AlderTalk

Most people think you need billboards, TV ads, or a massive budget to build a law practice.

Chris Montes de Oca proved otherwise.

He started with no clients, no ads, and no connections—just grit, gratitude, and a willingness to outwork everyone else. Nearly two decades later, he’s resolved cases worth tens of millions, including a recent $45 million settlement.

In this AlderTalk episode, Chris and I talk about:
👉 How to grow a practice from zero through relationships and sweat equity
👉 Why trial experience (even in criminal defense) is the best training ground
👉 The mindset shifts that help lawyers handle pressure, setbacks, and big moments
👉 The role gratitude and resilience play in both practice and life

Chris’s journey is proof that small, consistent actions over time build the foundation for extraordinary results.

Watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/LR6972wSneE

4 days ago | [YT] | 0

AlderTalk

I used to think I’d never be a “routine guy.” As a trial lawyer and business owner, my days were unpredictable—late nights prepping cases, early mornings in court, constant fires to put out. For years, I told myself a routine just wasn’t possible. But the truth is, it wasn’t about finding the perfect system—it was about practicing small, consistent habits until they stuck.

Most people overcomplicate routines. They picture a perfectly scheduled day with military precision—wake up at 5am, meditate, run 6 miles, read 3 chapters, cold plunge, eat kale. Then they burn out in a week.

Here’s the truth: the best routines are just good habits stacked together. Consistency beats complexity every time.

If you’re struggling to build one, don’t overthink it. Start with one small thing you can actually stick to. Do it every day until it’s automatic, then add another. Over time, those little habits compound into a routine that feels effortless.

A few simple places to start:

1. Drink a glass of water right when you wake up.
2. Walk for 10 minutes before you check your phone.
3. Write down one thing you’re grateful for.
4. Set a bedtime alarm so you don’t scroll the night away.

None of these will change your life overnight. But strung together, they will. That’s how routines are built—one small, repeatable action at a time.

5 days ago | [YT] | 0

AlderTalk

Marcus Aurelius said, “Everything is born from change.” He was right. Change isn’t something to fight against—it’s where growth, strength, and clarity come from.

Without change, we stay stuck. The first trial I ever took on was terrifying, but it made me a better lawyer and a stronger person. Growth only happens when you step outside the comfort zone.

Change also opens doors. A job loss can become the start of a business. A setback in court can point you toward a new strategy. What feels like an ending often turns into an opportunity.

And with every change we survive, we get tougher. Farmers know this—they adapt to every season, and that resilience carries them forward.

Change also strips life down to what matters. Moving cities, losing people, shifting careers—it shows you who’s truly with you and what’s truly important.

The truth is, change is the natural flow of life. Seasons turn, tides shift, people evolve. Fighting it only wears you out. But if you lean into it, you’ll find peace—and a stronger version of yourself on the other side.

6 days ago | [YT] | 0

AlderTalk

Mondays aren’t the enemy—they’re the launchpad. A strong week doesn’t happen by accident; it starts with the small things you do on repeat. Routines are what carry you when motivation fades. Whether it’s your morning workout, planning your cases, or just setting your priorities before the noise hits—stick to it. Show up for your routine, and it’ll show up for you.

Who agrees? 👀

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

AlderTalk

We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of something hard—whether it’s work, fitness, or life—and your brain fires off the line: “I can’t do this.”

It feels final. Permanent. Like a wall you can’t get past.

But most of the time, it’s not that you can’t—it’s that you’re just having trouble. And that’s a big difference.

“I can’t” shuts the door. It leaves you nowhere to go.
“I’m having trouble” keeps the door open. It’s honest, but it leaves room for growth. One signals defeat, the other signals a challenge.

I’ll give you an example. Years ago, I had a case that felt overwhelming. There were boxes of evidence, expert witnesses stacked against us, and a mountain of pressure. More than once, that thought crept in—“I can’t win this one.”

But the truth was, I wasn’t incapable. I was just having trouble finding the right angle. Once I reframed it, I stopped beating myself up and started asking better questions. Step by step, witness by witness, we found the cracks. And we won.

That shift—from “I can’t” to “I’m having trouble”—has saved me more times than I can count, both inside and outside the courtroom.

Think about it:

In fitness, “I can’t run a mile” becomes “I’m having trouble running a mile right now.” That mindset allows for practice, progress, and patience.

At work, “I can’t handle this project” turns into “I’m having trouble with this part, but I can look for support or try a new approach.” Now there’s a path forward.

