Reframing “Idiot” Today, “idiot” typically refers to someone lacking intelligence. Historically, the Greek  idiōtēs  described a private individual disengaged from civic life. By that definition, I’ve often encountered—and occasionally been—an idiot. The Cost of Disengagement Civic disengagement fosters intellectual stagnation. Isolation limits exposure to challenging ideas, favoring comfort over growth. While avoiding discomfort may seem prudent, intellectual discomfort is e

Groups —whether communities, organizations, or teams—succeed when they include at least one “Steve.” The more Steves, the more effective the group. Without a Steve, effectiveness suffers. Who is Steve? Steve is the proactive leader who doesn’t wait for others to act—he is the one who acts. Unlike those who follow established paths, Steve creates them. He leads by example, setting direction and inspiring others to follow. What drives Steve? Steve is committed to both the grou

In football, the end around is a trick play that takes advantage of the defense’s focus on the middle of the line of scrimmage. Instead of handing the ball to a running back between the tackles, the quarterback gives it to a wide receiver running through the backfield and around the opposite end. It is an old play that football teams still run because it works. But it only works if the offense’s earlier success in the interior of the line has drawn the defense’s attention the

Man works best as part of a team because the product of group effort far exceeds the sum of the members’ individual contributions. This...

My church’s Mission is equipping people for life in Christ through community in order to make disciples who make disciples. The first two...

The dictionary defines nice as “pleasant, agreeable, and satisfactory." When I think of a N.I.C.E. Guy, that is exactly what I picture, a...

During my short-lived career as a criminal defense lawyer, I often appeared in district court where misdemeanors are adjudicated. A...