The road to success is different for every entrepreneur; while some know the direction they want their professional life to take right out of college, others take a more exploratory approach. Gary Gosanko, for example, is one of the greater Seattle area’s leading lawyers today, but in 1977 he was a new graduate from Washington State University with little idea of what he wanted to do with his bachelor’s degree in economics.
Following in the footsteps of some of America’s most successful entrepreneurs such as Richard Branson and Martha Stewart, Gary decided to explore his interests to see where life would take him-a more organic approach that leaves room for unexpected opportunities- like finding out that he had a natural talent for, and enjoyed, fine art. After graduation, Gary moved home to study under his father, a fine artist who maintained a studio in Washington State. After learning to sculpt and applying other art mediums to pieces that he showed professionally, Gary learned that he had a knack for creating something out of nothing-a skill that would serve him well in the coming years. He also discovered that he missed the social interaction that was so easily accessible in college.
After a year of studying art, Gary took a job in sales and learned quickly that he thrived in an environment in which he had complete control over his own success or failure. Like any commission based sales job, Gary’s position was one that he had to work at day and night, putting in long hours to come in first every month. He was better than the best, but he still wasn’t satisfied. After reflecting on the time he spent in his father’s studio and at his sales job, Gary became determined to use both his love for creating something out of nothing and his need for personal, fulfilling interaction to take on a bigger, more complex adventure and challenge: law school. In 1983, Gary graduated in the top 3% from the Seattle University School of Law (formerly University of Puget Sound School of Law), an achievement that would be the catalyst to a successful future practicing personal injury law in Seattle.
After graduating from college for the second time, Gary took a job clerking for the Washington State Court of Appeals-a position that would put him in the path of Hon. Herbert A. Swanson, an influential man in the legal industry and someone who became a mentor to Gary. After two years, he left to open his own firm in 1985-a decision that he reflects back on with fond memories of both the naivety of being young and the determination to build something from scratch. He learned “on the run,” and cultivated an interest in personal injury law, a specialty that allowed him to hand his clients a check instead of a bill-an attractive quality to a people person who enjoys seeing others happy.
Gosanko and O’Halloran, now in its 29th year, is experiencing the continued success and notoriety that comes with building a business on the foundation of sincere, skilled and hardworking individuals. The firm is currently home to three lawyers and is about to add one more. In picking an associate, Gary enjoys finding someone that he “believes in wholeheartedly,” someone who has both law and people skills and who shares his belief that honesty is the most efficient policy. A lawyer who enjoys being involved during each step of the process will thrive at his firm, as Gary believes that lawyers should always be involved-whether that means taking phone calls personally or meeting clients in a place that is convenient for them.
Never one to stay in still waters too long, Gary will be mixing things up in 2014 by being not only one of the leading injury attorney firms in the area, but a firm that is dedicated to creating positive and lasting change in the Seattle community as well; Gary and his partner, Mark W. D. O’Halloran, will be creating a foundation for which they will donate some of the firm’s proceeds to hand selected charities.
For Gary, taking time to explore his interests post-graduation led not only to owning a successful business, but also a business that complements the skills that he learned he had during those crucial years of self-discovery. If it weren’t for studying fine art under his father, Gary may not have realized he enjoyed creating something from nothing and had a deep desire to serve people. Similarly, if it hadn’t been for his sales job, he may not have had the confidence he built while working long hours and consistently coming in first place among his sales team.
Today, Gary is able to enjoy his success and cultivate other interests such as racing his vintage Formula Ford at Pacific Raceways. Gary also enjoys the theatre, golf and travel. When asked about his favorite place to visit, Thailand is a quick answer because “the people are wonderful, open and caring.” Gary is also a family man; he enjoys watching his son, who is now a senior in high school, play baseball. When asked about his son’s goals for the future, Gary noted that his son would like to become a CEO-not a surprising answer for a teenager who grew up under the guidance and inspiration of one of Seattle’s most successful business owners.
To learn more about Gary Gosanko, or to inquire about his services, visit the Seattle Personal Injury Attorneys or dial 206.275.0700.
