PUT. THE COFFEE. DOWN… (You’ll get it in a minute)
We’ve got a fun Coffee with Chris episode for you today!
Joel Fortner and Keith Cook jump on the show and we talk about Clashing Company Culture and what it means to be passionate about what you do.
Company culture isn’t accidental. It’s shaped intentionally — or it shapes you.
In this episode, we unpack what happens when personal values collide with company culture. From corporate sales environments to military leadership structures, this conversation dives into what works, what fails, and why culture directly impacts productivity, morale, and retention.
Whether you’re a business owner, team leader, or employee trying to navigate a tough environment, this episode will challenge how you think about culture.
What You’ll Learn
- Why company culture must be intentional — not accidental
- How fear-based leadership destroys morale and productivity
- The long-term impact of yelling, pressure, and humiliation as “motivation”
- Why money alone is never a sustainable motivator
- How to recognize when your personal values clash with your company’s culture
- The difference between working for a paycheck and working with purpose
- What healthy leadership looks like — and how it inspires growth
- How great leaders raise standards without creating fear
- Why strong culture increases productivity instead of suppressing it
- The real reason high-performing team members leave toxic environments
- How rank, hierarchy, and authority can either strengthen or weaken communication
- Why leaders must create space for questions — not just statements
- How insecurity in leadership often shows up as control or intimidation
- Practical guidance for employees stuck in unhealthy cultures
- When to stay, when to transition, and how to make wise decisions without sabotaging your family
- Why owners must “force” culture through modeling, rewarding, correcting, and protecting it
- How culture directly impacts revenue, retention, and team performance
- Why champions won’t stay in environments that lack dignity and respect
If you’re a leader, this episode is a wake-up call.
If you’re a team member, it’s clarity.
Culture will either create champions — or it will push them out the door.
As always, take this information, change your leadership, change your business, change your life… and join us on the next episode.
Thanks for listening folks!
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This got straight up comical!
Three thoughts on this podcast:
1) You should have your team participate in the podcasts more often. I like hearing their perspectives
2) “Coffee is for closers” I am so using this with my team (in jest of course)
3) Reminded to review the kind of culture I am building accidentally or otherwise. I need to be more intentional about it.
Love it William! Great points!
I think culture is extremely underrated. I am pretty certain that I will NEVER work for a paycheck. Having strong leaders I respect has been the theme of my career. In my opinion, no job in the world is worth sacrificing your health, your family or your integrity. A leader can always train on skills, but never on values or attitude. Life is too short to be wasted settling for less than what we were made to do.
Heck yeah!
1st post. I’m engaging now! Company Culture Clash was perfect timing (we all know its Gods timing) to listen to as I was making my 27 minute commute to lead this morning. I literally had intense anxiety/warfare before I started my commute at the thought of leading today. I’m just going to get Raw with a bunch of you guys that I don’t even know, because I just listened to the other podcast last night about people pleasing. So i’m not going to go on and on about all the hard work I’ve done or be shy in any way. I just want to say… I hate my company culture! My personal belief structure totally opposes where I am currently leading. I try my best to offer up hope, I try my best to encourage people, to set healthy boundaries and to be an example of integrity. I’m not at the top, and I’m just trying my best to influence those whom God has given me. I get this sense, that there is something better for me, someplace that I can have more influence, someplace where the culture might not be better but the lead decision makers are willing to go for it! Even THAT thought, creates this other voice that says, “if you would just work harder, it will change…” Am I crazy? Or is there just a limit to madness? I gotta say, I can really identify with “I’m doing it for the money” because for so long we were in debt and I got this great position I’m in, and now we aren’t and I thought I could just “make this work” and I imagine the future of having $$ in the bank, house paid for, goals met, etc,. But I would feel like a “dirty rat” leaving because I love my owners, I don’t have an E-D-U-M-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, i’m just a 33 year old with 3 kids a wife trying to make it… Who is going to pay me for leading people? These are my fears, and I’m just confessing… Thank you for the podcast and the outlet. Today I even had the opportunity to tell my owners “I can’t do what I do best, unless you change the way you communicate to me. And start being brutally honest and trust me with information.” I’m sure there is someone out there struggling like this too. I know I’m not the only one. And I’m not going to apologize if this didn’t make sense… That was freeing! Thanks guys! : )
First, great opener! Second, here is a pic of the coffee I’m currently drinking! I can not pronounce it either. Third, great job as a trio! Fourth, my top thought, for business culture, you as a team/leader need to make it happen, it doesn’t just happen.
Man I love that coffee! One of my faves! Drinking it right now!