Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast: Building Hobby Lobby's Legacy—One Leader at a Time | Mart Green

Release Date: May 15, 2025

In this insightful episode of the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, host Craig Groeschel welcomes Mart Green, the founder of Bardell Christian and Education Supply and the ministry investment officer of Hobby Lobby. With over 40 locations and 800 employees, Mart Green shares his journey of leadership, personal growth, and the principles that have shaped his success both in business and ministry.

1. Introduction to Mart Green

Craig Groeschel introduces Mart Green as a distinguished business leader and a significant force for good in the world. Mart emphasizes his humility, generosity, and integrity, setting the tone for a deep and meaningful conversation.

Notable Quote:

"Outside of all these business and ministry accomplishments, this is one of the most humble men that I know, one of the most generous men alive today, and full of integrity."
— Craig Groeschel [00:32]

2. Early Career and Leadership Lessons

Mart Green reflects on his early days at 19, starting a business influenced by his father's entrepreneurial spirit. He candidly discusses the challenges of leadership, especially when leading peers and making tough decisions like letting employees go.

Notable Quote:

"When you're 19, you start a new business. You realize everybody's looking to you for all the questions, all the answers. It's not always easy because they're looking for the boss."
— Mart Green [02:34]

3. Hiring and Team Building

Mart delves into his initial struggles with hiring, admitting that his early mistakes stemmed from inexperience. He emphasizes the importance of hiring the right people and the impact of making difficult decisions to maintain organizational health.

Notable Quote:

"I learned through the process that actually it's a double negative. One, I'm hiring somebody that I don't need, is not able to do the job, and two, they don't get ready to go to their next opportunity."
— Mart Green [07:04]

4. Personal Growth and Learning Strategies

A lifelong learner, Mart shares his methods for continuous growth, including avid reading and documenting key insights from books. He highlights the significance of surrounding oneself with knowledgeable individuals and staying open to learning from all age groups.

Notable Quote:

"When I read a book, I highlight it, and then I go back and I mark my favorite quotes. My assistant compiles these into binders for my children."
— Mart Green [11:33]

5. Relationship Building and Generosity

Mart discusses his commitment to maintaining meaningful relationships, emphasizing the importance of not burning bridges. He believes in treating everyone with respect and maintaining connections, which often leads to unforeseen opportunities later in life.

Notable Quote:

"Never burn that bridge. You never know when something that happened 10 years ago could become a huge advantage to you."
— Mart Green [07:33]

6. Managing Wealth and Stewardship

Mart addresses the ethical management of wealth, clarifying that generating income is not an issue. Instead, he focuses on the responsible stewardship of resources, combining generosity with discernment to maximize positive impact.

Notable Quote:

"We've not taken raises for 10 or 15 years because we believe in giving more money away as we make more."
— Mart Green [33:10]

7. Personal Wounds and Emotional Growth

Opening up about personal challenges, Mart shares his journey in understanding emotional trust within his marriage. He highlights the importance of allowing others to express emotions without feeling the need to fix them, which has deepened his relationships.

Notable Quote:

"She doesn't want you to fix it. She wants you to feel what she feels."
— Mart Green [43:29]

8. Leadership Approach and Team Empowerment

Mart emphasizes empowering team members rather than micromanaging. By allowing others to lead and contribute their ideas, he fosters a collaborative environment that promotes innovation and growth.

Notable Quote:

"If I can just let my voice come last as best I can, I'm hearing real, real thoughts and honoring those thoughts."
— Mart Green [45:35]

9. Book Discussion: Learning to Be Loved

Mart discusses his co-authored book, "Learning to Be Loved: The Everyday Believer's Guide to a Rich Relationship with God," which explores the concept of God pursuing individuals and the importance of understanding divine love. The book intertwines personal stories with theological insights to guide believers toward a deeper relationship with God.

Notable Quote:

"He was learning that God does pursue him. That's why it's called learning to be loved."
— Mart Green [41:08]

10. Future Projects and Passions

Looking ahead, Mart shares his enthusiasm for ongoing projects like Bible translation and his involvement with influential platforms such as YouVersion and the television series The Chosen. His commitment to expanding God's word into multiple languages underscores his mission-driven approach.

Notable Quote:

"One of them is that YouVersion is getting ready to download the 1 billionth device this year, and that's super exciting."
— Mart Green [51:04]

11. Closing Remarks

Craig Groeschel concludes the episode by praising Mart for his centeredness, humility, and focus on serving others. He encourages listeners to embrace their unique disciplines and passions to make a meaningful impact in their own leadership journeys.

Notable Quote:

"You're very centered, very grounded, very humble, and really with the purity of focus."
— Craig Groeschel [53:25]

Key Takeaways

• Empowerment Over Micromanagement: Trusting team members to lead fosters innovation and growth.

• Continuous Learning: A commitment to lifelong learning through reading and surrounding oneself with knowledgeable individuals is crucial for personal and professional development.

• Generosity and Stewardship: Responsible management of wealth, combined with generosity, can amplify positive impact and fulfill mission-driven goals.

• Relationship Building: Maintaining respectful and genuine relationships, even with those who may not immediately benefit you, can lead to long-term advantages.

• Emotional Trust: Understanding and respecting others' emotional needs strengthens personal and professional relationships.

• Mission-Driven Leadership: Aligning actions with a clear mission and values ensures that leadership efforts are purposeful and impactful.

Mart Green’s journey offers valuable lessons in leadership, emphasizing the balance between humility, generosity, and strategic empowerment. His approach underscores the importance of intentional relationship building, continuous learning, and responsible stewardship, making him a beacon for aspiring leaders aiming to make a lasting impact.