There I was at 18, thinking that the biggest problem of my night would be choosing between pizza or burgers.

Instead, I ended up in a situation that seemed straight out of a bad teen movie, complete with flashing police lights and a friend with a questionable understanding of 'conflict resolution' or perhaps self-control.

One late foggy night, a black, sporty, teenager-looking car pulled up beside me with two males who started to posture. You could smell their uncontrolled teen hormones from the city over. I didn't care. But one of my friends in the back did. He jumped out of the car and started to beat on their passenger side window.

Stupidly, one of the hormone-infused teems rolled their window down, and my "friend" started to unleash a fury of punches to the kid's head.

Seconds later, cop car lights turned on at the other side of the intersection.

Moments after that, we were handcuffed like a bunch of wannabe action movie stars, realizing that sometimes, life gives you a pop quiz in common sense...and my friend clearly hadn't studied.

At every age and stage of life, sometimes you'll find yourself in handcuffs (metaphorically speaking) because you didn't spot the 'idiot' in the room early enough.

And no, I'm not talking about the person who thinks pineapple belongs on pizza.

We've all met them, the ones who thrive on chaos.

They're not just in lousy teen movies; they're in our workplaces, communities, and sometimes even our circle of friends.

But what if I told you there's a way to spot these individuals early on so you can avoid them like it was 2021 all over again?

How to spot an idiot.

Pritzker's wisdom from his Northwestern graduation speech was masterful.

He advises looking for people who are cruel — a surefire sign of an 'idiot.'

That's it. That's the magic formula:

Cruel = an idiot.

But they can be hard to spot. They will try to persuade, manipulate, and use others to get what they want. They can be charismatic and attractive. It may even feel sincere at first. But that's because you haven't developed your "idiot detection system" yet.

Cruel people are often the people who use harshness as a tool for power. They are mean, disrespectful, and perpetually angry. It doesn't have to be some gross politician; it can be the cubicle clown down the hall trying to claw their way up the business ranks.

They step on others (people, animals, or Earth) to get what they selfishly desire.

Learn to recognize the trait of cruelty to manage your interactions with these people effectively — or avoid them entirely if you can.

We're all idiots deep down, so you must work on yourself.

Let's face it: humans are essentially just a bunch of evolved monkeys with a few extra years under our belts.

Despite all our advancements, our brains are still hardwired with primal instincts from our ancient ancestors. These instincts kick in, especially when we encounter something or someone unfamiliar. It's a survival mechanism deeply embedded in our DNA that once helped our ancestors navigate a world full of dangers.

"When we see someone who doesn't look like us. Or sound like us. Or act like us. Or love like Us. Or live like us. The first thought that crosses almost everyone's brain is rooted in either fear or judgment or both. That's evolution."

But here's the twist: in today's world, not everyone who looks, sounds, or acts differently is a saber-toothed tiger waiting to pounce.

Our primal brain might scream danger, but it's often just the echo of an ancient survival script, not a real threat. Pritzker encourages us to shut down these primal instincts of fear and judgment. This doesn't mean ignoring your gut feelings but rather understanding them for what they are — relics of a bygone era.

Instead, Pritzker says, approach unfamiliarity with curiosity and openness.

Embrace empathy and compassion.

Empathy and compassion are not just feel-good words; they are evolved states of being.

Someone who embodies these traits will develop thinking and problem-solving skills in remarkable new ways. Not just by trying to plow through others by being cruel.

It's why Buddhism is such a beautiful spiritual practice to study.

Evolved beings can look past their suffering (cravings) and inject kindness and love into the world. Suffering and challenges are not punishments but guides that show us where we need to grow. The world's "push" on you is precisely where you need to focus your attention. Specific pain points like a difficult boss or a challenging relationship are exactly what we need to confront and learn from.

These are the things we need to lean into, not run away from.

Also, these qualities can be your greatest allies when dealing with difficult people. They allow you to see beyond the surface, understand the 'why' behind someone's behavior, and work with them if necessary.

You become a kind leader who can work with almost anyone.

Pritzker said it best:

"The kindest person in the room is often the smartest."

Idiots will prevail, and there will be no shortage of them, so it's up to you to work on yourself — to become a more evolved, kind, wise being.