The OMG Moment

I finally had that OMG moment where I realized how much work it is going to be to study for the bar. Barbri expects 8 - 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, right up to the bar.

After the moment passed, I am sort of bracing myself. They are the experts, and I am confident that I can do it if I put my mind to it.

The logistics of today were more of problem. The bus is an hour each way. The lectures are online, so why am I going? Tomorrow I am trying out staying home. There is no one home during the day at my folk's house, so i figure its as good of as office as any.

On a lighter note, does anyone remember property law? I love how quirky it is. Its the hilarious old uncle of law subjects.

Below: Lewis and Clark through the forest. I saw robins eggs, a rabbit, and a giant banana slug today.

Back in the Northwest

What a week! I had a great road trip with my lovely girlfriend and from Socal to the Great Northwest. And it truly is great.

Tomorrow is my first day studying for the Washington State Bar Exam. I am taking a Bar prep course with BarBri of Washington, even though my actual classes are at Lewis and Clark College in Portland.

My dad and I took a trip there to see the lay of the land, and to see whether I would be able to take the somewhat elaborate bus ride from Vancouver, Washington.

So the plan is, I will essentially ride to and from the Vancouver park and ride with my dad every weekday. We will ride the bus together to his work in downtown Portland. From there I catch another bus, and walk about half mile through a path in the woods to the law school. Sounds like a little much. I will let you know how it was tomorrow. If it is indeed too much, I see a car in my future.

Ultimate Man Cave

Now that I am moving, I keep dreaming about have a really awesome recreation room or man cave. Of course, women would be welcome and enjoy it too-- who wouldn't enjoy this stuff? This is a brief indulgence in materialism, and the things listed are considered as if money is no object.

1. Heavy Metal Meltdown Pinball Machine (video here and here)
2. Shuffle Board Table
3. Beer Pong Table
4. Ms. Pacman Cocktail Table
5. 55 Inch HD TV
6. Best Couch Ever from Restoration Hardware
7. Kegerator
8. Coolest Furnace Ever

So come on over any time! Well, any time in the not so near future...

Mise En Place: Preparing with Books and Classes

I would love to own my own business. The safe and boring cocoon that is law school only encouraged me to day dream of ideas for start ups and solo firms as is planning my escape.

To prepare for my Steve-McQueen-esque lurch to the real world, I took as many business law classes (and entertainment with business applications) as my schedule would allow and I read books about solo firms and business (basically as much reading outside of law school as the reading inside law school would allow). Let's take a look:

Classes:

• Business Associations
• Federal Income Taxation
• Business Planning
• Taxation of Business Entities
• Music Industry Contracts
• Copyright Law
• Defamation, Privacy and Publicity
• Entertainment Law
• Adv. Entertainment law
• Aviation Law (Final on Start-Up Airline)

Books

• The E-Myth Attorney
• The E-Myth Revisited
• Rework
• The Reluctant Rainmaker
  
• Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive
• The Four-Hour Work Week
• All You Need to Know About the Music Business
• Solo by Choice
• The Monk and the Riddle

Social Entrepreneurship and Business Model Flexibility

I really love this new post about Social Entrepreneurship by Inc. Magazine -- It's really got my imagination working on overdrive. Social entrepreneurship marries the thrill of starting your own business with the gratification of doing something worthwhile for the betterment of the world.

I wonder, however, if seemingly bloated and bulky requirements of 501(c)(3) can commiserate with the agility, flexibility and ability to improvise I see as necessary for a successful business model.

Keep It Simple, Stupid. It worked for building airplanes, and it works for business.