Unfinished Leadership

Balance is a lie.If you’ve been chasing balance as a leader, you’ve probably felt it—frustration, guilt, and eventually burnout. That’s because balance was never the goal.In this episode of the Unfinished Leadership Podcast, we explore a better way: rhythm.Instead of trying to divide your life into perfectly equal parts, what if you learned to live fully present—moving in a sustainable, life-giving rhythm?You’ll learn:Why balance often leads to burnout (not freedom)The difference between a divided life and an integrated oneA simple framework for sustainable leadership:Divert Daily. Withdraw Weekly. Abandon Annually.How to evaluate your rhythm across your relational, physical, mental, and spiritual lifeWhy most leaders burn out after the big push—not during itIf you’re tired of feeling like you’re always behind or in the wrong place, this conversation will help you rethink how leadership—and life—is meant to be lived.

Most organizations don’t collapse overnight. They drift.And before an organization experiences mission drift… the leader has already drifted.In this episode of the Unfinished Leadership Podcast, we break down the four hidden forces that cause leader drift — the subtle shifts that slowly pull leaders off mission, off values, and off course.If you lead a business, church, nonprofit, or team, this conversation is essential.We cover:• Unprocessed pain in leadership• The undisciplined pursuit of more• Hubris born of success• Isolation at the topLeadership failure rarely happens in a single decision. It happens gradually — through drift.You’ll learn how to recognize the early warning signs, how to protect your mission, and how to stay aligned as a leader even in seasons of growth and success.If you're serious about leadership growth, resilience, and long-term impact — this episode is for you.

In this bonus episode of the Unfinished Leadership Podcast, Jon Peacock sits down with Ben Zobrist, 2016 World Series MVP of the Chicago Cubs, for a raw and honest conversation about leadership, pressure, and identity. Ben reflects on his journey from small-town Eureka, Illinois, to a last-minute scout day that changed his future, the leaders who offered borrowed belief along the way, and the defining moments of the Cubs’ historic 2016 championship run—including the iconic Game 7 rain-delay meeting. The heart of this episode comes after the win, as Ben opens up about the panic attacks, anxiety, and mental health struggles that followed his greatest professional success, forcing him to confront a question every leader eventually faces: Am I enough if I can’t perform? He closes by sharing his passion for developing emotional intelligence in youth sports through Champion Forward, and why learning to sit with pain—rather than run from it—has become a defining leadership habit in his life.00:00 – Introducing Ben Zobrist & the unfinished leader06:05 – The scout day that changed everything (borrowed belief)14:00 – MLB leadership lessons & belief17:10 – The 2016 World Series & the Game 7 rain-delay moment25:15 – When success breaks you: panic, anxiety, and burnout30:30 – “You are enough”: redefining strength, faith, and leadership

In this extended episode, we wrap up season one of the Unfinished Leadership Podcast. Jon welcomes two great friends to discuss six keys to crush 2026. Each key is explored in depth and provides actionable insights to help you grow and achieve your goals in the coming year.00:00 — Introductions08:47 — Key 1 - Win the Identity Game18:16 — Key 2 - Build Tiny Wins24:24 — Key 3 - Guard Your Environment Like It’s Your Destiny32:58 — Key 4 - Leverage the Power of Community & Accountability43:14 — Key 5 - Plan for the Dip52:23 — Key 6 - Measure What Matters

In a culture obsessed with more - more results, more goals, more achievement - great leaders practice something countercultural: gratitude. In this episode, Jon unpacks three things the best leaders are thankful for and why gratitude isn’t just a nice personal habit… it’s a leadership multiplier.00:00 — Why Gratitude Is a Leadership Multiplier04:23 — Great Leaders Are Grateful for Their Mentors08:34 — Leaders Must Be Grateful for Their Followers11:05 — Embrace Challenges as Opportunities for Leadership Growth

In this episode of the Unfinished Leadership Podcast, Jon Peacock sits down with longtime friend and leader Chris DeLeenheer for a honest and inspiring conversation on resilience. Chris shares the behind-the-scenes story that shaped his leadership philosophy. You’ll hear how pain of adversity forged a new mindset and led to building a legacy. This episode will challenge and encourage any leader who feels like they’re on the sidelines or starting over. 00:00 – Welcome 01:12 – Introduction to Chris DeLeenheer 02:01 – Chris's Athletic Journey 14:53 – Life Doesn't Happen To You, It Happens For You 20:41 – Leadership Traps 25:14 – Final Encouragement to Leaders

