How to Lead People who are Deceived About Themselves. Rodney Adams. Episode 29.

Episode Takeaways

Career pivots require both clarity and courage: Rodney’s journey, from Marine Corps officer to Goldman Sachs executive to church leader, illustrates that career transitions are often guided by both discernment and divine disruption. When he was laid off from Goldman, he realized it was something God did for him, not to him. The courage to pause instead of rushing into another high-paying job allowed him to discover work aligned with his calling.

Faith-driven decision-making brings purpose through provision: During his post-Goldman season of uncertainty, Rodney and his wife chose to rely on “daily bread faith,” trusting God to provide for them. This period strengthened their dependence on God and clarified that clarity comes through obedience, not comfort. He described this as the Lord’s process of forming character more than achieving career success.

Anointing reveals your lane, and peace follows clarity: Rodney shared that once he entered ministry, he experienced a sense of spiritual anointing; the things that used to feel hard suddenly became clear and natural. He realized that operating in one’s anointing feels like effortless clarity, while stepping outside of it brings fog and friction.

Culture starts before the paycheck: Rodney described how he now meets with every new church staff member over lunch to set expectations. He emphasizes that ministry is both an organism and an organization, spiritual and operational. By naming tensions early (“you’ll make more copies than you’ll preach”), he reduces the likelihood of disillusionment.

Healthy culture and accountability sustain ministry impact: Rodney reframed performance management in the church as both spiritual formation and organizational clarity. He introduced a “Cultural Alignment Plan” alongside traditional performance plans to address relational or attitudinal issues. His conviction: culture is where the Holy Spirit moves—and where the enemy moves. Leaders must intentionally guard against it because one unhealthy staff member can drag down the entire mission.

You can follow Rodney on Substack at Field Manual for Church Leaders.

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