We had the good fortune of connecting with Ray Padilla and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ray, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Having a work life balance is extremely important. I do believe that one has to be open to fluctuations in that balance while at the same time having an overall goal or expectation of what that balance should be over a longer period of time. What I mean by that, is that we will all at some points in time be faced with an overwhelming amount of work or situations that arise which require much more time in order to get the job done, be successful or maintain the quality of your work product. When that happens, we need to be okay with putting in the time that is required. Once that time has passed though, it is imperative that we acknowledge that time commitment and reward ourselves with more time off work and not simply go back to putting in the normal hours again right away.
Burnout is a very real thing and while grinding it out and working hard should always be the goal, it shouldn’t come at the expense of your physical, mental and/or family health. What good is that success that you may be achieving or that money that you are earning if you don’t take the time to enjoy the fruits of your labor? Even worse, life is just too unpredictable and tomorrow is promised to no one, so if you are fortunate enough to be able to take some time off, do so. Go on that trip, take that day off, have that glass of wine.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are a personal injury law firm that represent people injured through no fault of their own. I am most proud of representing good and deserving human beings. We try and limit the amount of clients that we represent so that we can provide the best representation possible to those people that entrust their case to us.
Getting the firm to the point where it is now was difficult. There were a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of unknowns and many battles trying to build a reputation of quality work and relentless representation of our clients. What did come easy from the start was relating to our clients and speaking to them with sincerity (both good and bad) and understanding. I believe that our clients really understand that we are a team and we are routinely honored when old clients refer their family and friends to us. Caring for and truly helping people made our success come easier and faster.
Ultimately, we want people to know that our firm is here to help deserving people. We don’t have tv commercials, we don’t have billboards or radio ads promising the world just to have clients call us. We have good people working to help good people.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I really believe that the best way to explore a city and its people is through food. You can learn so much about a place, people, communities through learning and trying their food. Driving around to find a mobile taco truck, sitting down for some authentic ramen, or sharing a drink a beach side bar, you can’t go wrong.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be in the position I am now without the help of a tremendous amount of people. It has literally taken a village and it will continue to take a village. I won’t bore you with listing name after name of people who have helped and continue to help me in my path to success; however, here are some of the people that come to mind right away. My parents who sacrificed so much in order to give me every opportunity that they did not have. Evan Whitfield who gave a young kid from the inner city of Phoenix someone to look up to. My wife who provided me with all the support I needed to pursue my dream. My legal mentors Mike Alder and Bruce Levenson for always picking up phone calls, answering emails and texts. Finally, my clients for believing in me and entrusting me to fight for them.
Website: www.raypadillalaw.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raypadillalaw
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