The day I hit my coach: a lesson in being a mentee

“Trust is not a request. It has to be earned,” my business mentor Jeffrey Gitomer writes in The Little Teal Book of Trust. It is one of those statements that does more than capture attention, it lingers. Gitomer’s book serves as a practical guide for becoming a trusted advisor, mentor, or leader whose influence comes not merely from expertise, but from character. Trust, however, is not only the responsibility of the mentor. It is also the responsibility of the mentee. When we think about mentoring relationships, we often focus on the wisdom, experience, and guidance that flows from mentor to student, yet growth depends just as much on the person receiving the advice. Listening carefully, seeking clarification, and thoughtfully applying guidance are essential skills for anyone who wants to learn and develop. Trust is a two-way street. Being a protégé is not simply about trusting another person’s knowledge. It is also about trusting yourself enough to admit what you do not know. It requires the humility to ask questions, the courage to acknowledge confusion, and the willingness to remain teachable. At a recent Toastmasters meeting, the word of the day was corrigible: capable of being corrected, willing to learn, and open to growth. To me, that word perfectly describes what it means to be a good mentee. A childhood experience taught me this lesson in a memorable way. When I played Little League Baseball, my father was my coach. Athletics did not come naturally to me. In fact, it would be fair to say that no professional scouts were watching me with any interest. Nevertheless, my father never gave up on me. He encouraged me, pushed me to improve, and believed that effort could overcome a lack of natural talent. Being the coach’s son also meant I had to work harder than everyone else to earn my place on the field. One day, he decided to help me improve my batting skills. During practice, he stood in front of me and explained a simple drill. “Bradley,” he said, “hold the bat like you’re about to hit the ball. Imagine the ball is at my chest. Swing hard, but do not follow through. Stop your swing at my chest.” What could go wrong? Then he asked if I was ready. I confidently replied that I was. “Okay, swing.” So, I did. With all the enthusiasm of Babe Ruth calling his shot, I swung the bat, and CRACK, I completely ignored the instruction to stop. The bat careened into my father’s chest with enough force to send a shock through his entire body. He stared at me, first in pain, and then in disbelief, and then in anger. “What is wrong with you?” he demanded, using language that was considerably stronger than the word wrong. “You told me to swing at your chest,” I replied. His answer came quickly. “Did you not hear me say, ‘Stop at my chest’?” The truth was simple: I had not. My young mind heard the first part of the instruction and completely missed the second. Practice ended early that day. For a brief period, I also wondered whether I would survive to adulthood. As funny as the story seems now, the real lesson had nothing to do with baseball. My mistake was not the swing itself. My mistake was acting before I fully understood the instruction. That lesson has stayed with me for decades. And years later, we discovered part of the problem was I needed glasses. Baseball, it turns out, becomes much easier and fun when you can actually see the ball. In every mentor-mentee relationship, trust is built through communication as much as guidance. Before acting on advice, we should listen carefully. We should repeat instructions back to ensure understanding. We should ask clarifying questions and understand the reasoning behind the recommendation. Growth occurs when mentoring becomes a dialogue rather than a one-way exchange. Questions should never be viewed as signs of weakness. In fact, thoughtful questions demonstrate engagement, curiosity, and respect for the mentor’s experience. The willingness to seek clarity often prevents costly misunderstandings and accelerates learning. My father eventually forgave me for nearly cracking his ribs. More importantly, I eventually learned that becoming a good mentee is not a single decision but an ongoing process. It requires humility, patience, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “Self-trust is the first secret of success.” His words complement Gitomer’s insight perfectly. Trust yourself enough to learn. Trust your mentor enough to ask questions. And above all, trust the instruction enough to fully understand it before you swing. https://kimmonson.com/featured_articles/the-day-i-hit-my-coach/

Property and power

In Aesop’s fable, “The Wolf and the Lion” a wolf steals a lamb and carries it toward his lair. Along the way he encounters a lion, who takes the lamb without explanation. Once safely out of reach the wolf protests: “You have no right to take my property like that!” The lion replies, “Your property? Did you buy it, or did the shepherd make you a gift of it? Pray tell me, how did you get it?” The fable’s moral is concise and enduring: “What is evil won is evil lost.” The lesson applies not only to physical possessions but also to intellectual property and the broader principle of rightful ownership. Property obtained through deceit, coercion, or theft is never securely possessed. The person who acquires something wrongfully must conceal it, defend it, and live with the fear that it will be discovered or taken away. What was intended as a gain becomes a source of anxiety, obsession, and moral corrosion. In that sense, ill-gotten property carries within it the seeds of its own loss. This principle bears directly on contemporary political debates of today. When public officials or candidates propose using governmental power to confiscate, heavily tax, or otherwise redistribute property beyond legitimate constitutional limits, they risk treating the fruits of another person’s labor as political spoils. Government possesses immense coercive authority; it can regulate, tax, fine, and enforce its commands through the legal system. That authority must therefore be restrained by a clear commitment to individual rights, due process, and the rule of law. Without such restraints, the power to govern can deteriorate into tyranny. James Madison understood property in far broader terms than land, money, or material goods. In his essay On Property, he wrote that “as a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.” For Madison, property included not only the fruits of one’s labor but also one’s opinions, the free communication of those opinions, religious exercise, personal security, and liberty. He regarded conscience as “the most sacred of all property.” This understanding is essential to a free society. Liberty depends not merely on the ability to own a home, a business, or the proceeds of one’s work; it also depends on the right to think independently, speak openly, worship freely, and live without arbitrary interference. A government established to secure rights must protect both material property and personal liberties that allow individuals to develop their talents, pursue their vocations, and participate fully in civic life. The Constitution reflects this commitment. Article I, Section 8, authorizes Congress to promote the progress of science and the useful arts by securing, for limited times, authors’ and inventors’ exclusive rights to their writings and discoveries. This provision recognizes intellectual property as an extension of human creativity and labor. Likewise, the Fifth Amendment provides that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. The Fourteenth Amendment further extends constitutional protection against arbitrary state action by providing that no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Together, these provisions reflect the Founders’ conviction that civil society exists not to subordinate the individual to the whims of rulers, factions, or bureaucracies, but to secure the rights individuals possess by nature. John Adams expressed the principle plainly: “Property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist.” The protection of property is therefore not a narrow economic concern; it is a safeguard against political domination. A person who cannot securely retain the fruits of his labor, ideas, or lawful possessions is not fully free. Ayn Rand similarly warned against “the desire for the unearned.” Her argument was fundamentally moral; human flourishing depends upon recognizing the relationship between effort, creation, responsibility, and reward. When a culture treats achievement as something to be seized rather than earned, it encourages envy and weakens the virtues of productivity, trust, and personal responsibility. For these reasons, proposals that diminish private-property rights, weaken law enforcement, or disregard national sovereignty deserve rigorous scrutiny. A just society must resist policies rooted in resentment or class antagonism and instead preserve the conditions that make ordered liberty possible: secure rights, equal justice under law, personal responsibility, and respect for the dignity of work. Capitalism offers individuals the opportunity to create, exchange, innovate, and prosper through voluntary cooperation. It is not a perfect system because human beings are not perfect. Yet it remains the system most consistent with individual liberty, private property, and the possibility of broad human flourishing. The alternative political systems that subordinate rights to ideological redistribution have too often produced scarcity, coercion, and the concentration of power in the hands of those who claim to act for the common good. https://kimmonson.com/featured_articles/property-and-power/

Sharing Common Ground: Observations at a Park

