The Craig And Greg Show: Resilience Over Resignation

July 23, 2026 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. Check out the video content in this post by clicking here. 

An insidious killer may be stalking your organization. As you look around at your team some of them may have already resigned. They might be showing up every day, but mentally and spiritually they have already quit trying. Join Greg and I as we discuss how resignation can creep in, and how your example of resilience can help stave it off.

Greg and I have co-authored the first book in our new series Business By The Book. Get your copy today. 

  • [0:00] Introduction
  • [1:07] Resigning isn’t as obvious as someone saying, “I quit!”
  • [1:55] The attitude of resignation starts way before someone begins their work career.
  • [4:20] As a leader, is there value in telling people your story of grit? Does that encourage teammates or does it discourage them?
  • [6:14] Is resilience innate or learned or both?
  • [8:12] Resilience is often a grind, but it pays huge dividends for those who will stick with it. I share a conversation he had with an NBA player.
  • [11:08] Greg shares examples of two professional athletes who demonstrated resilience, as well as his own resilience on the football field.
  • [14:02] Leaders need to push themselves farther and not give themselves an “out.” This is how they show resilience as an encouragement for others.
  • [15:56] Greg shares how he transitioned an organization from a quiet culture to a hungry culture. I then share how I have helped others become hungry and resilient.
  • [18:08] Tough times are going to come to every individual and every organization. Leaders need to help prepare themselves and their teams.
  • [19:53] Is there a time for resigning? I think it’s possible that resigning is sometimes a healthy resilience.
  • [23:13] Greg shares a quote about resilience being a gift.
  • [25:01] Leaders are a gift to their entire organization when they are resilient.

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Links & Quotes

July 18, 2026 — Craig T. Owens

Greg and I both have confessions to make about areas we fell short in our earlier careers. But we have learned that those stumbling points can be launching points for greater growth.

I have a lot of new video content on my YouTube channel every week. Please check it out and subscribe so you don’t miss anything.

“Without God, there could be no American form of Government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first—the most basic—expression of Americanism.” —Dwight D. Eisenhower 

Greg Morse calls out the way pornography addictions are hamstringing the church. “My intention is simply to kindle the abhorrence that every saint should have for this sin. I hate pornography. I hate what it does to young men; I hate what it does to marriages; I hate what it does to older men and even older ministers who trip while crossing the finish line. I hate its accessibility; I hate its covertness; I hate how it is designed by satan to disable the men and women who were made for so much more.”

“But the question is not what we intended ourselves to be, but what [God] intended us to be when He made us. He is the inventor, we are only the machine. He is the painter, we are only the picture. How should we know what He means us to be like? … We may be content to remain what we call ‘ordinary people’: but He is determined to carry out a quite different plan. To shrink back from that plan is not humility: it is laziness and cowardice. To submit to it is not conceit or megalomania; it is obedience.” —C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity 

“Leadership development is synonymous with personal development. As leaders grow personally, they increase their ability to lead. As they increase their capability to lead, they enlarge the capacity of their organization to grow. Therefore, the most crucial objective for any leader is personal growth. … The most important thing spiritual leaders do is cultivate their relationship with God (John 15:5; Jeremiah 7:13).” —Richard and Henry Blackaby, in Spiritual Leadership 

C.M. Ward’s interview of the governor of Florida during a time of political distrust is a great example of integrity for us still today. 

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Leadership Success

July 7, 2026 — Craig T. Owens

Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. (Joshua 1:6 NLT) 

There is a direct correlation between knowing the God of the Word, as revealed in the Word of God, and leading in bold obedience. 

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them…. Then you will be successful in everything you do. (Joshua 1:7 NLT) 

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Joshua 1:8 NLT) 

Study. Meditate. Obey. “Only then” will you be successful! 

If God has called you to lead, lead in His strength—not in your own strength. 

Check out my godly leadership series, with 80+ posts (and growing!). 

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Links & Quotes

June 27, 2026 — Craig T. Owens

It’s not possible for you to have experienced everything that those around you have experienced. But you can still empathize with them through an empathetic volley of statements and questions. This is what exemplary leaders do.

I have a lot of new video content on my YouTube channel every week. Please check it out and subscribe so you don’t miss anything.

“The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: My own will shall become yours.’” —C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity 

There are so many resources today to help Christians defend their faith. Check out this post from John Stonestreet and the numerous books you might want to add to your library. 

“If we are to influence the Church and the world around us, we must be full of God and His presence. Everything else must be secondary to this one question: How can we have the power of Christ resting on us all day long?” —Andrew Murray 

Clinton Manley wants to know why Christians don’t play more. “The Hebrew word most often translated as ‘play’ (śāḥaq) comes from a verb meaning ‘to laugh.’ Intensify that verb, and you get ‘to sport, play, or celebrate.’ So we can say play is to action as laughter is to sound. At its best, laughter is a sound that both expresses and intensifies joy; similarly, play is an action that expresses and intensifies joy. Thus, play can involve almost any activity…as long as it is done from joy and for joy.” 

