Stephanie Hillin

I attribute much of my success to my dedication, diligence, and grit that can’t let me quit when things are hard or uncertain. Additionally, watching my dad do amazing things, set records, and then fall flat and get right back up. I essentially got a front-row seat with hot popcorn to see firsthand how much it needs to matter for myself, or anyone, to genuinely want to be humble: if you have no desire to exude humility or to actually genuinely be a humble person, life will humble you right quick (and at the most inopportune time you can imagine). My dad speaks on how, at 22, he won the Talladega 500 and that was too young. I saw the attitudes that did not serve him well in NASCAR or as a professional, whether in an athletic or business sense or both, during the end of his racing career. My dad isn’t afraid of anything and he’s resilient—I get that (and a bit of competitiveness) from him. I appreciate his openness about damaging decisions and actions he’s made, as they were detrimental to many aspects of his life and others’.

To remember that no matter how hard you work and how sharp you are, there will be always be someone out there who is willing to work harder who is just as sharp and we’ll do your job for less pay if they’re hungry enough.

Essentially, know the line between confidence and cockiness because you need to be comfortable, but nothing in your career or your life is fully guaranteed.

After your first semester of law school, if you are not in love with it, get out, because you will spend decades paying money that you have to pay back, and you will be in a career that robs you of what makes you truly fulfilled in this'd life (and your career is a large part of your life if you choose it to be). You won't be good at it because you'll hate it and you'll be resentful. If you want to try it out, first semester, once that's over, if you don't love it, get out and be proud you cut your losses early and can be grateful for redirection—it’s not a failure to choose to take a route different than the one you were once set on following.

I also tell people to learn to read the room - don't think with your head or your heart, just go with your gut. It will not steer you wrong. I go with my gut every time. I don't think too hard, I don't try to feel too hard about it. I can do that after my gut gives me the initial direction.

And know when to keep certain cards pretty close to your chest, but raise your hand, make the call, and know when to ask for help, but don't beg for help when you know it's not warranted.

Decision fatigue—it’s real! When weighing options, being mindful that prioritizing the stability and quality of a company you may be representing, over getting distracted by shiny and non-concrete figures or terms offered, is paramount.

The values that are most important to me are the same in work and personal life. First is integrity - I'm the same person no matter what room I'm going into. I walk what I talk. I say what I mean, I mean what I say, and I don't leave things unfinished. I also value ingenuity. I believe that you get out what you put in.

And, karma's only a bitch if you are. 

I also tell people that we don't have the ability to change our mood, but we have every ability to make an active, conscious decision to change our attitude about something or someone in a situation. 

If you decide to change your attitude about something, your mood will in turn change for the better as well. 

So… I always say, “you can't change your mood, but you can change your ‘tude!”