Say Ciao to Chow Mein

Meet Tony Caruso--a frustrated, nearly defeated, first-year law firm associate. Tired of the endless, daily drudgery, Tony begins to question whether he made the right career choice. That is, until he has coffee one day with Jim Hardy, a family friend and partner at another firm, who steps in to mentor Tony. Say Ciao to Chow Mein is a light, humorous book that addresses the growing concern of career burnout. It will help disconcerted professionals reconnect (and remain connected) with their passions while providing practical, how-to steps for achieving career satisfaction. The story follows Tony Caruso as Jim Hardy teaches him (over many cups of Starbucks coffee) how to set smart goals and organize his professional and personal life to achieve maximum fulfillment in both. With Jim's help, Tony learns how to take control of his career leading to partner-level success at his firm. The first in a series, Cordell Parvin bases the events in this account on actual success stories from lawyers he has met and coached. Say Ciao to Chow Mein gives lawyers and professionals reason to remain on their career path and, more importantly, shows them the steps to rise to the top of their profession.

About the Author

Cordell Parvin is among the nation's most widely known and respected transportation construction lawyers. With thirty-seven years of experience, he has established himself within his field as a rainmaker, instructor, and career coach. Cordell is passionate about teaching young lawyers. He works with them individually and seeks to inspire them based on their specific career goals. His enthusiasm for helping firms and lawyers achieve greater success prompted him to leave Jenkens & Gilchrist in January 2005 to open a consulting practice. He continues to practice construction law, frequently representing the nation's leading contractors. Cordell earned his law degree from the University of Richmond and his Bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Texas State Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar Association, Associated General Contractors of Texas, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, and the American Arbitration Association. Cordell makes his home in Dallas with Nancy, his wife of thirty-six years and greatest supporter. Nancy is an avid golfer who started playing when she was forty years old and now has a handicap of one. She plays in tournaments in Texas and across the United States. While Cordell is proud of the work he has done for clients and, more recently, for lawyers, law firms, and law students, he is most proud of his daughter, Jill, who follows her passion and teaches middle-school students.