Some leaders talk about culture like it’s a “nice to have.”

John Griffin will tell you, it’s the make-or-break factor for every organization.

In this episode, I sit down with John Griffin, Vice President of Global Programs at Maxwell Leadership, a man who’s walked through deep personal trials, learned the power of forgiveness, and now helps leaders and companies all over the world build cultures that actually last.

John’s story is raw, faith-filled, and disarmingly real. From a childhood marked by brokenness to finding his identity in Christ, he’s learned firsthand that leadership begins with self-leadership—and that means taking off the masks we wear, dealing with what’s inside, and leading from a place of wholeness.

We talk about:

• Why culture isn’t just an HR buzzword, it’s the heartbeat of your business.
• How to spot when your team is wearing masks (and how to help them take them off).
• The link between personal healing, authentic leadership, and business performance.
• Practical ways to measure your organization’s culture so you know what’s really going on behind the scenes.
• Why focusing on people first almost always drives profit as a byproduct.

If you’re a leader who’s tired of surface-level fixes and ready to dig into the real work that transforms people and organizations, this conversation will challenge, encourage, and maybe even change the way you lead.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with John Griffin

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngriffintx/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

In this episode, it’s just me with you again and we’re diving deep into one of John Maxwell’s most powerful leadership principles: the Law of Addition. It’s the idea that real leaders add value to others by serving them.

We’ll look at what that means in everyday leadership, whether you’re running a dealership, managing a restaurant, or leading a small business. You’ll hear why “being the boss” doesn’t automatically make you influential, and how small, intentional actions can completely change the way your team responds to you.

I’ll share the three questions every empowered employee should be asking themselves daily, why failing forward might be the most valuable skill you can develop, and the 10 culture touchpoints that can make or break your organization.

This isn’t theory — it’s about practical ways to serve, lead, and build a culture that inspires loyalty, trust, and results.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

In this solo episode of Keep The Change, I’m diving into something I didn’t plan... but was prompted by that good ol’ still small voice. You know the one. The voice that whispers, “Do this,” and you want to say, “Darn it,” because you know it’s going to stretch you. That voice led me back to one of the most powerful resources in my leadership journey: John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

But we’re not covering all 21—just four that could quietly be shaping (or stalling) your team’s performance right now.

We unpack what your leadership lid actually is, how it affects your store’s results, and why some dealerships with the same inventory and location are selling 3x more than others. Spoiler: it’s not the salespeople.

We also get into:

• Why trust is more valuable than skill (and why your people may not trust you as much as you think)
• The real difference between surviving the month and winning
• How your daily priorities are either growing people—or just keeping the wheels spinning

I’m sharing real stories from dealerships I’ve worked with, the hard lessons I learned in my early leadership days, and the one uncomfortable question every leader should be asking themselves this week.

If you’ve ever looked at two stores with the same inventory and wondered why one’s selling 300 cars while the other is stuck at 100… this is the conversation you need to hear.

Let’s dig into that. This episode might just be the mirror we all need.

Oh—and if you want to go deeper, join me Wednesday, August 6th at 9PM Eastern for the first session of the 3-week Leadership Workshop. We’re not just learning—we’re transforming.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching