What To Do When Doing Right By You Upsets Powerful People
A client of mine, let's call her Jia -- a thought leader in her field -- is preparing for a showdown.
Doing what's in Jia's best long-term interest financially, professionally, and personally means communicating a decision that will anger her biggest client (for now).
A recovering people pleaser and a peace-loving middle child whose default tendencies are to either avoid or mediate conflict, even I have to admit there is no way to sugarcoat this.
At the end of the day, when Jia follows through on her action plan, her soon-to-be-former clients will NOT be smiling, applauding, or nodding politely.
There won't be a rational win-win negotiation, but a heated exchange of raw emotions.
At worst, they might flip the metaphorical table, try to guilt-trip, manipulate, or threaten Jia to change her mind.
They are the kinds who resort to contentious tactics associated with narcissists.
Sound familiar? If you were in Jia's shoes, what would you do?
Here's how we're supporting Jia in coaching:
1. Clarify the Cold, Clear-Eyed Decision
Imagine you have a choice. The choice between maintaining the status quo—going along to get along with misguided yet influential people—which feels a lot like clapping for the emperor's new clothes.
Everyone sees the delusion on display, but no one dares to speak.
You could stay quiet, play along, and keep your spot in the parade, but your soul withers inside.
Or, you could step out of line. Risk the backlash and say what's true, because your future is so much worth more than playing pretend.
For Jia, the choice is a cold, clear-eyed decision to protect her future:
Seven+ figures in future lifetime earnings
Full ownership of her intellectual property
And a real shot at making a legacy-level impact on her own two feet
And yes, there's fear. Not because Jia doubts her decision -- but because she's been conditioned all her life to fear upsetting people in power.
2. Stealth Planning, Way Ahead of Time
Jia and I have been discussing, strategizing, and building towards this moment for the past five months.
The plan is far from impulsive. It was quietly and deliberately architected, revised, and consulted on behind the scenes, so that when the moment came, she'd be grounded in her decision.
She'd be ready to weather the storm.
3. Reclaiming Power at the Subconscious Level
When push comes to shove, having the "right" words isn't enough.
For Jia, it's more than knowing what to say but how to be and feel in her body around the people who once held authority over her, at least in the old paradigm.
So in coaching, we went beyond scripting language and role-play.
We used mental rehearsal, perceptual reframing, and grounding tools to help her interrupt the habituated pattern of seeing herself as "beneath" or "beholden" to these people.
Instead, she practiced embodying power apart -- autonomous, self-led, and fully resourced -- even while she felt the stress of a heated exchange.
Because you can't stand up for yourself if your system is stuck in freeze, and you can't lead your future if you're under the misguided illusion that you're powerless.
Invitation
This is why I offer 3 or 6-month coaching container.
Because real change -- the kind that reclaims your power, rewires your patterns, and prepares you for life-changing moments -- takes time, strategy, and support.
If you're standing at a crossroads—where doing what’s right for your future might rattle the people around you. You don’t need to go it alone.
In my coaching container, we don’t just talk mindset. We prepare your strategy, your nervous system, and your language—so you can move through hard moments with clarity, courage, and self-respect intact.
Because the ability to make bold, self-honoring decisions under pressure? That’s not luck. It’s practiced.
When you're ready for this paradigm-shifting practice, I'm here.
Book your free hour-long consultation HERE: https://www.jamieleecoach.com/apply
Read or watch or listen to interviews with past clients HERE: https://www.jamieleecoach.com/results
Client testimonials:
Before coaching, I was suffering from imposter syndrome, lack of self-confidence.
I felt intimidated to be around other smart people who have more experience than I do. Coaching with Jamie was not generalized and was more personalized to my individual needs. There was that missing puzzle piece that gave me the how to achieve my goal.
And I did not get that from the videos, the podcasts and reading books.Through coaching, I built the confidence to go into meetings, not worrying about what other people may think.
Dr. Tenisha Meadows
Before coaching, I felt stuck, like I constantly had to look over my shoulder on high alert because I’d once been in a gross place with toxic office politics.
I’d just left that workplace and wanted to approach new opportunities with tools to help me navigate my path forward with greater confidence.
Through the coaching process, I gained a whole library of tools, which is incredible. I learned several different neuroplasticity tools and an internal wisdom model from Jamie.
Even more than I expected, I got out of the stuck place in my mind. Externally, I secured a full-time offer and initiated conversations about a promotion. At work, I got comfortable sharing my ideas and singing my own praises, which led to me receiving more appreciation, not less.
JT, software engineer
I got my dream job, pretty high profile position, the job I wanted for years, because I learned to advocate for myself through coaching with Jamie.
I'm a different person now. I require different things, I speak up for myself, I ask questions when I don't know the answers and I don't necessarily feel any kind of shame or anything around that.
These are things that plagued me for years, things that held me back. And now that I've learned better ways to handle situations, that would just be moving backwards, and I'm all about progress.
DeAndra Johnson