The American author, speaker and leadership expert, John Maxwell, said the following about communication. “If I had to pick the first rule of communication, the one practice above all others that opens the door to connecting with others, it would be to look for common ground. Too often people see communication as the process of transmitting massive amounts of information to other people. But that’s the wrong picture. Communication is a journey. The more that people have in common, the better the chance that they can take that journey together.” What does that have to do with an afternoon in a park? Quite a lot, as I discovered one Saturday while on a business trip in the Atlanta metropolitan area. I had some free time, so I grabbed a book and headed into the old town of Norcross, Georgia and wandered into Lillian Webb Park. The sign at the entrance described Ms. Webb’s civic engagement and her commitment to the local, state, and national groups in which she had participated. Because of her civic endeavors the City of Norcross created a delightful space for the local community and visitors to enjoy. As you enter the park you are greeted by a stone-based pool with a traditional three-tier tower fountain cast in a glossy black. The bubbling apex of water flows down into a top basin, then into the middle basin, and finally cascades down into the pool. The movement of the water was mesmerizing and the sound it made was calming. I found one of the eight metal benches placed around the fountain and shaded by trees and there I staked my claim to a comfortable repose. Birds chirped their joyful sounds and the clouds whisked by, cooling the ground below with shade. On this pleasant day the wind blew softly moving the three flags hoisted on stately poles behind the fountain that displayed their emblems and colors for all to see. The City of Norcross, the State of Georgia, and the United States of America flags all danced in unison. It was heartening to see a place where they were proudly displayed in a public setting. As I read, I noticed people of many backgrounds entering the park to take photographs in front of the fountain. One family, dressed in traditional African attire, posed proudly as a photographer captured images to share with relatives back home. Later, a limousine arrived, and a young woman stepped out in a pink Cinderella-style ball gown adorned with white lace, a silver tiara resting on her head. She was accompanied by eight young men in coordinated attire wearing pink shirts, brown vests, cowboy hats, and boots, all gathered for her quinceañera celebration. Over several hours, I watched dozens of people speaking different languages, all drawn to the same place, the same fountain at the same moment. I constantly looked up from my book to smile and say “hello” to the people walking by. Was it the beautiful day that brought them here? Was it the tranquil setting of the fountain? Was it the safety and cleanliness of the park that attracted them? Was it our shared humanity? Perhaps it was all the above. I thought how refreshing it was that there still exist places that people can share without protests, strife, or mischief and enjoy a public setting. It seems to me that people have so much more in common than the talking heads in the media will admit. People want many of the same things, we just have differences in how to acquire those things. One way I have found to bridge those differences is through stories that make a point to persuade people to consider a different way of looking at things. There is an old fable of the Wolf and the House Dog. A starving wolf met a well-fed house dog and envied his easy life. The dog said the wolf could live the same way by serving humans. As they walked, the wolf noticed a worn spot on the dog’s neck and learned it was from a chain. Realizing the dog wasn’t free, the wolf chose hunger over captivity and ran back to the woods. The lesson here is freedom is more valuable than what divides us. If we fail to find what unites us in those common things we may find ourselves in the chains of comfort. Like the wolf in the story, it is better to be hungry than to have security and be a slave. A fountain in a local park can be a place that draws people together. John Adams once wrote to his wife Abigail, “A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty once lost is lost forever.” His warning underscores the importance of vigilance, but also of unity. Consider the following. If you want to preserve what matters most, you must actively seek common ground. You must listen as much as you speak, persuade with humility, and remain open to understanding. Not every divide can be bridged, but where opportunity exists, it is worth the effort. Often, the most fertile common ground is not found in civic institutions or public debates, but within our own minds where understanding begins. https://kimmonson.com/featured_articles/sharing-common-ground-observations-at-a-park/?tvci=L5NAf_s5wPIZWo8-ocQKte90wJbLZK2rhu1Syx_OO9Q!

Happy 250th birthday, America. Now what?

