Legal Tip of the Day: Don’t Sue for $5,000—Build Something Instead

As a lawyer, what I’m about to say might seem counterintuitive—but it’s a perspective that I’ve seen change lives:

Sometimes, the best legal advice is not to sue.

Yes, there are times when litigation is necessary. If a corporation, an insurance company, or a business wrongs you, then by all means—get an attorney, go after what you’re owed. But when it’s a person who owes you money, and it’s a relatively small amount like $5,000, the calculus changes.

Let me explain why.

Suing Someone Isn’t the Golden Ticket You Think It Is

When people get wronged—especially financially—the emotional reaction is immediate:

“They owe me. I’m taking them to court.”

But what do you actually get when you sue someone and win?

A piece of paper called a judgment. That judgment says they owe you $5,000. That’s it.

Unless the person owns property or has accessible assets, collecting that money can be like chasing the wind. You might file an abstract of judgment to put a lien on future property sales, but the reality is most individuals who aren’t paying you probably don’t have the money to begin with.

So you spend your time, energy, and legal fees pursuing something that may never come.

What If You Reinvested That Energy?

Now let’s flip the script.

Imagine that instead of spending 40+ hours hiring an attorney, preparing a case, and sitting in court, you took that same time and energy and poured it into building something.

Start a side hustle. Sell a product or offer a service. Set up a booth at a local market. Try something new and uncomfortable.

One of my clients was in this exact situation. I advised him:

“Take the 40 hours you’d spend trying to sue this person and go out and sell what you already know how to sell.”

He did.

Not only did he make more than what he lost, he gained something far more valuable: a renewed business model and a profitable new income stream. That $5,000 loss ended up sparking a transformational mindset shift.

Why This Works

Because you're no longer:

• Focused on hate or revenge.

• Spending energy on people who wronged you.

• Chasing money that may never materialize.
  

Instead, you’re:

• Gaining a new skill or trade.

• Building financial independence.

• Discovering the freedom of not relying on someone else’s paycheck or “doing right by you.”
  

When you realize you can create value for society and generate your own income, it’s incredibly empowering.

When Should You Sue?

Let’s be clear. There are situations where suing is not just appropriate—it’s necessary.

✅ Suing a corporation or insurance company? Absolutely. These cases are often impersonal, and attorneys may even work on contingency, meaning no upfront costs for you.

✅ Suing for a large, provable financial harm with a high likelihood of collection? Also reasonable.

But if you’re suing a person over a few thousand dollars, and they’re already showing signs they won’t—or can’t—pay you back, you’re not suing for justice, you’re suing for frustration. That’s a dangerous place to live emotionally and financially.

Final Thought for the Legal Tip of the Day: Shift from Conflict to Creation

At the end of the day, here’s what I’ve found:

You’ll go further in life by focusing your energy on making money than on fighting over it.

That doesn’t mean letting people take advantage of you. It means being smart about what battles are worth your time—and which ones can inspire you to build something greater.

Refocus. Reinvent. Reclaim your power.

And if you ever do need to sue, we’re here to help you do it wisely. Stay tuned for more Legal Tips of the Day!