When you watch the following short video, notice what happens to the people who come up to conduct. A little background to put this request into context. This video, produced by ImprovEverywhere, invites people to take a turn at the stand and conduct a Carnegie Hall Orchestra. There’s a group of musicians, a milling crowd, and a music stand with the invitation, “CONDUCT US”. Their expressions are priceless. Often a bit disbelieving at first, as in “you want me to do what?” Then a turn to nervousness or tentativeness, but usually then another turn toward enjoyment, and sometimes delight and passion and confidence to boot. I think...

Think you know the story of David and Goliath? Think again. In the hands of Malcolm Gladwell, the story of David and Goliath takes on new meaning. Or rather, Gladwell turns our typical interpretation of this classic biblical story on its head. As Gladwell points out, we tend to read the David and Goliath story as the tale of an improbable victory of a relative weakling over a mighty warrior. Indeed, the phrase has been so incorporated into our language that many use it – in describing the underdog victory of one sports team over another, for instance – without even knowing its source. But as Gladwell tells it, the story is really about a...