Congratulations, America. We have reached our semiquincentennial. Across the country we celebrate with parades, picnics, fireworks and gatherings with family and friends. As we celebrate, I would also suggest setting aside time to read the document that set this nation in motion, and to reflect on the “host of worthies” who pledged their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor” to secure its promise. Our republic was founded on the radical idea, “that all men are created equal.” No other nation in the history of mankind has begun with such a revolutionary claim about individual rights, liberty, and self-government. The Declaration of Independence is a mere 1,320 words. It can be read in about 15 minutes, yet understanding its full meaning takes considerably longer. When I read it to clearly grasp the meaning of the words, I often consult resources from the Founding era to better understand the words as the Founders understood them. Modern tools, including artificial intelligence, can also help clarify older language, though we should always be mindful of the sources those tools rely on. Slowing down in this way deepens comprehension and helps bring the document’s meaning into sharper focus. Why should Americans take the time to read the Declaration of Independence? Because it is still relevant today as when written. As citizens, we must understand the foundational ideas of this nation, along with the earlier works that shaped them, from the Greeks and Romans to the thinkers of the Enlightenment. Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Marcus Tullius Cicero’s On the Commonwealth, and John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government all belong to the canon of political thought that informed the American Founding. When citizens are unfamiliar with these key works of political philosophy, they are at a disadvantage in confronting modern political movements that reject or diminish the principles of the American Founding. It is not enough to merely label bad ideas, we must understand why they are flawed. We must be able to explain why liberty, private property, rule of law, and constitutional government offer a better path for human flourishing than ideologies that seek to centralize power and control economic life. To defend Western civilization, we must be prepared to expose unsound reasoning and failed policy, not with slogans, but with knowledge, persuasion, and enthusiasm. We must remain happy warriors. Some post-modernist critics may roll their collective eyes and challenge the assumptions behind them. Yet their own version of reshaping humanity through political will deserves scrutiny even more. History teaches that human nature is not malleable. Those who have studied history, sought truth, and used reason understand even more that liberty is the responsible exercise of freedom; it is tied to human dignity, morality, and self-restraint. Political schemes built on envy, resentment, or the promise of a perfect society have repeatedly produced suffering and death rather than justice. So, what comes next for America? How do we defend and continue the legacy of our Judeo-Christian Western inheritance? I offer a few suggestions. First, our reason and rhetoric must be stronger than the opposition’s. We should know both sides of the argument and resist the temptation to answer farce with farce. Instead, we should engage as the Founders did; with bigger and better ideas, evidence, moral clarity, and persuasive language. The arguments we need are already available in the writings of the Founders and the thinkers who influenced them. Our task is to use classical and timeless words and phrases and translate those ideas into modern language for conversations, essays, speeches, and our public life. We must use those ideas of the American Founding in our stories that make the point about why freedom benefits our fellow citizens more than government coercion ever can. We should listen seriously to the concerns of young activists and distinguish between misguided ideas and the people who hold them. That distinction matters. There are powerful examples of intellectual conversions including the economist and author Thomas Sowell and David Horowitz, founder of the Horowitz Freedom Center. Both were once drawn to socialist and communist ideas in their youth but later rejected them and became ardent advocates for the American experiment. Their experiences remind us that persuasion is possible. We must keep the hope of the American idea in focus; without it, we risk losing common ground that makes self-government possible. Now is the time to stop making excuses about being too busy or too uncertain to act. Each of us has talents and skills to make a positive difference in our town, state, and country. Drop the “not” from “cannot” and decide that you can. Show up. Speak up. Defend capitalism, liberty, freedom, family, and the future of America. In this battle of ideas, leadership must not be outsourced entirely to elected representatives. This responsibility belongs to you. If the American idea is to remain exceptional, it must be understood, defended, and lived by the people who are the custodians of our republic. https://kimmonson.com/featured_articles/happy-250th-birthday-america-now-what/

