We travel all around the country, talking to thousands of leaders, and over and over we hear stories of burnout, cynicism, and isolation. In today’s interview-only episode of The Think Orange Podcast, Carey Nieuwhof dives into issues affecting many young leaders and pastors today. Through the framework of his new book Didn’t See It Coming, Carey talks candidly about some of the most common challenges leaders face. From personal experience and years of insight, Carey shares steps for breaking the cycle of pain by breaking out of isolation and taking steps today that will help you thrive tomorrow.
Topic Timeline
Dave and Ashley introduce Dave’s interview with Carey Nieuwhof (4:56)
This episode sponsored by Orange Conference 2019 (8:11)
Disclaimer: This episode contains content related to self-harm, depression, and suicidal ideation (9:25)
Interview with Carey Nieuwhof (10:15)
Generating blog, podcast, and other media content in an age of increasing transparency (13:12)
Vulnerability doesn’t mean sharing everything with everyone—when sharing publicly, start from a place of asking, “Is this helpful?” (15:18)
Using personal experiences to build empathy (17:29)
Ways technology and social media can contribute to cynicism (21:57)
“Cynicism roots itself in knowledge.” (23:21)
Projecting past failures or hurts onto new situations can cause you to miss out on the joy of life (25:36)
The antidote to cynicism is hope (26:47)
The antidote to burnout is to live in a way today that will help you thrive tomorrow (28:22)
Charge your internal battery quickly by not cheating sleep, diet, and exercise (31:53)
The seven specific challenges addressed in I Didn’t See It Coming (33:00)
- Cynicism
- Compromise
- Disconnection
- Irrelevance
- Pride
- Burnout
- Emptiness
The importance of addressing even seemingly minor moral compromises as a leader (34:30)
Handling feelings of emptiness by keeping perspective (39:18)
Observations from the life of Solomon and the tale of two kingdoms (41:33)
Carey’s past experience with suicidal thoughts and self-pity (45:34)
You have no idea what the next decade may bring for you (49:54)
If you’re experiencing depression, burnout, or anything of the sort, don’t live in a place of isolation—stop what you’re doing right now and tell someone (52:25)
Advice for someone who knows an individual they think are in the middle of a particular challenge they haven’t recognized yet: Questions are a gateway to conversation (54:13)
Dave and Carey conclude the interview in prayer (56:23)
Dave and Ashley’s final thoughts (1:00:45)
Dave’s description of the Hebrew word picture tikvah (1:04:12)
If you need someone to share your challenge with or to pray with you, you can reach out to Dave and Ashley anytime at @aussiedave, @ashleybohinc, and 201-831-7155 (Dave’s cell) (1:06:17)
