Advocacy

One of the first things they teach in law school is to zealously advocate for your clients. Zealously is a great word. It stays with you.

But what about advocacy itself? Somewhere along the way, the term picked up a negative connotation. It can sound political or self-serving. In practice, though, advocacy belongs to anyone willing to stand for something that matters, even when it is unpopular. For many of us, it is one of the clearest expressions of purpose.

Personal Advocacy

Personal advocacy begins with standing up for yourself. It means having the courage to ask for the promotion, pitch the client that feels out of reach, raise your prices, or finally launch the idea that has waited too long. It is believing your work has value before anyone else says so.

Too often, capable people wait to be recognized instead of asking to be heard. They downplay their accomplishments, assume merit will speak for itself, or apologize for ambition. But there is another way.

Self-advocacy is not arrogance. It is clarity: knowing what you bring to the table and setting boundaries that keep you healthy enough to keep doing it. For business owners, it might mean choosing the right clients instead of every client, or walking away from a deal that undermines your values. The way you advocate for yourself teaches others how to treat you.

Business Advocacy

A mission statement can define purpose, but advocacy gives it a voice. It is how a business speaks for its values, its clients, and its ideas. Every decision, product, and message is a chance to show what you stand for and why it matters.

For me, advocacy in business means building a different kind of law firm, one that believes legal work can be both principled and entrepreneurial. It means championing B Corps and small businesses growing through acquisitions, helping structure deals that strengthen communities instead of hollowing them out.

Advocacy in business is not just about service but about leadership. It shows your customers and your industry a better way to work, to collaborate, and to create impact. It is speaking up for the kind of business you believe in, even when it means doing things differently. When a business stands for something beyond profit, it becomes easier for others to stand with it.

Advocacy for Causes

Advocacy extends beyond the workplace into the communities and issues that reflect personal or organizational purpose. It can take the form of mentoring, volunteering, donating, offering expertise, or lending a platform. The goal is not visibility but alignment, making sure words and actions point in the same direction.

Looking back, can you think of times when you stayed quiet because it felt easier? What would be different if you had spoken up? Advocacy can be uncomfortable, but silence has its cost too. The reminder is to keep trying, even when it feels awkward or inconvenient.

The advocates who make the biggest impact are rarely the loudest. They are steady, credible, and consistent, the ones giving voice to those who cannot speak loudly enough for themselves.

Final Thoughts

At its core, advocacy is an act of stewardship. It reminds us that purpose is demonstrated, not just talked about. Every decision and relationship offers a chance to stand for something that matters.

True advocacy does not seek a spotlight. It begins by looking in the mirror and asking, “Who am I zealously advocating for today?”