Today we’d like to introduce you to Gino Brogdon Jr.
Gino, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a firstborn, older brother, so I’m sure those early negotiations at home laid the foundation for my future career in the legal field. Plus, when both of my parents told me I could do anything, I actually believed them. I really can’t remember a time when I didn’t know that I wanted to be a lawyer. My dad is a lawyer and was also a judge, so I had a very close example of what was possible growing up. Once I finished law school and had a little time under my belt at the Cochran Firm Atlanta, I started to give some real consideration to what kind of life I wanted long term.
Even though my vision wasn’t clear, I took to heart the concept of “never eating alone” and I began sharing all of my meals with other lawyers. I asked about what they love about the law and what they hated. I asked about what it took to be a business owner, which I quickly found out is a lot more than just practicing law. The first clear need was capital. At the time, I was reading Malcolm Gladwell’s books “David and Goliath” and “Outliers.” I got stuck on the theory that if I understood and owned my unique talents, I could overcome any difficulty. I became hyper-focused on how I could apply this philosophy to my funding challenge. Other than arguing, what else was I good at? The only thing I could honestly come up with what that I was a former football player and wrestler. I knew how to bring my body to peak performance and decided that day to get a personal training certification. From there, G fitness was born.
My girlfriend at the time made my first t-shirt with iron-on letters that said: “Don’t Quit, G-fit.” Talk about humble beginnings. I started training 4 hours a day along with a full-time schedule at the firm. It was a grind, but that hustle helped to build my endurance for running my own business. Within six months, I had saved enough to launch my practice. This past June, I’m thankful to say that, I celebrated five years of the Brogdon Firm, and I also married that woman.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path definitely has been unclear most of the time. I’ve had a ton of great mentors and probably a lot of luck to help make things a little smoother. Pretty soon after launching the Brogdon Firm, I realized continuing fitness training as a side hustle was not sustainable. But with personal injury, you never know when the next check is coming. I honestly was terrified about leaving money on the table and essentially writing my own demise. My mantra at the time was “I may not be the smartest or fastest, but I will never be outworked.” Owning a business has dished out a good amount of humility since then but I think that work ethic actually drove me to keep fighting through the exhaustion early on.
Choosing my battles, being flexible, and trusting my gut have been my most lucrative habits. Being humble and accepting support has shown me how to be vulnerable while still being tenacious. I’ve learned to accept (and ask for) help, like when my first landlord offered to charge me only 10% of what I made, which some months was nothing. A year later, I was ready to pivot when a colleague approached me about mediation, even though it seemed crazy to add a 3rd job into the mix at the time. My best advice is to be nimble and keep a strong team around you that supports you and holds you accountable. I try to pay the immense generosity I’ve received forward whenever I can because I know that is unique.
Please tell us about The Brogdon Firm – what should we know?
I specialize in problem-solving. Sometimes, that is in the courtroom and sometimes it is in a conference room. Running a personal injury firm and being a full-time mediator means every day can look really different. Most days, I spend the early mornings and late evenings focused on personal injury work, checking in with colleagues on case progress or trying to help vulnerable and injured clients. Midday, you can usually find me mediating which involves me going back and forth between multiple rooms, listening to different sides of a case and helping other lawyers, clients and claims adjusters find a middle ground.
If you live in Atlanta, I am sure you have heard a personal injury commercial on the radio or TV. You might think that every case ends up with a courtroom trial based on the advertising. In reality, most of those cases are settled in a mediation office. So, even though I am managing two separate practices there is a lot of synergy in my personal injury and mediation work. As one of the few black mediators in the state, I am working to carve out a niche for myself. It takes a ton of time management, but I think doing both keeps me attentive and up to date on industry trends.
Even though I get most of the shine, I am nothing without my team. I am most proud that I have stellar support at The Brogdon Firm that keeps things moving when I have to play my role as a Senior Neutral at Miles Mediation. Choosing the right team or vendors, even if you are a solo-entrepreneur, is critical. Whether it is your assistant, paralegal, or marketing consultant, assembling the right players can make the difference between failure and success. I only work with people with similar appetites for success and who bring balance to areas where I fall short.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Staying put in Atlanta has made my career what it is. But, when I was first starting out, I thought it was a deficit that I had never “left” the city. I’ve been here my entire life, chose Morehouse College for undergrad and didn’t stray too far away from the city for law school (GO DAWGS). What I’ve realized is that my deep Atlanta roots are what makes my practice unique. I get to combine my perspective from working at a big firm in the city as well as my local knowledge as a resident to create a boutique experience that helps my clients feel connected and confident. I think if you are just starting out, Atlanta is a great place to launch but only if you have done your homework. There is so much opportunity and just as many hungry entrepreneurs. Understanding your unique value proposition is critical to your success here.
Don’t try to be the big guy, just be the great guy. Focusing on quality over quantity helps to narrow your focus and capitalize on your individual strengths. Atlanta has been so good for many people, especially black entrepreneurs, to turn their solo act into giant enterprises. In the age of social media though, it is easy to get distracted. Set your own pace and commit to running your own race.
I stopped focusing on finding “my big break” and instead focused on building the strongest foundation possible so that I am ready to receive opportunity when it comes. If you want to come to Atlanta, I encourage you to consider more than what you can get from the city. Ask yourself, what do I have to give? Figure out where you can plug in with likeminded people to understand the landscape and truly connect. Whether it’s joining a membership club like The Gathering Spot or volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters to connect with the community, if you want Atlanta to work for you, you have to be committed to working with it.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5229 Roswell Road NE Atlanta, GA 30342
- Website: www.brogdonfirm.com
- Phone: 4049770385
- Email: gino@brogdonfirm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrogdonfirm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brogdonfirm/
- Other: http://www.milesmediation.com/neutrals/gino-brogdon-jr-esq/
Image Credit:
Lotastic Lens
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