Putting Outrage Aside

There is no shortage of outrage in the world. I suspect it’s always been like this, but it was harder to share it with everyone else before most of us started making instant movies of our lives, to be distributed to millions for almost no money.

Many of us have causes dear to our hearts and can feel outrage when those causes appear to be losing – on the battlefield, in the hearts and minds of our friends, neighbors or compatriots.

My clients are frequently outraged at spouses and litigation opponents hiding money, or lying about the circumstances of a commercial transaction or encounter.

I do a better job when I understand the outrage, but then put it to one side and look at all the evidence. Just as it’s never a good idea to send a letter or email when you are steaming mad (sleep on it – you will rarely regret it), investigation while outraged clouds your judgement.

That’s not the same thing as saying that what angers you doesn’t anger me. It’s just that as a professional, I don’t need the distraction of outrage to know that your matter is of great importance to you. As long as I have no conflict with the other side, I will do everything I can to help you – whether it’s winning a case or finding hidden assets.

Sometimes my clients are not outraged at all. In due diligence, it can be the reverse. They want to be able to like the other side – their investment target or their prospective business partner. They have paid me to tell them something that may persuade them to back out of a transaction. While to avoid disaster it’s better to pay me half a percent or less of the money that would have been invested, most people want to be able to make the investment if they can do it prudently.

Outrage has its place, but don’t let it get the better of you. During an investigation or litigation, you will need to make dozens of decisions about which way to go next, what to drop and what to pursue.

Sometimes it pays to keep going, and sometimes – despite the emotional hurt – it’s time to move on and leave the marital fight/bad investment/expensive lawsuit behind. You may not get one hundred percent of what you wanted, but you will have a decent shot at getting closer to inner peace.