Interview: Terry Carter: Lawyer turned CEO (Travertine Spa)

Lots of lawyers, attorneys, corporate counsel, etc hate their jobs. When I am interviewed on the topic of my career change, the assumption is that I felt the same.  Not true.  From time to time I want to appeal to my learned colleagues who are looking for a change.

This is from an interview with JD SNUB.

Terry Carter, CEO of Travertine Spa, a natural botanical line of body care products, attended law school for one of several right reasons. For law students and practicing attorneys who feel misled by the constant admonition that you can do a lot with a law degree, Terry’s path should inspire you.

Decisive and deliberate, Terry initially chooses law school in order “[t]o learn how a company works from the viewpoint of its legal needs.” He says that he refuses to be locked into one career and admonishes the rest of us to use the skills that we’ve learned to pursue whatever makes us happy. For Terry, it was the tranquility of spas that drew him, a former IP attorney. But he attributes his success to the diligence, confidence, professionalism, and strategy garnered in the practice of law and, very likely, to the influence of his entrepreneurial parents.

In the end, he says he LOVEs what he does and has seen how his drive to succeed  motivates others to reach for their goals, as well. His hope is that we will use what we have learned, not simply in law school or legal practice but, throughout our lives, to pursue a life that is meaningful to us.

You can read his survey results in their entirety here . Thanks to JDBliss for featuring a great interview with Terry, inspiring me to reach out to him.