When I was hired as an Assistant District Attorney – essentially a baby prosecutor – I asked my new boss to tell me the three most important things I needed to know. In the years since, I’ve realized that his advice would be valuable to a cross-section of professionals, not just attorneys. He said, “Well, … Read more
In the professional world, responsibility doesn’t always wait until you are ready to handle it. You have to be prepared to do the right thing, even when you may not be certain what that is. At 27, I was a fledgling Texas prosecutor trying murders, rapes and robberies. One day, I entered my office to … Read more
When you believe in a course of action, the right thing to do is to follow that path… even though it seems hopeless. I learned this lesson early in my career. In my third year as a prosecutor, Judge James B. Zimmermann called me up to the bench. “Mr. Sparks,” he said, “You have a … Read more