.webp)
Today’s episode is all about purpose and calling. As a leader who is rolling into a new year, you might be thinking about what’s next. This conversation with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft will encourage you with the unique ways you’ve been called to lead and center you by reminding you what it’s all about.
INTHIS EPISODE
0:00 Intro
02:50 Why is it important to reflect on calling andpurpose, and why do people tend to do it in January?
03:40 Why is it important for people to have apurpose and to regularly reflect on it?
05:00 How David came to define his calling, and howit has changed over the years.
10:00 How being consistent in our efforts connectswith living out our purpose.
12:00 How does an organization’s purpose help aleader get clarity around their team’s goals?
15:00 What is the GLN’s stated purpose, and how willit impact the Global Leadership Summit?
18:10 What would David say to another leader toencourage them as they were moving into a new year?
21:10 Outro
LISTEN
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
STANDOUTSAND TAKEAWAYS
- Having natural “reset” moments (weekly, monthly or annually) is important to ongoing work.
- Everyone wants to feel like their life matters.
- One of the mistakes we can make with our “calling” is to equate with a specific job. Two people can have the same purpose yet work in very different jobs.
- Our calling comes down to people. Regardless of our specific vocation, how are we called to interact with and be a benefit to the people in our lives?
- It’s a great thing when your individual purpose aligns with the purpose of the organization you are a part of, but it doesn’t always necessarily happen that way.
- Drifting never takes you any place good or pleasant. One of the jobs of a leader is to prevent drift by reminding people where the organization is trying to go.
- The end-goal of the GLN is to point people towards Jesus. Leadership is the tool whitthat we use to try and accomplish that goal.
- By definition, a leader is someone who has followers. If you’re a leader, hopefully you know where you’re taking your followers and how you’ll help them get there.
LINKSMENTIONED
- Website: Team365
- Website: 2026 Global Leadership Summit
Related
Ep 208: Leading When the Plan Falls Apart with Craig Groeschel
In this episode, David Ashcraft talks with Craig Groeschel, founder and senior pastor of Life.Church, about how leaders can respond when leadership does not go as planned. Craig reflects on failed ideas, organizational pivots, team conflict, and the ongoing discipline of letting go as leadership expands. He also shares how humility, preparation, prayerfulness, candor and trust have shaped the way he leads through uncertainty.
Ep 207: Leading Through Leadership Hijacks with Edgar Sandoval
In this episode, GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft talks with Edgar Sandoval, President and CEO of World Vision, about navigating what David calls “leadership hijacks”: unexpected events that reshape both leadership and life.
Ep 206: When Leadership Gets Hijacked: Reclaiming Your Focus, Identity, and Definition of Success (with David Ashcraft)
In this episode, Whitney Putnam sits down with David Ashcraft to unpack the internal and external “hijacks” that pull leaders off course. They explore how even confident leaders can fall into comparison traps, how self-doubt often disguises itself in different ways, and why defining success based on others’ metrics leads to frustration.
Leadership That Lasts
Team365 isn’t just a platform. It’s a commitment to grow, lead and live with purpose — every single day. Whether you’re here for content, community or clarity, you’re in the right place. Your leadership matters. Let’s keep going.
