Calling
Vision
Church & Faith-Based
January 6, 2026

Ep 195: On Purpose and Calling (with David Ashcraft)

Contributor
David Ashcraft
David Ashcraft
President and CEO
|
Global Leadership Network
Whitney Putnam
Whitney Putnam
Vice President of Marketing
|
Global Leadership Network

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

Vision
,
Strategy
,
Execution
,
April 8, 2026

Ep 203: How Leaders Use Strategy (with David Ashcraft)

In this episode, Whitney Putnam sits down with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft to simplify strategy and make it practical. Together, they unpack why strategy matters at every level of leadership—and why waiting for perfect clarity might be the very thing holding you back.

Leading Yourself
Leading Others
Vision
,
Leadership Development
,
Team Building
,
March 25, 2026

Ep 202: Creating Meaningful Change Through Faith and Entrepreneurship (with Justin Forman)

Leadership isn’t just about building something successful; it’s about building something meaningful, aligning what you believe with how you lead and using what you’ve been given to make a difference. Today’s guest is someone who has spent years helping leaders do exactly that.

Leading Organizations
Calling
,
Confidence
,
Productivity
,
March 18, 2026

Ep 201: Five Essential Functions of Leadership (with Henry Cloud)

Our President and CEO, David Ashcraft, recently sat down with Dr. Cloud for a conversation about his upcoming book Your Desired Future. This book is basically a masterclass in how to lead—yourself and other people and is exactly what we’ve come to expect from Henry: deep psychological insight with super practical application.

Leading Organizations
Leading Yourself

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