A Time To Be Positively Subversive

“Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” — Gandolf, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Dear Colleague,

To be subversive is to challenge the status quo, to work quietly and persistently against the prevailing norms to build something better. Subversion is not necessarily loud or disruptive—it is often subtle, a steady push toward change in a world resistant to it. Anytime we aim to shift from one state to another—whether personal, organizational, or societal—it requires a subversive influence.

The world is rife with hate and hardship, and because this seems to be its prevailing state, working to create a place of kindness, decency, and love becomes an act of subversion. To choose hope in the face of despair, to opt for collaboration when others sow division, and to persist in doing good despite resistance—this is what it means to be subversive for good.

The Call to Subvert for Good

There are moments in work and life when we face a disconnect between our values and the norms of those around us. Perhaps it’s in a workplace where unethical practices are ignored, or in a community struggling under systemic injustice. These moments require a subversive spirit—a willingness to stand firm, even when it’s inconvenient, unpopular, or dangerous.

History is replete with examples of subversive movements that began on the fringes yet reshaped the world.

Defying the norms of imperial worship and proclaiming the radical equality of all souls, the early Christians found themselves targeted by one of the most powerful empires in history. Their beliefs challenged the sociopolitical order, undermining systems of hierarchy and divine rule that were integral to the Roman identity. Despite systemic oppression (they were sometimes fed to lions) and through small yet transformative acts of kindness, solidarity, and community building, they established networks that cared for the marginalized and gave voice to the oppressed. In time, their resilience and moral vision did not just withstand persecution but redefined the spiritual and ethical core of the empire itself, ultimately leading to the Roman adoption of Christianity as its state religion.

During an era when slavery was woven deeply into the fabric of law and culture, abolitionists rose with an unyielding resolve to challenge its existence. Harriet Tubman risked her life repeatedly on daring missions through the Underground Railroad, freeing hundreds and symbolizing courage in the face of unimaginable danger. Meanwhile, Frederick Douglass wielded his pen and voice as potent weapons, delivering eloquent speeches and publishing narratives that exposed the brutal realities of slavery to an indifferent world. These acts of defiance were not isolated; they ignited a collective consciousness, building momentum that eventually reshaped national debates about freedom and equality. Against overwhelming odds, their tireless efforts forged a pathway to emancipation, demonstrating the transformative power of moral conviction and relentless action.

Suffragettes who fought for the right to vote endured unimaginable hardships, facing ridicule, imprisonment, and violent opposition from a society that was unwilling to relinquish power. Their courage transformed public spaces, with protests that defied the status quo, challenging entrenched beliefs and attitudes that excluded them from the democratic process. In their push for justice, they strategically employed persuasion, garnering allies and shifting hearts and minds until the impossible became inevitable. Their fight for the right to vote was not just about political power, but about reclaiming the dignity and humanity of millions of women, expanding the promise of democracy to include half the population and subverting centuries of systemic exclusion.

These movements share a common thread: the subversive power of goodness. They remind us that meaningful change often starts in obscurity, nourished by conviction and sustained by courage.

Positive Subversion in Leadership

Today, the over 7,000 weekly readers of this newsletter are part of a broader subversive mission: to build a world where leaders center people as their ethical imperative. As I describe in my book:

“Leadership is not about being the loudest in the room, but about listening with purpose and leading with conscience. It’s the quiet acts of integrity that ripple into transformative change.”

You are part of a movement that resists the easy paths of self-interest and complacency, pushing instead for leadership that values empathy, inclusivity, and service.

The Patience of Subversive Goodness

Goodness can feel thankless in the short term. Like seeds sown in rocky soil, its fruits often take time to emerge. But when they do, they alter the landscape forever.

When I was a boy, I watched my grandfather, Harvell, toil over a plot of seemingly barren land. Season after season, he prepped the soil, watered it, and tended to it with unwavering care. For years, the earth gave him little in return—scraps of squash or yams, if anything at all. And then, one season, it happened: the land began to yield abundantly—cabbage and turnips in startling plenty.

