Flying Your Freak Flag

Flying Your Freak Flag

Being liked. Being popular. Fitting in. It’s something we all crave—and those desires shape us, often more than we realize. We conform to be accepted, to succeed. And once we’re rewarded for fitting in, it becomes even harder to step outside the mold. Bit by bit, we...
No Title Required

No Title Required

The most common image of power? A pyramid or ladder, where those on the lower rungs look up, waiting to be asked, promoted, or invited. It’s easy to shrink in the face of someone else’s authority, hesitant to speak, unsure if we belong at the table. But using power...
How to Lose Legitimacy

How to Lose Legitimacy

Years ago, I worked with a professional group that had thrived for years as an open community. Anyone could show up to the monthly meetings, share ideas, and contribute to discussions. It was messy sometimes, but that openness created real value for everyone. Then the...
The Revenge Trap

The Revenge Trap

Using power to get revenge. To silence critics. To punish opposition. These are some of the most damaging uses of power, and among the hardest to resist. Why? Because retaliation feels righteous. It feels justified. And because it’s been modeled throughout history and...
From Privilege to Protest

From Privilege to Protest

We often hear that power changes people. That it corrupts. That once someone gains power, they rarely change—if anything, they dig in deeper. They justify their decisions. They dismiss criticism. They harden their positions. But what if power could also be a catalyst...
The Man Behind the Curtain

The Man Behind the Curtain

It’s natural to want credit for your work—to be acknowledged, seen, celebrated, and respected. But what if that visibility puts the very cause you care about at risk? Consider this Bayard Rustin was a pivotal leader in the civil rights movement. He served as the chief...