Introductory note from NJAJ's In Brief Committee Chair

We often discuss the topic of work–life balance, and I frequently urge lawyers to take 30 days of vacation each year — the same amount members of the military receive. Mike Mumola, an active NJAJ trial lawyer, made the bold decision to step away from his busy practice and pursue something entirely different with his life. When I learned about his experience, I asked him to write a short article about what he has done and how it has affected him.

It’s certainly not a path for everyone, but I hope you enjoy his story.

-Mike Ferrara, Chair, In Brief Committee

Part One: The Journey Begins

I grew up without “a lot,” so I always wanted “a lot.” Accumulating as many shiny objects as possible became my definition of success. I was raised by a single mother who worked three jobs to support me and my sister. My father left when I was four and never supported us. I’m not sure if that is the exact reason, but the entrepreneurial flame began burning very early inside me.

I also always had a strong internal drive to fight for what was right—to help others, to pursue justice. As a teenager and young adult, that drive sometimes got me into trouble because I didn’t yet know how to channel that energy. Ultimately, through some unexplainable force, the drive for success and the desire to help others culminated in my graduating from law school and opening a law firm.

What started with a neighborhood friend and partner grew to almost a dozen attorneys over the next ten years. One day, I looked around and realized I was the founding partner and trial attorney of a thriving New Jersey–based law firm—one that supported a team of staff and their families while delivering justice throughout the state. I had made it. I was successful. So why wasn’t I happy?

I was nearly 30 pounds overweight, eating too much, drinking too much, and struggling internally despite all outward signs of success. But I was the alpha; I couldn’t “not” be okay…even when I wasn’t okay. That pressure drove me into feeling lost and depressed while I drove expensive cars between the office, courthouses, and beach houses. Eventually, I reached a moment of radical honesty: I was dealing with a mental health issue. This wasn’t success.

A chance encounter with meditation—now a significant part of my life—gave me the ability to sit with this realization, to unpack and understand what was happening. I realized that in my quest for success, I had built one very strong leg of a one‑legged chair: the professional leg. Not only is a one‑legged chair unstable, but I also recognized that I needed to build the other three legs I had ignored for nearly 20 years. So I began building them: Physical, Mental/Emotional, and Spiritual. I was going to redefine success, starting with health inside and out.

I began learning the things I never learned in college or law school. I wanted to understand how people were happy, what made them thrive, and how to feel truly alive. I no longer wanted to be the guy who put on an expensive suit and a smile while crumbling inside. The show was over. No matter what anyone thought or said, I was taking control of my life. I had already let two decades pass, and I wasn’t going to let another minute slip by without enjoying the brief time we get on this planet.

I continued meditating—more consistently and more deeply. I began listening to what was inside as a guide to my happiness. I realized that endless hours spent working on things that didn’t spark my soul were suffocating it. I cut back on drinking, changed my diet, began intermittent fasting, practiced breathwork, exercised (including Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu), and started living a more balanced, healthy life.

I also began to travel. The trips were small at first but profoundly meaningful. Instead of the usual haunts and watering holes, I would go to a park with healthy food and reflect on what I was creating in my life. Yes, I sometimes took off my dress shoes—while still in a suit—just to let my feet touch the grass. Yes, it probably looked strange. And yes, it was worth it. That simple choice to step outside for fresh air has since taken me around the world—to jungles, mountains, deserts, and places most people only see on television or social media.

Although the transformation didn’t happen overnight, I felt the benefits almost immediately. Just as it took time to build a successful firm, it took time to build a successful life—one centered on happiness and fulfillment. Slowly but surely, I began to feel better, mentally and physically. I lost more than 25 pounds (and have kept it off for over a decade), and I could breathe better—literally and metaphorically. Suddenly, I was successful in a new sense of the word. My life felt full, and I was excited to get out of bed each morning.

Looking back, I now recognize this journey as what Joseph Campbell calls “The Hero’s Journey.” I had to walk through darkness and struggle to confront my demons. And on the other side, the treasures life had to offer were waiting. I wanted those treasures. I now have them—and I want to share them with others.

The truth is that our profession often suffers in silence—depression, addiction, loneliness, and fatigue. But the other truth is that change is possible, and a life worth living is available the moment we decide to reach for it. The journey of a thousand miles doesn’t begin with a single step; it begins with the decision to take that step. There is much more to my journey that I will share in the future. For now, I hope this is enough to inspire you to begin yours.

Mike Mumola currently serves as General Counsel to Momentis, LLC - a single-family office which serves the founding family of Omani and Jeanie Carson. He also serves as General Counsel to Omya.Life - a Carson-led private network of Conscious leaders. Mike is a Founding Partner of Kalavruzos, Mumola, Hartman & Lento, LLC and now Of Counsel at Hartman Duff, LLC. Mike spent more than 20 years leading the civil litigation department of his firm. During that time, he was a member and avid supporter of NJAJ. Mike is also a former Bloomberg TV co-host, and public speaker who works globally helping individuals and organizations find balance between personal and professional pleasure, purpose, and profit. For more information, you can reach him at Mike@MikeMumola.com.