EP #304: Mike Nardella with Nardella & Nardella, PLLC

Good Neighbor Podcast: Cooper City

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What if your toughest job became your greatest teacher? Mike Nardella transformed the grueling experience of door-to-door book sales into the foundation for a thriving commercial law practice.
Mike opens up about his unexpected path to law, having originally planned to become a professor of Ancient Greek and Latin until a conversation with his grandfather changed everything: "Michael, listen, you go dig up all the bones you want when you're in your 40s and you've already made your money." That pragmatic advice led Mike to law school and ultimately to founding Nardella Law, a 20-attorney firm specializing in commercial litigation and bankruptcy throughout Florida.
The heart of our conversation explores how those punishing summers selling educational books door-to-door created an unshakable work ethic. Working 12-14 hour days facing constant rejection, Mike learned that success doesn't require natural talent or charm—just relentless persistence. "You don't have to be good. You don't have to have a silver tongue. You don't even have to know what the hell it is you're doing. You just got to work."
This philosophy serves him well in his practice, where he helps businesses overcome catastrophic problems. Mike shares a particularly rewarding case where his firm saved a family plumbing business with 65 employees from certain failure, restructuring their operations and successfully litigating against bad actors who had threatened their survival.
We also delve into Mike's approach to building a multi-generational law firm by mentoring young associates fresh out of law school, and his compelling advice for professional success: rather than trying to be in the top 1% of one skill (nearly impossible), focus on being in the top 25% of three complementary skills—creating a unique and powerful professional combination.
Whether you're building a business or navigating career transitions, Mike's journey demonstrates how embracing difficult experiences and focusing on consistent effort rather than innate talent creates the foundation for lasting success.

For more information visit https://nardellalaw.com/ or call [phone].

Chapters

1. Intro to Nardella Law (00:00:00)

2. Path to Law from Ancient Greek Studies (00:08:50)

3. Commercial Litigation & Bankruptcy Focus (00:14:03)

4. Family Life and Outdoor Adventures (00:20:39)

5. Revisiting College Book Sales Experience (00:30:14)

6. Life Lessons from Rejection and Persistence (00:37:44)