In this conversation, Salvador Carranza and Travis West explore what it really means to “own your future” through service, entrepreneurship, and legal innovation. Travis shares his non-linear journey—from political work to volunteering for the Ranger Regiment—and how that experience shaped his leadership style, emotional intelligence, and commitment to transparency, community, and purpose.
They also dive into what’s changing inside the legal industry right now: sharper risk assessment, better business decisions, and how technology, automation, and legal tech are reshaping how firms operate. Travis breaks down what responsible experimentation with artificial intelligence and deep learning looks like in a real firm—how to evaluate vendors, avoid hype, and build a culture of curiosity and adaptability (without sticking your head in the sand).
Along the way, they touch on parenting, relationships, and the success habits that compound over time—especially for lawyers and legal professionals who want self development, self help, and self improvement that actually works.
Listen to the entire podcast and learn even more!
Takeaways
• Success is usually non-linear—your journey matters as much as your destination.
• Community is built through shared challenge, not transactional networking.
• Relationship-building beats “used car salesman” energy every time.
• Being an entrepreneur is a mindset, not just starting a startup.
• Build your career with intention: work backward from where you want to land.
• Firms are businesses—understand overhead, margins, and what “success” means.
• Tech adoption requires curiosity + governance (especially with confidential data).
• Legal AI is powerful, but data sources + nuance still matter more than hype.
• Practice areas with repetition will see faster automation and consolidation.
• Domain expertise + creativity remain differentiators in complex legal work.
👤 Guest Bio
Travis West is a veteran, attorney, and entrepreneur focused on service-driven work, building community, and helping teams adapt to change. His career blends law, leadership, and technology-minded thinking—grounded in real-world life lessons and a commitment to doing hard things.
🔗 Connect With Travis
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisjameswest/
• West & Dunn: www.westdunn.com
🔗 More From Salvador Carranza
• PossibLaw: www.possiblaw.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvadorcarranza/
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⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Welcome to PossibLaw (possiblaw) + why success is non-linear
01:00 – Travel, family, parenting, and perspective
06:15 – Why Travis chose military service (before 9/11)
10:00 – The Ranger path: challenge, identity, and purpose
22:00 – Community, camaraderie, and what “earned your seat” means
33:00 – Networking that isn’t transactional: how relationships actually work
42:00 – Starting a firm: the founder journey, risk, and real-world lessons
58:00 – Tech stack choices, remote work, and experimenting with AI tools
01:13:00 – Where law is going: ownership rules, consolidation, and innovation
01:21:45 – Actionable advice: curiosity + entrepreneurial mindset
01:26:00 – Closing thoughts
