STRIVING FOR A LIFETIME OF ARETE

Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad you’re here. You might be wondering about the story behind my slogan “Striving for a lifetime of Arete” – here’s what it’s all about.

It’s a slogan that reflects my core values and what I want to convey to others. I’ve used it on my old websites and on my social media profiles. You can also think of it as a personal branding tool that concisely communicates who I am and what I stand for.

Fun fact: My Ph.D. website was Arete Scholar, and after graduation, I had a small business website called Arete for Businesses. And there’s also Arete Trailblazers…

So, what is Arete, and why am I striving for it? A quick Google search will show you that Arete is an ancient Greek word describing virtue, spiritual and moral excellence, effectiveness, and fulfilling one’s purpose. While you can read more broadly about it online, I want to briefly explain what Arete means to me personally. For me, the foundation of Arete comes from the Bible (Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:5-7).

The Meaning of Arete to Me

First, as a Christian, the Bible emphasizes the importance of living a virtuous life. I believe that virtue is about living the way God designed me to be. However, since I am inherently weak as a human being, I can only acquire virtue through an absolute reliance on the power of God. This is how I can become what God wants me to be and fulfill my purpose.

Second, spirituality isn’t about emotions but about thoughts shaped by the word of God. The Bible encourages me to think about things that are true, noble, pure, lovely, and admirable. This practice grounds my confidence in God, which helps me successfully navigate human relationships and situations that would otherwise upset or depress me. Through this, I develop a greater capacity for life, love, and happiness.

Third, as I continue to grow daily in my faith, I strive to cultivate moral excellence. I try to ensure that my work, my interests, and the way I live my life all exemplify excellence and virtue.

One of my research interests is exploring how to support disadvantaged groups (like smallholders) and help them move from poverty through entrepreneurship. I believe that understanding and applying the principle of Arete helps in exploring genuine solutions to this sort of problem. To me, this isn’t just another research project; it’s part of fulfilling my purpose. My ideas are grounded in the word of God and inspired by Him, and I strive to cultivate excellence as I execute them.

Finally, I believe Arete is a lifelong journey, hence the word ‘striving.’ As Paul wrote, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me” (Philippians 3:12).