{"id":422,"date":"2018-06-04T20:15:29","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T00:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/?p=422"},"modified":"2021-09-19T12:23:56","modified_gmt":"2021-09-19T16:23:56","slug":"finding-equilibrium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/finding-equilibrium\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Equilibrium"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A<\/span>s busy urbanites, we sometimes struggle with finding a work-life balance. We seek equilibrium \u2013 slicing our time into neatly designed, colour-coded grids, trying to secure enough time for work, play and rest. Living out this balancing act is work in itself: it takes time and energy to make a plan, and then stay organized and disciplined enough to stick to it. While achieving this harmony in our calendars is feasible temporarily, maintaining it long-term is almost an art. Yet Alisha Athanasiou, lawyer and entrepreneur not only walks this balancing beam, but she does so with finesse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Alisha Athanasiou is the owner of a litigation practice specializing in civil law suits and family matters. After finishing her articles and being called to the bar, Alisha continued working with a firm on a short-term contract. From there she was faced with two choices: to look for a position and wait to get hired or to work for herself. \u201c\u2026It was either sit around and wait\u2026for a position to become available, or just do what I gotta do and start from\u2026getting my own clients,\u201d she explains. She knew searching for a job could take a while; \u201c\u2026I have friends that I knew that were out of work for a year\u2026 I can\u2019t imagine how much that sets you back, being away from the profession.\u201d Alisha wasn’t willing to settle for uncertainty. Ultimately the risk of starting a practice outweighed the peril of lost time. Hence Athanasiou Law<\/a> started in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026I don\u2019t take no for answer. So someone will tell you, \u2018oh you can\u2019t do it like that\u2019, I\u2019m like \u2018yeah I can!\u2019 I\u2019ll find a way to do it. It may not be the way I thought I was going to do it, but I find a way.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"alisha-lawyer-2\"<\/a>
Photo by Alex Banman<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Established now, Alisha attributes much of her success to resourcefulness and perseverance. \u201cI know how to find information in a cost-effective way. And\u2026I don\u2019t take no for answer. So someone will tell you, \u2018oh you can\u2019t do it like that\u2019, I\u2019m like \u2018yeah I can!\u2019 I\u2019ll find a way to do it. It may not be the way I thought I was going to do it, but I find a way.\u201d Even when it takes some extra digging, Alisha is determined to help her clients. Her tenacity drives her to keep working hard for her clients. \u201cI\u2019m willing to just do what my client needs,\u201d she states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"alisha-lawyer-1\"<\/a>
Photo by Alex Banman<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, being a sole practitioner is not an easy feat: Alisha does the grunt work, drafts documents, prepares material, manages clients and files, negotiates with opposing counsel, and, if it gets there, argues in court. All the while as a small business owner she also manages administrative tasks and day-to-day record keeping. Alisha has a student to help with filing and some administrative work, as well as a bookkeeper and accountant to keep her on track, but all the responsibilities are principally hers. It is also challenging to fight legal battles alone all day, so a support system is crucial. \u201cIt can be lonely and when you\u2019re going through some of the hardships, it can be that much harder [when you\u2019re on your own], \u201d she says. Alisha appreciates having a network that she can rely on for guidance, referrals for work, and reassurance at the end of a hard day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although working solo can be taxing, it also has advantages. Since she manages cases on her own from start to end, Alisha has an excellent understanding of the entire litigation process. As a result cases can move along faster too. \u201c\u2026Because I run my own shop I don’t have the overhead or the expenses that a big firm will have, so a lot of these things that you get charged for (\u202640 cents a page, every scan, every fax), I don’t generally charge my clients for those fees. The other thing too is, just because I\u2019m on my own doesn’t mean that I am any less experienced or I don’t have the skills that a Bay Street lawyer has. \u2026I\u2019m out here on my own every day. I\u2019m not protected by senior lawyers that go in and do the court work for me. I\u2019m the one who has to do everything, and I know how to do it, (or I learn how), from the very mundane filing aspects to\u2026high level, material preparation and court attendances. I\u2019m not just sitting there researching, doing memos, I\u2019m doing every single step so I know how things work, I know how they fit together, so I can see the big picture,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"alisha-lawyer-4\"<\/a>
Photo by Alex Banman<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Being a sole practitioner Alisha controls the scales of work and play in her life. She has the freedom to plan her schedule, which is integral to her well-being. \u201cWork-life balance is important to me and that’s why I work for myself. Because when you work for a firm you sort of have to sell your soul to them, and you\u2019re at their mercy\u2026I always make time for myself, because if I\u2019m not healthy, I can\u2019t run a business, and there\u2019s no one that\u2019s going to stand in for me,\u201d she declares. She balances work with yoga, playing soccer and reading. With an interest in philosophy and spirituality, Alisha enjoys books that make us self-reflect, such as Paulo Coelho\u2019s The Alchemist<\/em><\/a>. It has taught her that, \u201cif you stick to what you know you want in your heart, then\u2026everything else will fall into place,\u201d she smiles. In fact, this balanced lifestyle of hers has inspired an altruistic business idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Away from the office, Alisha is passionate about holistic living. This past April, Alisha started a side project, Jam and Yoga<\/a>. It is an initiative to promote healthy eating, active living, mental wellness and community building. A spirited yogi, Alisha has been practicing for 14 years. This new endeavour will allow her to share her experience as well as grow a community, while still maintaining her own equilibrium. Starting this summer, Jam and Yoga will host workshops on yoga, wellness and nutrition in various spaces across the city. Every month, the community members will decide on a local charity together and donate a portion of any proceeds from the workshops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"alisha-lawyer-3\"<\/a>
Photo by Alex Banman<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Through practicing law and yoga, Alisha has grown her passions in ways which fulfill her, professionally and personally. She has found a balance that works for her. While we strive to do the same, we cannot teeter on one definition of a balanced life. There is no perfect formula for how we should blend the colours in our agendas or how we should spend the precious 86, 400 seconds in our day. To some, finding balance may mean adhering to a rigid timetable, while for others it can be quite fluid. The proportions of work, rest, play may change from week to week, depending on where we are in life at the time. We make adjustments by listening to what our mind, body and soul need to help us flourish. When we measure balance with our own scale we can achieve equanimity, regardless of the hurdles life throws our way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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