Story as Survival: What a Christian Filmmaker Taught Me About Leading at Work and Home
If you're a Christian professional in your 30s or 40s with young kids, you're probably living in the tension.
You want to lead well at work, love well at home, and stay rooted in your faith—but it often feels like you’re being pulled in three directions.
You’re not alone.
In this episode of Lead Together, filmmaker Anders Lindwall shared a metaphor that reframed our leadership entirely.
What if the answer isn’t balance but vision?
Not doing more, but seeing differently?
Let’s unpack what it means to lead like a storyteller—and how the “cathedral mindset” can transform both the grind at work and the chaos at home into something deeply meaningful.
Director Anders Lindwall (left) and director of photography Russ Fraser set up a shot while filming the movie “Green and Gold” near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Meet Anders Lindwall
Anders isn’t your typical filmmaker. He didn’t grow up chasing cameras or trying to break into Hollywood. He focused on telling redemptive, meaningful stories—like his nationally premiered film Green and Gold, starring Craig T. Nelson. It’s now streaming on Amazon Prime and Angel Studios, a reminder that you can honor your convictions and create excellent work.
But Anders’ deeper impact lies in the question that guides his life:
“How can this be of use?”
That single line reframes ambition.
It’s not about achieving for God.
It’s about stewarding what God gave you—for the sake of others.
Why Story Is Survival Information
Most people think of story as entertainment. But Kim reframes it with a sharper edge:
“Story is the real universal language. It’s how we pass on survival information.”
Every great story teaches:
What matters most
Who to trust
What to do when things fall apart
As a leader—whether you’re in the office or at the dinner table—you’re telling a story every day.
The question is: Are you telling it on purpose?
The Cathedral Vision
A Framework for Faithful Leadership
Anders shared a story that reshapes how we think about leadership:
“There was an old town where three men were digging a ditch.
The first grumbled, ‘I’m digging a hole.’
The second said, ‘I’m laying a foundation.’
The third, full of joy, said, ‘I’m building a cathedral.’”
Same task.
Different perspective.
Radically different experience.
As Anders puts it: “My job is to give people the imagination for what’s not there yet.”
That’s leadership.
Seeing what others can’t.
Speaking vision into the mundane.
Turning ditch-digging into cathedral-building.
The Cathedral Leadership Framework (V.I.S.A.)
1. Vision – Name What You're Really Building
Ask: What is the deeper good?
You’re not just shipping a product—you’re creating stability for families.
You’re not just parenting—you’re forming future adults.
2. Investment – Treat the Grind as Sacred
You’re still digging. But now you know why.
When the work becomes holy ground, the sacrifice becomes sustainable.
3. Sync – Align People to the Same Story
“If this is just a gig, it’s not the right fit,” Anders says.
People need a why.
Help your team and your family see how their part matters.
4. Articulate – Repeat the Vision Often
Great leaders repeat the cathedral until everyone can recite it. When things get tough, vision becomes the anchor.
Using Your Skills to Be of Use
Anders wasn’t obsessed with filmmaking. He was simply good at it.
But instead of idolizing his skill, he offered it:
“God gave me this skill. So I try to use it to do some good in the world.”
For many professionals, burnout and disconnection aren’t a sign you need a new job—they’re a sign you need a renewed lens.
What if your work—exactly as it is—could become a form of service?
Three Real-Life Applications (Work + Home)
1. At Work: Lead as a Storyteller
Start your next team meeting with a simple three-sentence story:
Where we’ve been.
Where we are.
Where we’re going.
Watch how people lean in.
2. At Home: Use Story to Teach What Matters
When your child is struggling, skip the lecture.
Tell a story from your own life that mirrors theirs—then ask what they notice.
3. In Faith: Practice Stewardship Over Spotlight
Journal this week:
“What skills has God given me? And how can I use them to be of use to others?”
Your Next Step This Week
You don’t need to overhaul your life.
You just need to see your leadership differently.
Ask yourself:
What’s the cathedral I’m building?
And who else needs to hear that vision?
Take the Next Step: If this resonated with you at all, we’d love to help you move from ditch digging to cathedral building. Book a free strategy call and let’s make that happen.
The quality of your life and leadership depends on the quality of your relationships.
Let’s build something that lasts.