On this episode of the Unfinished Leadership Podcast, Jon Peacock sits down with Shawn Williams, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, to talk about the realities of leading through a rebuilding season. From stepping into a post-crisis environment to making painful but necessary changes, Shawn shares what he’s learned about putting values in the driver’s seat, rebuilding culture, and restoring trust. He opens up about the endurance required to keep showing up, the role of feedback in shaping healthier teams, and why leaders must hold onto vision even when it feels dormant.If you’ve ever found yourself leading in the aftermath of disruption - whether in business, ministry, or community - this conversation will encourage you to stay committed, lead with integrity, and hold out hope for the “fun stuff” ahead.00:00 – Introduction05:57 – From building to rebuilding at Willow Creek09:14 – Post-crisis realities and shattered vision11:48 – Making painful but necessary staff and structure changes14:58 – Culture on life support: addressing trust and morale17:51 – Staff surveys, feedback, and rebuilding culture20:54 – Personal endurance, calling, and convictions23:51 – Values in the driver’s seat vs. vision in the driver’s seat26:47 – Looking ahead: the future of leadership at Willow CreekTogether, these shifts create a framework for lasting transformation helping leaders close the gap between who they are today and who they are becoming tomorrow.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Habits02:24 Recap of Episode 4 Mindshifts08:27 The Power of Avoidance Over Resistance09:05 The Importance of Showing Up15:00 Tapping into God's Power for Habits

This episode continues our deep dive into the role of habits in leadership and life. Building on the foundation from the last conversation, Jon introduces three more powerful mind shifts that reshape how we think about growth. Instead of trying to fight bad habits head-on, Jon shows why it’s more effective to avoid them altogether. He unpacks the surprising power of simply showing up daily, and he explores what it means to rely on God’s strength rather than our own limited willpower.Together, these shifts create a framework for lasting transformation helping leaders close the gap between who they are today and who they are becoming tomorrow.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Habits02:24 Recap of Episode 4 Mindshifts08:27 The Power of Avoidance Over Resistance09:05 The Importance of Showing Up15:00 Tapping into God's Power for Habits

In this episode, Jon Peacock challenges leaders to confront the gap between where they are and where they want to be and to close that gap with consistent, intentional habits. But more than just building habits, Jon explores how we think about habits and why that mindset shift is essential to sustained growth. Jon introduces three powerful mind shifts that can help leaders stay in the game, even when progress feels slow.Chapters:00:00 — Closing the Leadership Gap02:47 — The Power of Habits05:57 — Mind Shifts for Habit Formation11:53 — Transforming Your Thinking About Habits

In this episode of Unfinished Leadership, Jon Peacock gets real about the pain that comes with leadership. Whether it’s emotional, relational, or physical, pain is inevitable. How we respond to it determines the kind of leader we become. Jon walks through three essential steps to turning pain into growth: recognize it, release it, and reframe it.Chapters00:00 - Understanding Leadership Pain06:11 -  Recognizing the Pain07:32 - Release the Pain12:50 - Reframe the Pain

In this episode of the Unfinished Leadership Podcast, Jon Peacock explores the evolving nature of teams. Using the analogy of varying sports teams, Jon helps leaders assess if their current team structure matches the demands of their growth season. He also unpacks three key tensions that every healthy team must learn to navigate. Whether you’re leading a small startup or a growing organization, this episode will challenge you to rethink how your team is built and what it needs to thrive.00:00 – The Importance of Teamwork01:03 – Identifying the Right Team for the Season08:55 – Understanding Team Dynamics and Growth10:13 – Navigating Tensions in Teams

In this debut episode of the Unfinished Leadership Podcast, host Jon Peacock explores the hidden ways ego undermines effective leadership. Rather than being a source of strength, ego often becomes a silent killer—eroding trust, distorting accountability, and stalling personal growth. Jon offers a fresh, honest take on how humility can shift a leader’s posture from self-preserving to self-aware. He outlines three key stages of leadership—Beginning, Building, and Decline—and unpacks how ego and humility uniquely show up in each. It’s a conversation for anyone who wants to grow, lead with authenticity, and leave behind the myth of the finished leader.00:00 — The Ego: Your Greatest Leadership Threat03:07 — Understanding Ego and Humility06:00 — Compete vs. Celebrate: Leadership and Comparison08:54 — Blame vs. Own: The Power of Responsibility11:47 — Their Growth vs. Your Growth15:07 — Leadership Stages: Beginning, Building, and Decline17:59 — Final Reflection & Call to Action