SUMMARY

“Vision leaks” is a well-known leadership axiom, and to kick off January’s theme of being a “purposeful leader,” Whitney Putnam sits down with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft. In this conversation, they explore the role purpose and mission has in David’s life and leadership. We’ll also hear about some common pitfalls that leaders can face regarding purpose, and how he has learned to guard against them.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Does David do New Years’ Resolutions?

• How would David describe his life’s purpose?

• What can people do to discover a purpose that lasts?

• What can leaders do if an organization starts to drift from its purpose or mission?

• How did David learn the importance of maintaining clarity and focus?

• For David, who modeled the quality of consistently showing up, day after day?

• How do you keep showing up to do your job if it doesn’t align with your passion?

LISTEN

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

STANDOUTS AND TAKEAWAYS

• Focus on simplicity; don’t try to do too many things.

• The leader’s job is to be the gatekeeper of the vision, to say no to things that might pull the organization off track.

• Even after you spend months crafting the perfect vision statement, it will inevitably leak. Repetition is crucial.

• After you establish your purpose, everything you do should be measured against it.

• Oftentimes, people will get bored with vision and purpose and want to try new things. Sometimes the leader needs to remind people that winning comes from being consistent and doing their job.

LINKS MENTIONED

• Website: Leader365 and Team365

• Website: Global Leadership Summit 2025

• Website: Global Leadership Network