Goldstein Introduction
2:11 Steven Eichenblatt Introduction
3:38 What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
10:10 Absent Fathers — Three Different Stories
14:50 The Unfair Advantage — Grit and Competitive Edge
17:07 What Would Your Dad Think of Your Success?
24:20 What to Leave In (and Out) of a Memoir
25:36 Becoming Fathers Without a Blueprint
30:19 How Did You Get Your Book Out to the Masses?
37:46 Tips for Aspiring Memoir Writers — Get a Coach
40:26 Do It Yourself — Don't Hire a Ghostwriter, Don't Use AI
43:18 Weaving Your Book Into Your Practice
48:08 How To Get In Touch With Neal & Steven
Guest Info:
Neal Goldstein — Co-Founder, Goldstein & Bashner, P.C.
Featured Book: Who's In The Waiting Room?: Create the Life You Want through the Power of Authentic Relationships
Podcast: That One Lawyer™ Podcast with Neal Goldstein
Steven Eichenblatt — Founding Partner, Page and Eichenblatt
Featured Book: Pretend They Are Dead: A Father's Search for the Truth
Website: https://www.stevenscotteichenblatt.com
Topics Covered:
-Writing as therapy — uncovering anger you didn't know you still had
-How childhood trauma and absent fathers shaped them as lawyers and as men
-The concept of "grit" (referencing Angela Duckworth's book Grit) and why PI lawyers often have it in spades
-Anger as a force multiplier — giving lawyers instant street cred and emotional connection with clients
-What to leave in (and out) of a memoir when it comes to kids, divorces, and parents
-Book launch strategies: publicists, Amazon reviews, social media, beta readers, book launch parties
-Tips for aspiring memoir writers: get a coach, just get it down, do it yourself, don't use AI
-How to weave your book into your law practice — giving it to clients, using it as a business card
People & Resources Mentioned:
-Angela Duckworth — Author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
-John Fischer — Mastermind class organizer; encouraged Neal to write his own book rather than hire a ghostwriter
-Bill Umansky — Podcast host; Chris appeared on his show to discuss his memoir
-Greg Paige — Neal's law partner; facilitating the JCC author event
-Neal Goldstein's second book — "Who's in the Waiting Room? 68 Power Moves to Build a Law Firm Clients Can't Ignore for Personal Injury Lawyers That Refuse to Blend In"
Learn more about Chris' practice, the Earley Law Group, here: https://www.chrisearley.com/
Check out Chris' book "Scaling The Wall" here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxxyv5n
The Earley Show is a part of the Answering Legal Podcast Network. Learn more about our podcast network here: https://tinyurl.com/2sk4cusk
Interested in learning more about Answering Legal? Book an appointment to speak with us here: https://tinyurl.com/ysp78ep3
You can also give us a call at 631-866-0801.
This podcast is produced and edited by Joe Galotti. You can reach Joe via email at joe@answeringlegal.com.
Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com