Larry Smith, a former semiconductor executive, left his comfortable life to live in an RV at Community First! Village in Austin, where he and his wife built deep relationships with formerly homeless neighbors and lived out their faith in radical community. Now retired, Larry works to expand the model nationally, advising government leaders one day and equipping churches to serve marginalized people the next.

Sophia’s story illustrates how modern self-care culture, with its heavy focus on individual optimization, is actually deepening loneliness and exhaustion among leaders. Research shows that genuine well-being is strengthened not by withdrawing from others, but by meaningful connection and contributing to the lives of those around us.

A microculture is a group within your organization that has a distinct personality. These groups might form naturally based on shared interests or backgrounds, or they might be formal work teams that develop their own norms and dynamics.