indeed, this is a path that is less frequently travelled. some people are wired in a way that they like fixing things from the inside. it takes a ton of emotional and psychological strength/aptitude though, so not everyone enjoys this approach.

a good book that addresses some of this is Driving Technical Change. some people you will never change, and those you can ignore. if there are enough people that you can influence you have a chance to make a difference. as long as you're strong enough to not let the negativity bring you down, this all can be a rewarding path...