In personal growth, “I can’t change” becomes “I’m having trouble changing, but I’m working at it.” It acknowledges the struggle without ending the story.

Words matter. “Can’t” sounds like failure. “Having trouble” sounds like a challenge—and challenges can be overcome.

So here’s how you put this into practice:

Catch yourself when you say “I can’t.”

Reframe it to “I’m having trouble.”

Ask yourself, “What’s one thing I can do to make this easier?” Break it into steps. Ask for help. Keep moving.

The truth is, most of us are capable of far more than we give ourselves credit for. It’s not that we can’t. It’s that we hit friction, resistance, or difficulty—and we mistake that for the end of the road.

But friction is part of growth. Trouble is part of learning. Struggle is part of progress.

“I can’t” is where you quit.
“I’m just having trouble” is where you grow.

1 week ago | [YT] | 1

AlderTalk

"A deposition is where you show preparation, control the room, and get the answers you need to move your case forward. It’s not about talking more — it’s about asking the right questions and letting the witness fill the silence."

Watch my latest here: https://youtu.be/U7Ke1fKdsfk?si=hkpEG...

1 week ago | [YT] | 2

AlderTalk

What’s the hardest habit to stay consistent with? 👀👇

1 week ago | [YT] | 1

AlderTalk

Stepping outside your comfort zone is never easy. That’s why most people avoid it.

The first few steps are awkward. You don’t know what you’re doing. You feel exposed. But if you can push through that stage, everything changes. The discomfort fades. The confidence builds. And suddenly, what once felt intimidating becomes second nature.

Too many of us talk ourselves out of growth with excuses like, “I’m too old for that” or “That’s just not me.” But those are lies we tell ourselves to stay comfortable.

The truth? Growth doesn’t happen in comfort. It happens when you lean into the unknown, when you’re willing to feel that temporary discomfort in exchange for long-term progress.

So start. Try the new thing. Take the risk. Build the habit. Whatever it is—don’t wait until you feel ready, because that day will never come.

Discomfort is temporary. Stagnation lasts forever.

1 week ago | [YT] | 1

AlderTalk

A lot of people think negotiation is about winning arguments. It’s not. It’s about creating movement. Over the years, I’ve shared some of my favorite lessons on patience, presence, and listening — and those same lessons show up at the negotiating table.

Here are three techniques good negotiators use:

✅ They listen more than they talk. You can’t move someone if you don’t understand what’s driving them.
✅ They stay calm under pressure. The louder the room gets, the quieter they get.
✅ They know when to stop. The best deals are often closed with silence, not more words.

These aren’t tricks. They’re habits. And like any good habit, they take practice. Whether you’re negotiating a case, a salary, or even where to eat dinner, these techniques work because they’re rooted in respect.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 3

AlderTalk

We usually think of stories as entertainment—something to flip through on a plane, or an audiobook to pass time in traffic. But the truth is, fiction sharpens the brain in ways that are hard to beat.

1. Better Focus
Following a novel forces your brain to stay present—tracking the plot, remembering characters, and catching small details. For me, it’s not so different from preparing for trial. If you lose track of the story, you lose the whole case.

2. Bigger Imagination
Fiction stretches your creativity. When I read about a detective in New York or a wizard at Hogwarts, my brain builds those worlds. That same skill shows up when I need to think differently in the courtroom, or solve a problem no one else sees.

3. More Empathy
The best stories put you in someone else’s shoes—you feel their wins, their heartbreaks, their fears. As a lawyer, I rely on that muscle every day. If I can’t connect with my clients’ struggles, I can’t tell their story to a jury.

4. Stronger Memory
Keeping track of who said what, or how events connect, is like a mental workout. It’s why I still remember little details from cases I tried 15 years ago. My brain got in the habit of holding onto threads and weaving them back together.

5. Lower Stress
Stories give your mind a break. I’d take an audiobook at night over doomscrolling any day—it slows me down and actually helps me sleep.

6. Sharper Communication
The more stories you take in, the more tools you’ve got to tell your own. Reading fiction expands your vocabulary, but more importantly, it teaches rhythm and style. That’s what makes a good argument stick.

So don’t dismiss fiction as “just for fun.” It’s exercise for your brain, empathy training for your heart, and sometimes the best way to get ready for real life.

When I pick up a novel, I’m not just passing time—I’m sharpening tools I’ll use in the courtroom and in life.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 1