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- ABOUT JOHN BENTLEY -
I’ve Been Where Your Leaders Are
I know what it’s like to carry the weight, solve the problems, and feel like you have to be the answer. I’ve led teams, made mistakes, learned hard lessons, and discovered what it takes to build ownership in yourself and the people you lead.
John Bentley, Founder & CEO, I Lead Me, a Division of Power 2 Transform
- JOHN'S STORY
This Is More Than My Work. It’s My Mission.
My leadership journey started long before I knew I was becoming a leader. I began working at 19 and eventually worked my way from dishwasher to general manager of a million-dollar steakhouse. Back then, I thought being a good leader meant keeping everyone happy. I wanted people to like me, and sometimes that meant avoiding the hard things leadership required.
Then came 21 years in the Air Force. I learned discipline, accountability, and responsibility. But I also learned that even capable, committed leaders can struggle when the pressure rises.
The Lesson That Changed How I Lead
Then came a pivotal moment with Russell White, one of the most respected leaders in the Air Force. He walked up to me one day holding a can of Coke and started shaking it vigorously. Then he handed it to me and said, “Open it.”
I laughed, a little uneasy, and shook my head. “I’m not opening that.”
“Why not?” he asked.
“Because it’s going to explode everywhere. I’ll be covered in sticky Coke for the rest of the day.”
He took the can back, put a hand on my shoulder, and said, “John, this is you. When things don’t go your way, you get all shaken up. And when someone tries to help or ask questions, you blow up, and everyone around you ends up covered in the mess.”
That was hard to hear. But he was right.
I had spent years focused on being good at the work, solving problems, and getting results. What I hadn’t fully understood was the impact I was having on the people around me. When pressure built, I wasn’t always leading myself well, and that made it harder for the people around me to do their best work.
That Coke can gave me a picture I couldn’t forget. Leadership wasn’t just about what I knew, how hard I worked, or whether I could get the job done. It started with how I showed up, especially when things didn’t go my way. That lesson changed the way I led and, eventually, the work I would spend my career teaching others:
Until you learn to lead yourself, you’ll never earn the right to lead others.
Today, through I Lead Me, I help leaders and organizations put that principle into practice so problems get solved closer to the work, leaders develop other leaders, and ownership spreads throughout the organization.
- A VERSE THAT GUIDES MY MISSION
"Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."
Isaiah 57:14
For me, that’s what leadership development is about: removing the obstacles that keep people from stepping up, taking ownership, and becoming the leaders they’re capable of being.
Three Core Beliefs That Guide My Work
The way I work with leaders is grounded in three simple principles.
Be approachable.
I believe: there is wisdom in everyone’s perspective.
Be teachable.
I believe: curiosity strengthens relationships.
Be helpful.
I believe: our talents are meant to serve others.
We're honored to be trusted by these forward-thinking organizations.
Experience Behind the Approach
41 years of public service have shaped how I approach this work. I closed out my career in the military as a master instructor at the Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, where I focused on developing the next generation of leaders. After retiring from the Air Force, I transitioned to serving as an Army Civilian, taking on roles such as Workforce Development Specialist, Human Resource Development Chief, Leadership Development Consultant, and Career Program Manager.
I now lead Power 2 Transform, where I draw from over two decades of experience to create custom leadership programs for organizations. The work produces specific results. Alabama Farm Credit saw 40% growth — double the industry average. A Regional Medical Center saved $250,000 in their nursing home discharge process.
As an author, I’ve written I Lead Me, You Are A GIFT, and 52 Ways to Motivate Yourself and contributed to Speaking of Success alongside Ken Blanchard, Jack Canfield, and Stephen Covey. My faith testimony is featured in the 17 Biblical Principles of Success audio program.
My wife, Laura, and I have five adult children: Natalie, Krista, Jennifer, Kelly, and Mike—and four wonderful grandchildren: Alex, Cohen, Kaiden, and Myla. We live in Hartselle, AL with our two Yorkies: Bailey and Tucker.
21 Years
U.S. Air Force
40+ Years
Leadership & Public Service
Author
I Lead Me, You Are A GIFT, & 52 Ways to Motivate Yourself
Leadership Development
Organizations across multiple industries