IL #673: Follow Me — Leadership Lessons from the Rich Young Ruler
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
Release Date: 01/12/2026
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
What happens when doing the right thing threatens to derail progress? In this episode, we follow Rachel Kim, a newly promoted Operations Manager at Bradley & Co. Solutions, who uncovers a pricing oversight that could help her meet an aggressive cost-savings target. The issue isn’t illegal. No one would notice. Colleagues even encourage her to “let it ride.” But something deeper is at stake: integrity. Rachel faces a defining leadership moment—not in a crisis, but in a quiet decision that no one expects her to correct. As pressure mounts and cultural norms nudge her toward...
info_outlineInspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
When life throws challenges that feel impossible to overcome, it’s easy to shrink back in fear, doubt, or defeat. But what if those giants—fear, intimidation, comparison, and unbelief—are not barriers, but invitations to deeper trust in God? In this episode, we draw fresh insight from the story of David and Goliath to understand how Christian leaders can confront modern-day giants with faith and courage. David didn’t win because he was the strongest—he won because he trusted the strength of his God. You’ll learn how to: Recognize the giants that threaten your calling Remember how...
info_outlineInspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
What does it mean for a leader to truly follow Jesus? In this episode, we reflect on one of the most sobering moments in Scripture—the encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler. This wasn’t a casual conversation. It was a life-defining invitation. Jesus looked at this influential leader, loved him, and offered the very same call He gave Peter, James, and John: “Follow Me.” But unlike the disciples, the ruler walked away. Why? Because the cost of surrendering what he held tightly—status, possessions, identity—was too high. This story speaks directly to today’s Christian...
info_outlineInspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
As a new year begins, many leaders are asking, “What does God want to do in me this season?” In this episode, we explore how new beginnings with God aren’t just seasonal—they’re spiritual. They don’t require perfect plans or flawless resumes. They begin when we open our hearts to God’s invitation to begin again. This episode explores the biblical foundation of fresh starts—from creation to the resurrection—and how God consistently redeems, restores, and renews. Drawing from Isaiah 43, Deuteronomy 1, and other Scripture, Ron Kelleher shows how Christian leaders can move...
info_outlineInspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
As one year closes and another begins, leaders naturally pause to reflect. Some moments bring gratitude and joy; others surface disappointment, loss, or unanswered questions. Yet through every season—growth, waiting, and hardship—one truth remains steady: God has been faithful. In this episode, Looking Back, Moving Forward: Trusting God with Every Season, we explore how reflection rooted in gratitude strengthens our confidence for what lies ahead. Drawing from Scripture and leadership experience, this message invites Christian leaders to examine the past year honestly—recognizing both...
info_outlineInspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
In the busyness of Christmas, we often move from task to task, celebration to celebration—without ever truly receiving the most important gift of the season. In this reflective episode, Ron shares a deeply personal story of a forgotten gift left unopened on his desk—a small brown bag with his name on it, quietly waiting amid the rush of end-of-year leadership responsibilities. What begins as a simple memory unfolds into a powerful spiritual metaphor. Through a surprising note tucked inside a devotional book, Ron is reminded how easily we admire the wrapping of Christmas—songs,...
info_outlineInspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
info_outlineInspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
The headlines are all too familiar: another Christian leader fails, trust is shattered, and followers are left reeling. These public downfalls aren’t random—they follow a sobering pattern of spiritual drift and moral compromise. In this episode, we explore the seven most common reasons leaders fall—and more importantly, how you can stand firm. Drawing on insights from Pastor Shane Idleman and supported by biblical examples, Ron Kelleher outlines why even the most gifted leaders stumble: pride that blinds, busyness that burns out, compromise that erodes character, and relationships that...
info_outlineInspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
Some stories in Scripture capture the essence of faith and leadership in just a few verses. The story of the paralyzed man and his four friends in Mark 2:1–12, Matthew 9:1–8, and Luke 5:17–26 is one of them—a story of faith in motion, compassion in action, and teamwork that moved heaven itself. In this episode, Ron explores what this moment reveals about authentic Christian leadership. These friends weren’t scholars, pastors, or CEOs. They were ordinary people who believed that Jesus could do what no one else could—and their determination changed a life forever. Their example...
info_outlineInspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
Why do so many leaders fall short—not for lack of skill, but for lack of courage? In this powerful episode, Ron explores what author Jill Schulman calls “The Bravery Gap”—the space between knowing the right thing to do and actually doing it. Every leader faces it: the moment when faith collides with fear, and comfort feels safer than courage. Drawing wisdom from both Scripture and experience, Ron shows how Christian leaders can close that gap and step into bold, God-honoring leadership. Using Schulman’s four practical steps and adding a fifth distinctly spiritual one—prayer—this...
info_outlineWhat does it mean for a leader to truly follow Jesus?
In this episode, we reflect on one of the most sobering moments in Scripture—the encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler. This wasn’t a casual conversation. It was a life-defining invitation. Jesus looked at this influential leader, loved him, and offered the very same call He gave Peter, James, and John: “Follow Me.”
But unlike the disciples, the ruler walked away.
Why? Because the cost of surrendering what he held tightly—status, possessions, identity—was too high.
This story speaks directly to today’s Christian business leaders. The issue is not wealth or influence—it’s attachment. Many leaders hold tightly to success, control, comfort, or reputation, struggling to let go even when Jesus calls them forward. And yet, this is exactly what transformational leadership requires.
In this episode, you’ll explore:
- Why Jesus’ call to “Follow Me” is more than a spiritual suggestion—it’s a leadership commission
- What the rich young ruler’s response reveals about our own leadership attachments
- How to recognize and surrender the things we grip too tightly
- What it looks like to lead with open hands and a faithful heart
Whether you're facing a big decision, navigating career uncertainty, or simply sensing God inviting you into something deeper, this conversation will encourage you to respond with courage—not caution.
Jesus still looks at leaders with love—and still says, “Follow Me.”
🎧 Listen now to rediscover what it means to lead as a follower of Christ.