In this episode of Knowledgecast, Jack welcomes Mike Bassett, a seasoned civil litigation attorney and founder of The Bassett Firm. Mike shares his deeply personal story, as told in his book The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story. The conversation explores Mike's experience of getting involved in an illegal financial scheme, how it led to an FBI investigation, and the eventual consequences he faced—including time spent in a federal halfway house.
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Mike candidly discusses the pressure, manipulation, and poor decisions that put him in such a difficult position, but more importantly, how he rebuilt his life and career from the ground up. Now the founder of a successful law firm, Mike talks about the importance of survival in the early days and how he eventually developed a unique mission for his firm, focused on empathy, professionalism, and grace.
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Throughout the conversation, Mike shares his key learnings from the experience, including the importance of gratitude, grace, humility, and community. He also reflects on his practice of annual silent retreats, a personal ritual that helps him clear his mind, reflect, and return to life refreshed and with new perspectives.