Conversations That Inspire Better Leadership

Carl reflects on his transition from a 30-year career as a trial lawyer to a new calling focused on leadership, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and professional well-being. Discover how his life experiences shaped his approach to helping leaders and teams thrive.

Staying calm under pressure isn't a personality trait, it's a practice built on three habits: protecting the asset (your body and mind), owning your actions completely, and showing up with consistency over time. The core insight is simple: if you're not vertical, you're not in service to anybody.

Carl Ficks discusses his contribution to The Difference: Essays on Loss, Courage and Personal Transformation, his passion for reading and inspirational storytelling, and his weekly Friday Ficks posts. He also shares how family, meaningful activities, and the poem “The Dash” inspire him to make the most of the time he has.

Carl Ficks joins host Doug Brown to explore why emotional intelligence is essential for lawyers and law firm leaders. They discuss how EQ can help law firms retain top talent, strengthen leadership, and improve performance, along with the return on investment of emotional intelligence training.

Carl Ficks joins host Mike Carlin and co-author Rosemary Ravinal to discuss The Difference: Essays on Loss, Courage, and Personal Transformation. They explore how personal loss, adversity, and life-changing experiences can inspire transformation, the courage to pursue more meaningful work, and the power of sharing authentic stories to connect with and encourage others.

Carl Ficks joins co-editor Rosemary Ravinal and fellow contributors Dr. Lynne Maureen Hurdle and Malissa Smith for a conversation about The Difference: Essays on Loss, Courage and Personal Transformation. Featuring deeply personal stories from ten accomplished individuals, the collection explores how loss, adversity, courage, and pivotal life experiences can inspire profound personal transformation and lead to more authentic, wholehearted lives.

Carl Ficks joins the Expansive Intimacy podcast to share the story of the Dead End Kids, his close-knit group of childhood friends who have supported one another for more than 40 years. He discusses the importance of lasting friendships through life’s challenges, the role of music in creating a sense of connection, and how wellness and cycling help him show up as a better friend, father, and colleague.

Carl Ficks helps busy professionals and their teams get fit again, resulting in less stress and higher productivity. The founder of No Surrender, Carl teaches that fitness and wellbeing are the cornerstones of success. Carl is an endurance athlete and former 30+ year trial lawyer who brings hard-won wisdom, real world experience and actionable strategies to his work and your business.

Carl Ficks joins Neil Tyra on The Law Entrepreneur to discuss why health and wellness matter for attorneys and other busy professionals. Drawing on his 30-year career as a litigator and his work with No Surrender, Carl shares practical ways to start small, build consistent wellness habits, and prioritize self-care while managing the demands of legal practice. The conversation also explores lawyer wellness trends and the importance of treating yourself as your most valuable asset.