Using Your Authority For Good

I have a client who has been a nationally recognized authority on what we’ll call X for many years (his sector even named a concept after him).

And then an outside event specific to his industry challenged his perception about X. In a dramatic and yet deeply researched turn, he changed his viewpoint.

And decided to publish a highly controversial article explaining his new position.

It wasn’t a vanity piece—it was a call to action to rethink how an entire segment operates.

He literally put his authority—his reputation—on the line. Not to sell books or services, but for the good of his broader community. He could not stay silent.

Which—if you think about it—is a core part of authority.

We must have the courage to do the right thing even when it means inviting the slings and arrows that come with any change worth making.