“None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.” —Goethe 

J. Warner Wallace shares writings from ancient historians—in fact, those hostile to the claims of Christianity—that point to the historicity of Jesus. 

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The Craig and Greg Show: Don’t Settle For Cooperation

June 25, 2026 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. Check out the video content in this post by clicking here. 

Greg and I promise we aren’t here to nitpick your grammar, but in some instances understanding the full meaning of words can help us to realize how they are affecting our patterns of thinking. In today’s episode we are discussing cooperation and collaboration—two words that are often used interchangeably. However, a deeper examination reveals that their differences can be the deciding factor between a surviving team and a thriving team.

  • [0:00] Introduction
  • [0:49] Not to nitpick on the definitions, but we need to make sure we understand the words “cooperate” and “collaborate.”
  • [2:03] Let’s start with cooperation—how do leaders get their teams to cooperate together?
  • [3:33] In our Business by the Book book for CEOs, we talk about a trailblazer in the Old West who sets a good example for us in how to get people to begin cooperating.
  • [7:13] Assumptions will kill cooperation before it even gets started.
  • [9:33] Stephen Covey has good insight for us in his book The 8th Habit that servant leaders can leverage for success.
  • [12:13] Collaboration is harder work, which will require more patience from the leader to allow the rest of the team to build their endurance for it.
  • [13:48] Teammates will have to wrestle with sacrifice and risk in order to allow the whole time to move forward.
  • [16:07] A strategy that Greg has employed successfully to help teammates move from cooperation to collaboration.
  • [18:02] The value of ideation in collaborative meetings is so much higher than sticking to the agenda of a cooperative meeting.
  • [19:27] We like the tension of the difficulty of collaboration.
  • [20:42] Moving from cooperation to collaboration will require legitimate humility on the part of the leader.
  • [23:08] An outstanding quote from John Maxwell’s book Teamwork 101.
  • [23:48] If you are wondering if your leadership might be stifling the move from cooperation to collaboration, please consider calling in Maximize Leadership as a business coach.

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A Difficult Leadership Decision

June 11, 2026 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. Check out the video content in this post by clicking here. 

One of the most difficult—but rewarding—decisions a leader will ever make is to honestly confront themselves on their part in a relationship or organizational problem. 

Check out the full conversation Greg and I had on the Craig and Greg Show episode called Growth from the Hard Road. And you may also want to check out a whole series of messages I shared in the series Thankful in the Night. 

Get more information on my book When Sheep Bite by clicking here. 

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

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Helping Others Follow Jesus

June 10, 2026 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. 

Remember your leaders… (Hebrews 13:7). 

As the writer of Hebrews closes his epistle, he speaks to the saints about how they should interact with their leaders (Hebrews 13:7-21). He concludes this section by saying their confidence in their leaders brings joy to their leaders. 

But I would like to flip the script on this to describe how leaders are supposed to live in a way that makes it a joy for people to follow their leadership. 

So, leaders, let’s make sure we are…

…speaking the Word of God, not any kinds of “strange teachings” (vv. 7, 9). 

…living a life worthy of imitation. This requires a consistent and steadfast example of Christ-like living (vv. 7-8). 

…strengthening people with grace, not man-made strategies (v. 9). 

…not giving ourselves special privileges just because we are in leadership positions (v. 10). 

…not concerned with public perceptions while we stand for Jesus (vv. 11-13). 

…keeping in mind that our reward is in Heaven, so we don’t look for human accolades here but in “the city that is to come” (v. 14). 

…setting the example in hospitality (v. 16). 

…leading with the integrity and gentleness that makes it easy for saints to have confidence in our leadership (v. 17a). 

…serving with sober joy (v. 17b). 

…praying for others to be empowered “to live honorably” and with a clear conscience (vv. 18-19). 

A mark of a godly leader is one who makes it desirable for others to follow Jesus. 

Jesus is “that great Shepherd of the sheep” (v. 20). We are merely under-shepherds of small flocks, but we have been appointed to this pasture by Him. 

He will equip us “with everything good for doing His will” (v. 21a), which means we don’t have to attempt to equip ourselves. Instead, we can operate in His empowerment. 

He will also work in us “what is pleasing to Him” (v. 21b). We are not trying to please people, but we should want to please the One to Whom we must give an account. 

All “glory for ever and ever” goes to Him! We are not serving as His under-shepherds so that we can be recognized, but so people can draw closer to Him. We shepherd people to make Jesus known. 

If we will keep these things in mind, we are free to serve. Leaders who are secure—who are humbly confident in their calling—are leaders who are easy to follow. 

Let’s pray: Holy Spirit, help me to lead in a way that allows others to see Jesus because of my lifestyle. I want to be an example that helps others draw ever closer to Him. Amen! 

This is part 88 in my series on godly leadership. You can check out all of my posts in this series by clicking here. And you may also want to check out my books for church leaders—Shepherd Leadership and When Sheep Bite. 

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

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Links & Quotes

June 6, 2026 — Craig T. Owens

Sometimes leaders will have to part ways with a staff member. The way this is done can either bring resolution or it can create lingering problems. Check out this clip from our conversation on combatting toxicity in the workplace.

