Doug NollI'm called in when human dynamics are getting in the way of strategic leadership execution.

Becoming a Peacemaker

7 Jan 2026 · 1 min

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0:49

In this spoken monologue, the presenter recounts his personal transformation from a hard‑nosed trial lawyer to a professional peacemaker. He explains how years of studying tai chi revealed a paradox—softness and vulnerability are sources of strength—and how this insight challenged his previously arrogant, aggressive legal persona. Motivated by this shift, he returned to academia in his late 40s, earning a master’s degree in peacemaking and conflict studies in 2001 at age 51, and left his law practice in 2000 to pursue a career dedicated to conflict resolution.

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I studied tai chi as a martial art for a number of years, and so I left the studio and went to study tai chi, and that's what got me into peacemaking. Because in tai chi, the paradox is the softer you are, the stronger you are. The more vulnerable you are, the more powerful you are. And at that time, I was a pretty hardcore trial lawyer, and I suddenly realized that being arrogant, being an arrogant asshole, although a very good arrogant asshole, was not cutting it. But you gotta have that. Yeah, I went back and I ended up going going back to school and getting my master's degree in peacemaking and conflict studies, um, in my late 40s. I got my degree in 2001. I was 51. I left the practice of law in 2000 to become a peacemaker. So cool! That