After serving as a US Naval Officer and an attorney representing Internet companies and their investors, Charley Moore guided RocketLawyer.com as founder from its inception in 2008. His groundbreaking legal infrastructure provider has a mission of democratizing attorneys’ services worldwide through accessible, affordable, and case-relevant solutions. Charley Moore excels in scaling innovative services to new markets and highly regulated fields. The Rocket Lawyer suite of services spans subscription legal plans, document automation, and attorney networks.
With Rocket Lawyer, Charley Moore partnered with the Golden State Warriors in supporting Generation Thrive, which empowers underserved youth across the San Francisco Bay Area. He has also served on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco and been a trustee of the Grace Cathedral. Reflecting his commitment to veterans and national defense, he is a US Naval Academy Foundation board member, and he values personal and professional commitment to mission focus, adaptability, and resilience.
Charley Moore gained early legal experience as a member of the Venture Law Group in Menlo Park in the late 1990s. He provided emerging growth technology startups and their investors with counsel and securities law expertise. Active in his local community, he coaches youth sports and is a hiking, golfing, and fitness enthusiast.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I start my day early with yoga and meditation. Then coffee, reading, and a walk. I like to be at my desk by 7 am and find that my most productive hour is between 7-8. In that hour, I figure out what to prioritize from my to-do list. One of my favorite books, is David Allen’s Getting Things Done. He really emphasizes focus. And I find that focusing on getting things done one at a time, rather than in parallel, leads to being more productive and happier from accomplishment.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Action and teamwork bring ideas to life.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Artificial intelligence is the next wave and perhaps the biggest opportunity for human advancement in history.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Reading and lifelong learning.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Trust yourself.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Liver and onions is delicious!
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Exercise and go for long walks.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
So far, I don’t get overwhelmed. However, I can become unfocused. When I do, it’s time to make a list and cross out what’s not important.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Reassess every day. Be patient and proactive.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Marrying the wrong person and, rather than acknowledging that earlier in the relationship, sticking it out for over a decade of unhappiness “for the kids.” As a result, my kids, myself, and my colleagues had to suffer through many years of torturous divorce litigation that also caused significant career and business collateral damage. Now, I want to share what I learned about the broken legal system with others to help them avoid the same abuse and overcome.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Rocket Lawyer, of course. I use it for legal documents and questions about the everyday legal issues that come up.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Yes! My favorite book is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. The fact that the most powerful person in the world 2,000 years ago thought so much about humility, patience, and virtue is inspiring. I love history and sports, and a couple of my favorite podcasts are the BBC’s In Our Time, and several podcasts from The Athletic.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I thought Sinners by Ryan Coogler was great. As a fan of music and life performance, the way he introduced the blues to a whole new audience via the incredible juxtaposition of a vampire movie was incredibly creative.
Key learnings
- Take action and move. While patience is a virtue, in business, it’s almost always better to act decisively.
- Keep learning and improving. If Marcus Aurelius could humbly reflect on self-improvement, so should we.
- Think ahead to stay ahead. The next wave is AI and it’s changing everything.
- Celebrate and nurture friends and family. That’s all that ultimately matters in life.