The Global Leadership Podcast Ep 199: Creativity, Perseverance and Gratitude (with Walker Hayes)
Feb 25, 2026
Walker Hayes, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter behind hits like "Fancy Like," shares quick takes on creativity, persistence, faith, and recovery. He talks about his words-first songwriting process, collaborating to fill musical gaps, finding joy in creating, and how gratitude reshapes perspective. He also reflects on sobriety, family influence, and mentoring that deepened his spiritual life.
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Songwriting Reframed As Worship
- Walker Hayes reframes songwriting as worship to shift purpose from impressing people to offering God his gifts.
- Laura's advice to "say it" let Walker write with gratitude, making creation an act of worship rather than performance.
Delegate Where Your Creativity Lacks Strength
- Delegate weaknesses and collaborate where you lack skill instead of forcing mastery of everything.
- Walker admits he's a "words first" writer and asks others to help craft melodies, showing practical division of labor in creative teams.
Know When A Piece Is Done
- Stop when you can't personally add value and accept a song (or talk) is 'as done as you can get it.'
- Walker treats songs as liquid: they change with time and performance, so release when you've reached your limit of improvement.