The Clash of Power and Authority seeks to answer a simple question: Why have so many people of humble backgrounds touched so many lives while many people of power have not made a positive impact? This reflection is crafted through my observation of people of power and experience working with people of authority. My thoughts have led to the emergence of the notion that there is a constant battle between power and authority. This book is a testimony of my experience with such contrast at a young age while working with Jack Wall, a person of authority, who has dedicated his life to serving the poor. I have learned from Jack Wall that one can have a life of impact through the search for purpose. The principles urged by this book are offered as advice and can be applied by people of all ranks of life. Whether you are a young student or a professional, and whether you are building a family, a business, a ministry or a community, the driving force behind your action comes from how you respond to your call to serve. This book challenges several standards of success assumptions, including the view that one can have an impact on society only if he or she has power, money and is well connected. I redefine success as the degree of our response to our calling and our commitment to that calling. The challenge that awaits everyone who wants to make an impact on society is to know how to obtain authority.