Executive coach promotes self-leadership when there’s little you can control

On the left, Aiko Bethea on the mic in the WABE studio. On the right is the blue and yellow cover of her book
Atlanta-based executive coach Aiko Bethea wrote her book, "Anchored, Aligned, Accountable" based on Brandolini’s Law to teach people about self-leadership and not be held down by lesser priorities in their life. (LaShawn Hudson/WABE, Random House/Inaki del Olmo)

In the daily news, there’s no shortage of stories about people questioning those in charge.

The list is extensive and ongoing: Black, brown and rural communities are questioning why data centers are being built in their backyards, consuming much of their local resources. A majority of farmers supported the Trump administration, but they’re questioning the tariffs and policies that have hurt their farms. Questions often arise about how metro Atlanta will handle housing, roads, and jobs for the expected population growth in the coming years. Then, there are the questions that test corporate accountability – like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft posting profits, while cutting thousands from their workforce.

Aiko Bethea is an attorney and the founder of RARE Coaching and Consulting. She sees breakdowns in trust, leadership and communication in people’s personal and professional lives. It inspired her to write a book about self-leadership based on The Bulls— Asymmetry Principle, which states: “the energy needed to refute bullsh– is an order of magnitude larger than that needed to produce it.” Bethea said the principle pertains to almost anyone.