Everybody’s afraid of something, and that’s not always bad. Fear of falling keeps us away from the edge of a cliff. Fear of wrecking (or getting a fine) stops us from ignoring a red light.

But when fear drives how you lead, your ability to lead will suffer. Here’s what I mean.

If you love Nashville like I love Nashville, I’m guessing I know one thing about Nashville you love most. It’s the music.

Wander down any one of several streets, stop in at any one of several dozen honky-tonks, and you’ll find some of the best music you’ve ever heard. And it’s almost always played by someone you’ve never heard of.

Hundreds of musicians with songs in their souls and dreams in their hearts go to Nashville looking for fame. Most of them don’t find it. (<One writer estimated> there are 300 out-of-work musicians and 3,000 out-of-work singers in Nashville on any given day.)

This week’s podcast is with a church leader making a difference. I’m looking forward to what you’ll hear from Cal Jernigan, longtime pastor with Central Christian Church in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area.

My friend Brook Brotzman calls it “The Art of the Hang.” If you get together with people who will challenge or encourage you, you’ll discover there’s no better way to spend your time. If you just hang with leaders who care about your ministry, your ministry will be better for it.

Even though I have been leading in some form or fashion in the church for the last twenty years, I still am a very young leader with a lot to learn from other leaders. For a couple of years now it has been a desire of mine to start a podcast simply called, Learning To Lead. I have had a desire for it to be a podcast where I find and interview leaders from the church, business, corporate, and anywhere leadership is displayed and find out what makes them great leaders.