426. New Year’s Kickoff: Michael Mogill Answers Your Burning Questions

If you’re carrying the same problems into the new year, it’s not because you don’t know what to do. It’s because you’ve been avoiding the hard calls. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill kick off the new year by answering real questions from law firm owners submitted during our Crisp workshops. These are not theoretical leadership conversations. They are real scenarios about bad hires, private equity pressure, painful lessons, and the habits required to lead at a higher level in 2026. If you’re entering the new year with uncertainty about your decisions, your team, or your direction, this episode brings clarity to what actually matters. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why keeping the wrong person on your team costs more than the discomfort of letting them go How to think about private equity without fear and what actually makes a firm competitive What leadership habits matter most in 2026, including extending your time horizon and protecting sleep quality This is not a motivational reset. It’s a reality check for the year ahead. ---- 02:14 – The bad apple problem and why keeping the wrong person always costs more 04:25 – The real question leaders avoid when it comes to firing decisions 05:00 – How to think about private equity without fear or distraction 08:55 – What actually makes a law firm competitive long-term 09:06 – Why pain is the fastest teacher and how lessons really stick 12:33 – Extending your time horizon to reduce stress and make better decisions 15:23 – Why sleep, recovery, and clarity are leadership advantages 17:25 – How to think selfishly in the right way as a firm owner ---- Links & Resources: Private equity Sleep hygiene ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at https://crisp.co/coach ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 420. The Sleep Science That Separates Elite Performers with Dr. Michael Breus 377. AMMA — Market Chaos: How to Not Just Survive, But Thrive 240. Jessica Mogill — Why Hiring A-Players is Important