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374: From "Hair on Fire" to Calmer and Happier with Special Guest Kara Brinster

Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

Release Date: 07/03/2025

374: From 374: From "Hair on Fire" to Calmer and Happier with Special Guest Kara Brinster

Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

Do you feel like your hair is on fire daily in your law practice? 🔥 You’re not alone. Kara Brinster felt the same way. Between her family law practice, her role as a state’s attorney, parenting, and managing a household -- Kara’s plate was full. Fast forward 10 months, Kara’s practice feels calmer, and she’s so much happier. Not because she has less work—but because she learned the skills to support the life she actually wants. In this episode of Be a Better Lawyer, my special guest Kara Brinster shares:  📆Why she no longer holds every task and deadline in her head...

info_outline 373: What Your Clients (Really) Want show art 373: What Your Clients (Really) Want

Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

You may be friendly, responsive, and great in consults. But that doesn’t mean you’re creating a seamless client experience that builds trust and encourages referrals. In this episode of Be a Better Lawyer, I’m walking you through common glitches in a client’s experience and how to solve for them. I’m also breaking down the costly mistakes lawyers make that unintentionally erode client trust, and how you can upgrade your internal systems to counteract these issues in your firm. Giving clients what they really want – a seamless experience – isn’t about doing more, but about...

info_outline 372: Overwhelm is Optional show art 372: Overwhelm is Optional

Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

If you feel a wave of overwhelm before your week even begins, you may be surprised to hear that work itself isn’t what’s causing it. Don’t worry — if you’ve believed work causes your stress, you’re not alone. I used to think that too. Most lawyers assume their overwhelm is caused by the files, the emails, the clients, and the court dates. But let’s try something: Imagine a file sitting on your co-worker’s desk. Does that file stress you out? Does it make you feel overwhelmed? No. Why not? Because the file isn’t the problem — it’s what you think about that file that...

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Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

Feeling annoyed for a moment is normal. But often what starts as a small irritation lingers throughout your day — and that lingering irritation costs you more time, energy, and peace than you realize. In this episode of Be a Better Lawyer, I share: ✅ How irritation drains your time, focus, and mental clarity ✅ What’s actually fueling chronic annoyance (hint: it’s not other people) ✅ How to create peace without needing the world to match your preferences ✅ 3 questions that help you take responsibility for your emotions and feel more grounded Learning to take charge of your...

info_outline 370: Best of...How to Take a Guilt-Free Vacation show art 370: Best of...How to Take a Guilt-Free Vacation

Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

Vacations are meant to restore you — but for most lawyers, they feel anything but restorative. 🔹 You worry what clients or colleagues will think about you that you’re taking time off. 🔹 You worry about emails while laying on the beach. 🔹 You worry about coming back to a tidal wave of emails, tasks, and pressure to "catch up." It’s no wonder you may not feel like you took a vacation at all. In this episode of Be a Better Lawyer, I walk you through the 3 steps you must complete before you leave for a vacation, so your time away from the office actually does what it’s supposed...

info_outline 369: Best of...Values Alignment show art 369: Best of...Values Alignment

Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

If you’d asked me years ago what my values were, I would’ve rattled off a list without much thought. But when I looked at how I was living—how I was spending my time, where my energy was going—it told a different story. That’s what this episode is about. Values aren't just words we say we believe in. They're how we show up in our day-to-day life. When our actions don’t align with the values we think we hold, something feels off. That's a sign that we’re living out of integrity with ourselves. This episode was inspired by a conversation I had with a client who wanted to do a...

info_outline 368: Best Of...What Your Clients Think of You show art 368: Best Of...What Your Clients Think of You

Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

Do you worry about what your clients think of you? Even if you think, “Not really,” what you’ll learn today about what your brain thinks about them may surprise you. In this episode of Be a Better Lawyer, you’ll learn how your brain’s thoughts about your clients could be negatively impacting how much money you make in your practice and how you feel every day. WORK WITH DINA Dina helps lawyers like you take control of your practice, find fulfillment and create a life you love. Work with her to start implementing what you're learning in this podcast. There are two ways to work...

info_outline 367: Best Of...The Codependent Lawyer show art 367: Best Of...The Codependent Lawyer

Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

YOUR MID-YEAR GOAL RESET IS HERE! It's normal to move off course towards your goals. It takes focusing and refocusing on your goals to achieve them. I've created Precision Planning for Law Firm Growth to help you regroup and refocus on your goals. 👉 and make this year the best (and most peaceful) year in the law yet.   INSIDE THIS EPISODE Codependency isn’t a weakness. It’s a way of relating to the world that we pick up subconsciously.  And it can negatively impact how your run your law practice if you’re not aware of what’s happening. In this episode you'll learn the...

info_outline 366: Is Your Brain Holding You Back? show art 366: Is Your Brain Holding You Back?

Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

Time Peace for Lawyers is open for enrollment now. 👉 You can enroll here: *********  If you’re working long hours, putting out fires, and not making the traction you want to see in your law practice, listen to today’s episode. Here’s the truth: it’s not your fault. Your brain is designed to keep you safe, not successful. It’s a supercomputer, following the exact code it’s been given—often without your conscious awareness. Unless you examine that code, you may be running outdated programming leading to procrastination, overthinking, or making decisions blocking the growth...

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Be a Better Lawyer with Dina Cataldo

Stop drowning in work and start feeling in control of your law practice. My signature coaching program, Time Peace for Lawyers™, teaches you the skills law school never did. By the end of our 16 weeks together, you won’t just be a more effective lawyer — you’ll feel more like yourself. 💎 Doors are closing soon — . 💎 Join here 👉   ********* If you feel like you’re constantly working with no time left for yourself or the life you want outside the law, this episode is for you. You can have a thriving law practice and a life that feels like yours again. In...

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Do you feel like your hair is on fire daily in your law practice? 🔥

You’re not alone.

Kara Brinster felt the same way.

Between her family law practice, her role as a state’s attorney, parenting, and managing a household -- Kara’s plate was full.

Fast forward 10 months, Kara’s practice feels calmer, and she’s so much happier.

Not because she has less work—but because she learned the skills to support the life she actually wants.

In this episode of Be a Better Lawyer, my special guest Kara Brinster shares: 

📆Why she no longer holds every task and deadline in her head

😘How she stopped working until 10 p.m. and started making time to do things she loved doing

💵 The strategies she used to increase the profitability of her law practice

⚡️ What calmed her frustrations at the office (and at home!)

This episode is jam-packed with practical takeaways that helped Kara—and will help you—be happier, even when your plate feels full.

✅ Want more time for what matters most?

✅ Wish you could make your practice more profitable?

✅ Ready to stop running on adrenaline?

Kara’s story is proof that it’s possible—with support, systems, and the willingness to believe something better is yours for the asking.

🎧 Listen to this week’s episode of Be a Better Lawyer and let's get to work imagining what’s possible for you.

 

WORK WITH DINA

Dina helps lawyers like you take control of your practice, find fulfillment and create a life you love.

Work with her to start implementing what you're learning in this podcast.

There are two ways to work with her:

1) In her signature program Time Peace for Lawyers™ where you'll focus on taking control of your time, and

2) In private one-on-one coaching where you'll focus on growing your practice with ease.

Learn more about both at https://dinacataldo.com

 

RESOURCES

 

CONNECT WITH DINA

On Instagram @dina.cataldo

On LinkedIn

 

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