I received a text, “Thirsty? We need to have a beer soon.” I replied, “I can’t tonight, I have an Optimist Club Meeting. How about next week.” His response, “We all need a little optimism, pick a day and time.” My retort was, “Monday, 6:30 PM, at a local watering hole.” The day and time rolled around and I met my neighbor for a beer. Dick and I served on our HOA Board together. He lives one street away in a similar looking reproduction of a Victorian house. His house is three shades pink, mine three shades of purple. We live in a unique colorful neighborhood. Over the years our conversations have been colorful as well. At Christmas he invites me to his eggnog party. On Halloween I invite him to my costume party. I once had a HO train layout that I built and then grew tired of so I asked him if his son would want it. Dick and his son were soon over carrying out the 4×8 board of tracks out of my basement and over to his house. He grew up a Republican and became a Democrat. I was just the opposite. To say our conversations are vibrant is an understatement, yet over the years we have come to respect that we have different world views yet continue to battle our differences and philosophies over a pint of beer much like our Founders did. Our recent tit-for-tat focused on words that the Founders debated in our founding documents and how they apply to today. Until recently, Dick worked in environmental remediation, so his understanding of the word “regulation” is based on his expertise on compliance, rules, and official requirements. As a businessman and a student of history my understanding of the word “regulation” is based on the root word “regular” from the colonial period as it was meant as “conforming to a rule or an established discipline.” This is important to understand since the phrase in the Constitution, “a well-regulated militia” includes the word “regulated” which was understood as well-ordered, or functioning as it should, or properly disciplined, not controlled by the heavy hand of government as is today’s understanding. Dick questioned the necessity of relying on Samuel Johnson’s “A Dictionary of the English Language” a widely used reference during the Founding Era, which was accessible at the time the Constitution was drafted. My understanding is that the educated people at the time used this and other sources during that period leading up to the American Founding to understand the meaning of words. These included Giles Jacob’s “A New Law Dictionary” for legal meanings and William Blackstone’s “Commentaries on the Laws of England,” Nathan Bailey’s “Universal Etymological English Dictionary.” Thomas Dyche and William Pardon’s dictionary, in addition to many other sources such as books and pamphlets of the time. Our healthy debate on words, ideas, and the Founding was enjoyable since we both took the time to listen to one another, responding to the others’ point of view backed by stories, examples, and personal experiences that allowed our differences to be understood. There was some agreement on some things and disagreement on others, yet we each made our points. This was not a “more perfect” discussion, yet like our Founders, we hashed out our differences and went away friends, not hating each other because we have differences of opinion. This was the Founders hope in building a “more perfect union,” discussing our differences through talking and listening, not from authority and force. We both could have benefited from using techniques to encourage further inquiry, such as asking, “why do you think that” or “can you share a source for your idea.” We could then offer our own sources, and after reviewing them together, we could discuss our findings. This would tone down some of our trying to top one another. Also, restating a comment and saying, “Did I hear what you said correctly” and repeat what you heard to help to clarify the other’s position. Imagine if more people had the discipline to use their minds and their self-regulation to use words in a way that were non-incendiary. Imagine not using one’s smart phone during a conversation to prove a point but using thought, logic, and reason to make a moral argument. Today’s rhetoric is no different than our Founders’ time except a bit speedier with technology. The Colonial discussions were robust and often heated. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were friends and then became enemies until their waning years, then picked up their pens and wrote letters to make amends remembering what brought them together. Imagine doing that again. Just as every grain of sand on a beach is unique, so are people’s views on significant matters, full of both differences and shared perspectives. The changing tide constantly adds new grains and removes others, refreshing the shoreline much like our evolving opinions and beliefs. As Americans, we need to wash away the nastiness we heap on each other and use our passionate and feisty discussions to find common ground. However, when we vehemently disagree, we should have the maturity to walk away from our differences without using violence or revenge. I would agree with Dick. In a world full of anger and angry discord, we all need a little more discussion, a little more listening, and a little more optimism. https://kimmonson.com/featured_articles/talking-politics-over-a-beer/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Polis%20commuted%20Tina%20Peters%20s%20sentence%20after%20five%20months%20of%20silence&utm_campaign=W20-2026-05-17%20-%20Segment%206&vgo_ee=zeiXwKAm%2BkvfPeTLU9SY2TmqhtJsShlOpN1RS4Em8z%2Fv22Xg2aWV1L9Y%3AC82XQQB6YK4Q0rSrYzmpzcUMxqoTyUtD

