From Comfort to Calling: Why One Public Servant Chose the Hard Path to Local Impact

What makes someone walk away from career stability, a steady paycheck, and a long track record of success—just to step into the chaos and risk of small-town leadership?

For Wesley, the answer goes all the way back to a childhood in England, a handwritten letter to Mensa, and a simple belief: that he was meant to make his corner of the world a little better.

In Episode 203 of The HaltingWinter Podcast brought to you by Zencity, we sit down with Wesley Young, City Administrator of Willard, Missouri, for one of the most thoughtful and grounded conversations we’ve had about what it really means to lead in local government.

This isn’t a story of overnight success. It’s a story of grit, growth, and choosing the harder path—not for accolades, but for impact.

Wesley shares openly about:

• Overcoming the label of “lazy” as a kid with undiagnosed dyslexia
• Finding his voice and value in the American public sector after immigrating from the UK
• Leaving a secure job in state government for the messier—but more meaningful—work of city leadership
• What it’s like to be the only person in the room who has to figure it out
• And how a single sentence from his four-year-old son confirmed that he was exactly where he needed to be

You’ll also hear Wesley’s take on the “chicken and egg” challenge of infrastructure and growth, the true cost of undervaluing water, and why every young leader should start by solving problems before asking for promotions.

This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered if the risk is worth it, if the work matters, or if they have what it takes to lead when the job is bigger than the title.

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Listen to Episode 203: From Comfort to Calling – Choosing the Hard Path of Local Impact

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This episode is brought to you by Zencity
This episode is proudly presented by Zencity—helping local governments turn everyday feedback into real-time insights so leaders can make confident, community-informed decisions. To learn more about how Zencity is helping turn data into action and insight into impact, visit zencity.io.

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The HaltingWinter Podcast celebrates and elevates the people who power local government. Through in-depth conversations with leaders from cities, counties, and communities of all sizes, host Seth Winterhalter explores the journeys, challenges, and innovations happening in municipal leadership across America.