Her authority came from her life-style

I was reading my newsletter from the Center for Action and Contemplation where Fr. Richard Rohr posed this question:

"Why is it that Mother Teresa could stand up before crowds of thousands and simply repeat simple New Testament phrases, and blow people away? She didn't say anything new: 'Jesus loves you,' she assured us. 'We're sons and daughters of God and we have to love Jesus' poor'. Yet people walked out renewed, transformed and converted. She wasn't a priest. She wasn't well-educated."

And then the answer:

"Her authority came from her life-style and her pure goodness."

Whatever your message, and whoever your audience is, your greatest opportunity to have them hear you is to merely live your message. Walk your talk and that will give you authority. Whether it's your children, your peers or your clients, they are all more likely to follow your advice when they can learn from your example.