A tiny mark carries significant weight

Did you know when you write the lower-case letter “i” or “j” that the little dot directly above it has a name? It is known as a tittle. This tiny dot may seem insignificant, yet it is a crucial punctuation. The dot rises above the main body of the letter as a distinguishing mark. The word gains meaning, just like this dot brings it to life. This idea of a tittle, or examining the most minute part of something, often reveals the one piece of a puzzle that creates a breakthrough in intention, invention, or ideas. Serendipity has driven new discoveries. X-rays revolutionized medical imaging. Penicillin launched the antibiotic era. The finding of the DNA double helix became the foundation for modern genetics. These revelations at the time of discovery transformed people’s lives with new scientific information. Just as these scientific breakthroughs began with small observations, so too did America’s founding principles emerge from seemingly minor but profound ideas. Benjamin Franklin and his experiment with a kite did not discover electricity, yet it showed that lightning is a form of electricity. That spark of discovery was a catalyst for a curious mind by revealing a hidden realm that was always part of everyday existence. It became visible only when someone articulated it as a concept. The American Founding did the exact same thing but with an impact that changed the world with the discovery and recognition that “All men are created equal.” The founding of America was based on a unique idea, and the new country’s acceptance of this concept remains one of the most important achievements in history. Instead of emerging all at once, it developed over time as various prominent thinkers, writers, speakers, and debaters contributed to this idea. These individuals came from various backgrounds and traditions, yet they all contributed dots of discovery like the tittle to create a world that allowed for men to speak, live, and dream about freedom in a way that we take for granted today. The concept of individual rights, having control over one’s own being and the right to self-ownership, emerged from a groundbreaking shift in thought. The phrase “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” from the Declaration of Independence is frequently highlighted and makes it essential for readers to recognize its significance. These words express our country’s purpose as a free and independent nation. However, the most impactful tricolon appears in the closing line “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” The repeated emphasis on “Lives” and “Life” highlights that true freedom and independence are only possible when we take ownership of our own existence. We create our “Fortunes” through “Liberty,” which comes from responsibly using our freedoms. The phrase “our sacred Honor” refers to the integrity that one is committed to upholding without compromise. This moral commitment is a profound personal pledge that deserves protection, requiring us to safeguard our reputation even above concerns for safety or security. These seemingly simple words exclaim a greater weight than a tittle because they define the reason for the Founders’ experiment in self-government. A people with a moral character understands that self-restraint allows one’s happiness. We preserve liberty by upholding “our sacred Honor,” fulfilling our personal responsibilities, respecting our roles as citizens, and always striving to develop greater virtues. Although this pledge carries great significance, today it is uncommon for anyone beyond our military, police, and a handful of citizens to read, discuss, and fully grasp the meaning of these small marks on paper. More than just expressions, they are the foundational principles to which we must recommit. This is why I would encourage you to purchase a copy of this document and, like the 56 Founders who signed their names to the Declaration of Independence, you do the same. By personally signing the document, individuals acknowledge the significance of their commitment and recognize the substantial consequences that may result from a lack of determination to uphold the principles outlined in it. The analogy of the tittle extends further into our everyday lives. Just as the dot completes a letter, modern acts of integrity, such as volunteering or standing up for what is right, are today’s tittles that sustain our republic. Consider the example of Scott Presler, the activist whose dedication to voter registration and fair elections exemplifies how one person’s commitment can catalyze nationwide change. Or think of Isabel Brown, the podcaster whose commentary on culture, family, and Gen Z issues recently went viral when at a conference she suggested women should have more babies. These individuals remind us that the smallest acts or words are modern tittles that can ignite lasting transformation. Soon we will celebrate our nation’s 250th founding. It has been said that Benjamin Franklin once commented to a woman known as Mrs. Powell when she asked what kind of government the delegates had created. Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Franklin’s words, like those tiny marks above lower-case letters, were an admonition as well as a momentous achievement of the mind, only if we commit ourselves today as the Founders did then. https://kimmonson.com/featured_articles/a-tiny-mark-carries-significant-weight/

