Anxious Achiever

Equity Uncle
Volume 3, Issue 9, (Originally Published on Monday 6 May 2013)
 
Dear Equity Uncle,
 
We’re all high achievers, but playing a zero sum game. How do I celebrate with friends when I get the RA position/clerkship/associateship/job/journal editor they wanted? What happens when they get what I wanted? Is it possible to have real friends at law school?
 
Anxious Achiever
 
Dear AA,
 
Like life, law is only a zero sum game if you measure achievement by reference to other people. Equity cherishes other people. Equity adores the Joneses. Equity is a communist.
 
If you get that RA position your friend wanted, it is not yours alone. Equity requires that you hold that position on trust for everyone. Your achievement in life is everyone’s achievement in Equity.
 
Equity likes neither zero sum games nor game theory itself. Equity has not seen A Beautiful Mind, because Equity does not like Russell Crowe. Competition is neither good nor productive, and it shouldn’t come at the expense of friendship. Celebrate your friends’ achievements because they are also yours. Buy them a drink! And get two straws.
 
Equity Uncle
 
 
Equity Uncle