I have a lot of new video content on my YouTube channel every week. Please check it out and subscribe so you don’t miss anything.

I thoroughly enjoyed this commentary from John Piper on the power of silence in the face of critics and revilers. Pastor John noted, “Both the teachings and the sufferings of Jesus are meant to teach us how to respond when we are treated badly, unjustly. We are to glorify God by finding in Him the reward that satisfies our heart deeply enough that we don’t need to return evil for evil.” I really leaned into this supernatural response to critics in my book When Sheep Bite.

“To preach Christianity meant primarily to preach the Resurrection. … The Resurrection is the central theme in every Christian sermon reported in the Acts. The Resurrection, and its consequences, were the ‘gospel’ or good news which the Christians brought: what we call the ‘gospels’, the narratives of Our Lord’s life and death, were composed later for the benefit of those who had already accepted the gospel. They were in no sense the basis of Christianity: they were written for those already converted. The miracle of the Resurrection, and the theology of that miracle, comes first: the biography comes later as a comment on it.” —C.S. Lewis, Miracles 

David Mathis says, “The fight against sin and the fight for holiness and joy is a soul-and-body fight. We are soul-and-body creatures. God made us like that.” He then shares the importance in physical, bodily exercise as a strong ally in our fight against sin. 

“We all know that exercise makes us feel better, but most of us have no idea why. We assume it’s because we’re burning off stress or reducing muscle tension or boosting endorphins, and we leave it at that. But the real reason we feel so good when we get our blood pumping is that it makes the brain function at its best, and in my view, this benefit of physical activity is far more important—and fascinating—than what it does for the body. Building muscles and conditioning the heart and lungs are essentially side effects. I often tell my patients that the point of exercise is to build and condition the brain.” —Dr. John Ratey 

“When it comes to leadership, attitude becomes even more important. You need to see possibilities when others don’t, encourage people when they are feeling defeated, and demonstrate commitment when others want to quit.” —John Maxwell 

J. Warner Wallace not only makes the case that original accounts in the Gospels haven’t been changed over time, but he also shows how the corroborating sources affirm the original account—

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The Craig And Greg Show: Combatting Toxicity

May 28, 2026 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. Check out the video content in this post by clicking here. 

When some sort of chemical or toxin is spilled in the environment it doesn’t just stay put, it spreads, corrupting everything around it. The same principle is true in our organizations—toxic behaviors that are allowed to fester will spread until they consume your entire team. So put on your hazmat suit and join Greg and me as we address common toxic behaviors and offer strategies on how to root them out before they can take hold.

  • [0:00] Introduction
  • [1:00] A quick list of some toxic behaviors leaders will have to address.
  • [3:09] Let’s think about the analogy of our organizations as a human body that’s nursing an injury.
  • [5:50] How should leaders treat toxicity in their organizations?
  • [8:20] In one chapter in our Business by the Book about vision-casting, we talk about something that can keep us from addressing detrimental issues.
  • [9:38] Greg wants to know how I have addressed toxic teammates.
  • [11:20] Greg shares how moving the problem instead of dealing with the problem actually multiplies the problem.
  • [15:17] At some point leaders might have to admit that a toxic teammate isn’t a good fit for the organization. Now what do we do?
  • [17:42] There was an important part of my book When Sheep Bite that Greg helped me to see more clearly.
  • [18:54] Being too quick to deal with problems is just as dangerous as being too slow to deal with it.
  • [25:28] It’s easy to get swayed by your emotions when dealing with these toxic topics, but an outside coach isn’t emotionally invested like you are, so they can give you a much more objective viewpoint.
  • [27:00] The behavior you accept will determine the culture of your organization.

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The Craig And Greg Show: Are You Accountable To Them?

May 14, 2026 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. Check out the video content in this post by clicking here. 

Accountability is a word you might have some negative connotations attached to. Many people have only heard the word in the context of taking ownership for a mistake or a “shape up or else” talk with the boss. In today’s episode Greg and I offer a different perspective, discussing how a healthy accountability culture can strengthen and grow your organization.

  • [0:00] Introduction
  • [0:22] A leadership “4-letter word” that many weaker leaders want to avoid.
  • [2:21] Some people think accountability might show some chinks in their armor.
  • [3:36] What are the benefits of a leader being accountable to his or her team?
  • [6:21] A leadership team that is approachable will use accountability in a very positive and productive way.
  • [7:57] Is there a correlation between accountability and motivation?
  • [9:44] For some people, accountability might be viewed as a threat.
  • [11:00] Greg and I have a new book coming out about a leader’s vision-casting, which requires some accountability.
  • [13:05] Our childhood experiences definitely effect the way people view accountability today—for both leaders and teammates.
  • [16:43] Leaders should set up their teammates for success.
  • [17:25] Reassurance is a key part of building a culture of accountability.
  • [18:37] Accountability is simply accounting for your ability.
  • [19:09] I share a quote from John Maxwell.
  • [19:55] Leaders should create a culture where their team is excited to come to them, asking where they can improve.
  • [22:44] An outside coach can help you improve your accountability with a nonjudgmental third party.

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