Athletes At Law

Every setback comes with two stories: the first emotional draft and the truth about what actually happened. High performers learn to move from reaction to responsibility - and from responsibility to the adjustment that helps them get better.In Episode 7 of Athletes at Law, Todd Burnham and Phil McCarthy explore self-assessment as a performance skill. They discuss why ego and emotion can distort our first read of a setback, how athletes learn to own their contribution, why feedback matters in the courtroom and at work, and how communicating a clear adjustment builds trust with teammates, clients, and leaders.Whether you're an athlete, attorney, founder, manager, or professional trying to improve under pressure, this episode offers a practical framework for turning mistakes into useful information, breaking repeated patterns, and becoming someone others can rely on to respond, adjust, and move forward.Hosted by:Todd Burnham - Founder, Burnham LawPhil McCarthy - Founder, North Star AdvisorySubscribe for new Athletes at Law episodes and practical lessons from sports, leadership, law, and

Energy alone does not make a team better. The difference is where that energy goes. Focused energy turns enthusiasm into intentional action, better decisions, and a stronger environment for everyone around you.In Episode 6 of Athletes at Law, Todd Burnham and Phil McCarthy explore what focused energy looks like on the field, inside a law firm, and in leadership. They discuss the difference between goofy energy and high-performance focus, why enthusiasm fuels team wins, how positive energy helps people adapt to change and adversity, and why leaders set the tone through the way they respond when things get difficult.Whether you lead a law firm, coach athletes, manage a team, or are working to become a higher-value teammate, this episode shows how focused energy becomes a real performance skill - one that strengthens trust, improves collaboration, reduces friction, and helps build the kind of environment people want to play in.Hosted by:Todd Burnham - Founder, Burnham LawPhil McCarthy - Founder, North Star AdvisorySubscribe for new Athletes at Law episodes and practical lessons from sports, leadership, law, and business.

Alignment is what turns talented individuals into a team that can move with speed, trust, and purpose. On the field, you can see it when a rowing crew stays on beat, an offense recognizes the same call, or a quick correction gets everyone back into the play.In Episode 5 of Athletes at Law, Todd Burnham and Phil McCarthy explore how alignment is created, how it breaks down, and how teams can restore it quickly. They discuss shared game plans, clear roles, specific feedback, accepting coaching without defensiveness, client and legal-team alignment, and the importance of recognizing the people who consistently do their part.Whether you are leading a law firm, serving clients, managing a team, or trying to become a more dependable teammate, this episode shows why alignment reduces friction, improves communication, accelerates execution, strengthens culture, and creates momentum.Hosted by:Todd Burnham - Founder, Burnham LawPhil McCarthy - Founder, North Star AdvisorySubscribe for new Athletes at Law episodes and practical lessons from sports, leadership, law, and business.In This EpisodeWhy specific feedback is one of the fastest ways to restore alignmentWhat alignment looks like in rowing, music, lacrosse, and high-performing teamsHow shared game plans, preparation, and repetition help people move in syncWhy clients, legal teams, and firms need a shared strategy and clear expectationsHow to receive feedback without deflecting, shifting blame, or becoming defensiveWhy alignment creates speed, better communication, less friction, and better outcomesThe difference between players who hear something once and apply it repeatedlyHow clear roles, recognition, and acknowledgement strengthen team culture

Great coaching is not about lowering the bar or offering constant praise. It is about communicating a clear standard, earning trust, and helping people rise to what they are capable of achieving.In Episode 4 of Athletes at Law, Todd Burnham and Phil McCarthy explore what makes a coach, leader, or mentor truly effective. They discuss specific feedback, high standards, team buy-in, emotional intelligence, role clarity, and the ability to adapt leadership to the needs of different players and professionals.Whether you're coaching athletes, leading a law firm, managing a team, mentoring young professionals, or learning how to be led more effectively, this episode offers a practical framework for building trust, improving performance, and creating a stronger culture.Hosted by:Todd Burnham - Founder, Burnham LawPhil McCarthy - Founder, North Star AdvisorySubscribe for new Athletes at Law episodes and practical lessons from sports, leadership, law, and business.In This EpisodeWhy great coaches maintain the standard instead of lowering the barHow specific feedback helps players understand what truly affects performanceThe importance of buy-in, trust, respect, and shared team cultureWhy great teams do not worry about who receives the creditHow effective leaders adapt their message to different players and learning stylesWhat sports can teach law firms and service businesses about role clarityWhy constant all-hands-on-deck urgency creates chaos instead of leadershipHow intentional players can improve the coaching relationship and their own performance

What separates people who are excellent from people who are occasionally great? And why is excellence less about talent — and more about the way you do everything?In this episode of Athletes at Law, Todd Burnham and Phil McCarthy explore excellence as a practice, not a peak. Drawing on their years as Hobart lacrosse teammates and their careers building companies, they dig into the difference between chasing outcomes and holding standards, why excellence shows up in the smallest reps first, and how the habits built on a field become the operating system for a career, a team, and a family.Whether you’re an athlete, a founder, a parent, or someone raising your own bar, this conversation is about building a way of doing things that holds up when nobody’s watching.In this episode:Why excellence is a way of operating — not a moment, a title, or a trophyStandards vs. goals: what to hold onto when outcomes are out of your controlHow excellence shows up in the smallest reps before it shows up on the scoreboardThe difference between being driven and being disciplinedWhat great teammates and great colleagues have in commonWhy culture is just excellence made contagiousHow to raise your standard without burning outExcellence at home: what your kids learn from how you do small thingsThe role of failure in refining the way you workPractical ways to audit your own standards this week