Spin-Offs & Side Stories
The Air Between Us (2025)
Jake Walker has spent his life navigating the skies and the expectations of others. From the pressure of his father’s military ambitions to the weight of his own decisions as a pilot and aerospace engineer, Jake’s path has been anything but steady. But when a pivotal career decision and a complicated love triangle force him to reevaluate what truly matters, Jake must confront the sacrifices he’s made for his country, and the people he loves.
Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, the aerospace industry, and the evolving landscape of 1970s California, The Air Between Us is a poignant exploration of ambition, love, and the distances that define us. Jake’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones fought within.
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It Takes a Team: You Can’t Make Rain by Yourself
Time to Build a Team…
It Takes a Team is about David Coleman, a hard charging partner in a large Houston firm. David has become a top rainmaker bringing in big clients, but associates hate to work for him. They call him the “career killer.” Many strong associates thought to have a future with his firm leave and join other firms. David feels little responsibility for attrition. David is a composite of partners the authors encountered during their careers and have met in other firms. Your firm might have a lawyer that reminds you of David. You might be a lawyer like David and not even realize it. David has a fixed mindset. He is bright, hard working and has developed a big ego. He acts as if he has never made a mistake. He is sure that successful partners are born not made. His superior attitude is insufferable because he projects that everyone else is out of step. Behind their backs, he describes lawyers others think are very talented, as dumb or lazy. Senior management of his firm is becoming frustrated with David because, despite his ability to attract business, he is hurting the morale of associates. His stated attitude is that “if I make my numbers, I don’t have to worry about bringing younger lawyers along. I don’t have time for the ‘touchy-feely’ stuff.” David knows that something is wrong. He is not really happy with his life as a partner, but he doesn’t know what to do and the idea of seeking help is terrifying to him. He is afraid it will show weakness. Does David remind you of any lawyers in your firm? Does he remind you of any public figures? It Takes a Team is a parable about what would realistically cause David to change. More importantly, it is an illustration of why You Can’t Make Rain by Yourself.
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Say Ciao to Chow Mein: Conquering Career Burnout
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.
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