This transformation wasn’t sudden; it was the result of years of quiet, persistent nurturing. The scientific explanation, I later learned, was that the soil had been slowly enriched by organic matter over time. What had once been depleted became fertile ground.

The same is true for subversive movements. Their impact may not be immediate, but through steady, intentional efforts, they lay the groundwork for lasting change. Sometimes the faithful among us who work our entire lives to be subversive will die with only hope as consolation. Our stories and persistence, though, become the nutrients for new momentum in the struggle to make the world better.

Chiune Sugihara's actions during World War II stand as a powerful testament to the impact one individual can have on history. As Japan's consul in Lithuania, he defied direct orders from his government, issuing thousands of transit visas to Jewish refugees, ultimately saving the lives of many who would have otherwise perished in the Holocaust. His bravery in the face of immense political pressure not only altered the course of countless lives but also exemplified the moral duty to act with compassion, even when it comes at great personal cost.

• For seven long years, Harriot Jacobs hid in a cramped crawlspace, enduring physical and emotional suffering, all while risking capture to protect her family and secure her own freedom. Her courage and resilience were not only personal triumphs but also acts of resistance that would inspire countless others to join the fight for abolition. Jacobs' memoir, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, became a seminal work in the abolitionist movement, shedding light on the horrors of slavery and providing a voice to those who had been silenced for centuries.
• Erin Brockovich, without formal legal training, fought against corporate malfeasance and secured justice for communities poisoned by contaminated water.

These individuals embody the resilience of those who refuse to yield to despair, transforming their struggles into beacons of hope. The did not allow any social event, political election, or outdated cultural norm dim their light.

James Baldwin once said, “The world is held together by the love of a very few people.”

Watch this short 75 second lecture and you will realize that the world has always been a place of deep conflict.

Still, Baldwin's quote reveals an astounding truth about the efficiency of love. It is extremely potent. It does not take legions to hold society together; it takes a few dedicated individuals whose love, courage, and kindness ripple outward. This is a call to leadership: to be one of the few whose love binds and builds.

Will you be one of the few who commits to hold it together with me?

Steps to Take This Week

1. Foster Unity: Find something to build a team around and give everyone an opportunity to contribute to its success.
2. Resist Bitterness: When confronted with negativity, respond with kindness and empathy. Choose to be a source of calm rather than conflict.
3. Model Active Listening: In your next meeting, focus entirely on listening to others. Reflect back what you’ve heard and acknowledge their perspectives, even if they differ from your own.
4. Encourage Peace: Take an active role in defusing tension this week, whether at work or in personal relationships. Seek resolution and harmony over division.
5. Use Your Power: My colleague Jeremiah Chan is known for encouraging people to leverage their power to impact those within their immediate orbit of influence. But so many leaders are afraid to do so for fear of what others will say. Now is the time to use whatever tools that you have to make the world around you reflect your values. Just do it. Hire, promote, and retain the community that reflects your vision of a better world.

The Endgame

In Avengers: Infinity War, Doctor Strange's decision to relinquish the final Infinity Stone to Thanos appears, at first glance, to be an act of defeat—an unthinkable surrender to the very villain they were trying to stop. However, this calculated move was part of a much larger strategy, grounded in his knowledge of countless possible outcomes and the realization that a slim path led to victory existed.

Often, wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to hardship, and there are many who go in by it. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to goodness, and there are few who find it.

Strange, by looking beyond the immediate pain and loss, understood that true leadership sometimes requires enduring short-term pain for long-term success. His act of subversion wasn’t about abandoning power; it was about exercising a deeper wisdom, knowing that sometimes the right choice involves girding oneself for a long road ahead.

As leaders, we too must trust in a brighter future, even when the necessary decisions feel counterintuitive or bring immediate hardship. Subversion, in this light, becomes a powerful tool—not to surrender, but to wield power in ways that seed lasting change, trusting that the good will come, even if it takes time to unfold.

With unwavering belief in your leadership journey,

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Andrew Cooper is a husband, dad, brother, son, and life-long student of human behavior and leadership. In his spare time he is an author, board director, patent inventor, technology attorney, keynote speaker, and lecturer.