Hi Reader,
Have you ever heard (or said) the phrase, “It’s lonely at the top”? I've said it.
Henry Cloud has a response: If it’s lonely at the top, you’re the problem.
In this episode, Henry and I talk about why leaders drift into a perceived loss of control and how that can quietly push you toward learned helplessness, isolation, and even depression.
But we also unpack the hope-filled flip side: you have more agency than you think. Henry calls it being “ridiculously in charge” of what you can control—your responses, your focus, your boundaries, your next right step.
We also get into founder-itis (why succession stalls), why some leaders hoard strategies that stopped working years ago, and the leadership mistake the church can’t afford right now: developing everyone except the leader.
If you’re carrying pressure alone, leading through noise, or stuck in “it won’t work here,” this conversation can help you reset.
Listen (or watch on YouTube), and share it with a leader who needs a reminder: you’re not meant to do this alone.
🎧 Listen now and take the next step toward healthier leadership. Watch it on YouTube or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts.
This episode is brought to you by...
Art of Leadership Live
If you’re leading a church and you know there’s more in you—and more ahead for your team—I want to personally invite you to something special.
September 21–23, 2026, I’m hosting The Art of Leadership LIVE in Nashville, Tennessee.
One important note: Super Early Bird pricing is almost gone. If you’ve been thinking about applying, now is the time. Once it expires, rates go up for good.
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Gloo Content Studio
Gloo Content Studio is designed around one simple idea: one message can power a whole week of ministry. You drop in your sermon—an outline, notes, or a transcript—and Content Studio helps turn it into summaries, on-brand social posts, discussion prompts, and practical next steps.
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Belay
Sometimes the spreadsheets and bookkeeping can start taking more time than the work you’re actually called to do: leading your church, caring for your community, and spreading the Gospel.
Luckily, our friends at BELAY have a solution.
BELAY provides vetted, U.S.-based Financial Experts who partner with pastors to bring clarity, confidence, and peace of mind around church finances.
And, they’re giving away their resource The Future of Financial Leadership, for free.
This guide discusses when AI can save you time, when human insight is non-negotiable, and how to balance the two effectively across your financial operations.