PLUGing in to Connect

A favorite story about persuasion is about a student who asked a sage how he was so good at persuading others, especially when they were certain that they were right. The sage walked the student over to a stone well in the village square and lowered the bucket into the water. “See the stone rim,” said the sage, “these indentations were not created by a hammer, but by the slow and steady drip of water from the well.” The student replied, “But water is soft and weak.” “Ah, but it has shaped the rim of the stone well,” said the sage. “So too, it is with words. Coarse words may win the moment, but soft truth spoken with respect can change a heart.” For the past twelve years I have been participating in a networking event called PLUGin. It is a programmed event at the end of the Leadership Program of the Rockies (LPR) Retreat. The purpose of the LPR program is to train top influencers from all walks of life about the American Founding Principles and Free Market Capitalism. The PLUGin event enforces these ideas in the form of a speech competition while engaging the audience and demonstrating how a person’s outside activities and organizations can promulgate those concepts. These ideas consist of studying and understanding individual rights, the proper role of a limited government, and being an active and engaged citizen, all based on the American ideal. It is with joy that I get to recruit the presenters who are called Connectors and conduct the PLUGin event for the alumni and current class members going through the program. I help guide them using structured techniques taught in class for a three-minute or less speech. The Connector’s use the power of persuasion by captivating an audience for their vote. The challenge is further enhanced since the Connector’s cannot ask for money in their presentation or they are disqualified. Our Connectors attempt to appeal to the audience with their public policy cause through their non-profit organization or a new idea that can affect civil society and public policy. If someone in the audience likes what they hear, they can make connections with a cause that evening. The Connector’s presentation is voted on and three are awarded cash prizes of $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place that is donated to their organization by a generous sponsor. A panel of judges and audience members help select the winners. An LPR alumnus created an app that has all the Connector’s contact information and their organization’s purpose along with a photo of them on a landing page so the audience can vote and follow up with any of the presenters after the event. The Connectors receive a list of these voters and reach out through their organization to request support; this could include volunteering, offering specific skills, or providing mentorship. After the Connector’s presentation, alumni of the program, current class members, and their guests can enjoy conversation and refreshments. This occasion presents an excellent opportunity to network with distinguished leaders from Colorado and across the country who are making significant contributions in their fields. This year’s winners were as varied as starting a Classical Charter Academy, which will focus on American Founding principles and teaching the skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic as well as the classical virtues. Another winner presented on their organization that protects the individual rights of women and children from the dark evils of sex trafficking and is working to provide resources for survivors. Another winner focused on civic engagement with a civic-tech initiative designed to help everyday citizens get involved in shaping their communities by discovering and serving on local boards and commissions. A follow-up prize is awarded to a Connector who has the most engagement after six months from the audience members that voted for them. That Connector wins $500 for their organization and two hours of priceless consulting time with LPR’s President. The PLUGin event has helped to launch or expand several organizations over the years including a startup that recruits grandparents to get involved in their grandchildren’s education and advocates for their well-being, to a liberty themed oral communication and leadership skills development program which has received national recognition. The Connectors at the PLUGin networking event are like the water from the stone well. It is not with coarse words that win the moment but rather with soft-spoken words of respect that can persuade others to understand a point of view. Humility and humor often win the event over hubris. As the great Orison Sweat Marden once said, “The world makes way for the man with an idea.” PLUGin is an event that connects people with an organization or an idea. https://kimmonson.com/featured_articles/plugging-in-to-connect/?vgo_ee=jZlS0RtmMeIk1QihrZrJYrp12%2BXXgQrec8m6Gmul4FZ1osTwWA40QEtO%3A3Pu9HMw1Lykd3MZT3FHpLcCecmv9%2BZUS