Years ago, I sat in the audience at the Texas Women Rainmakers Conference listening to Kathryn Childers—one of the first female Secret Service Agents—share her story. She delivered a message I’ll never forget:

“Do it scared.”

It struck me like lightning. Fear, she explained, can be liberating and empowering—not something to hide from, but something to embrace. That idea shifted my perspective, and I began to apply it to every corner of my life and career.

From making tough decisions in a legal case or mapping out trial strategy to navigating life’s big transitions, I started to lean into the fear. And what I found on the other side was confidence, growth, and a whole lot of support from my community.

In the fall of 2017, I faced one of the biggest “do it scared” moments of my life: starting my own law firm.

I had a clear vision—a client-centered firm that prioritized access to attorneys, embraced top-tier technology, and operated with purpose and efficiency. I was told it wouldn’t work. That it was too bold. Too different. Too much.

But instead of listening to the doubts swirling in my head, I leaned on the relationships I had built over the years—especially within the American Association for Justice. My colleagues and mentors not only encouraged me but reminded me of the mantra I had come to live by: Laura, do it scared.

Starting my firm was a turning point. Looking back, I often think, I should have done it sooner.

Kathryn Childers once said,

“Use your fear as an action, not an excuse. If you do it scared, imagine what your life could be. No matter what life dares you to do—do it scared.”

Those words are more than inspiration. They are a challenge to each of us: to take the leap, to bet on ourselves, and to know that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s action in the face of it.

So if you’re standing at the edge of something new—whether it’s launching your own firm, stepping into leadership, taking on a new trial role, or asking for the raise you deserve—remember:

You don’t have to wait to feel fearless. You just have to do it scared.