John C. Maxwell's Blog, page 25

It may be only August, but fall is coming!

Preparing for fall already? Have you noticed that even though August has just begun, many businesses and stores are doing fall-related advertising? Back-to-school supplies, fall clothing, and even autumn decor can be found in your local stores!There’s something about autumn that gets us thinking about new beginnings. Maybe it’s the new school year for many. Or the arrival of cooler weather (although here in Florida, we don’t see much of a change in temperature right now). Or all the holidays...

What’s the one thing all successful people have in common?

What’s the one thing all successful people have in common?Some would say it’s great ability or intelligence. But we all can probably think of someone who’s not particularly talented who’s doing quite well.Others would point to a privileged upbringing. In other words, a head start via training or opportunities that others didn’t have. But many successful people can point to very humble beginnings or to major obstacles that didn’t set them up to win in life.And what about naked ambition? Sure,...

What’s In a Name?

Today, I’m going to do something unusual. I’m going to ask for your help in giving a title to an exciting new workshop that the John Maxwell Company has developed. But first, I want to tell you a story about titles.People often ask me questions about the books I’ve written and how I go about the process. And one of the things people really want to know is how I come up with my titles. Well, I want to let you in on a little secret. I don’t always get to choose them. Sometimes the publisher doe...

Great Teams Have Great Depth

Have you ever watched a great team in action? Especially at the end of the game? What I find interesting is that as the game progresses, the “second string” or “bench” becomes more and more important. Down the stretch, you’re likely to see many new players enter from the bench, while the starters sit out. Only with a strong group of players on the bench, can a team consistently win. This is called depth. And every great team has great depth.This applies to all teams, from sports to business....

Standing on the shoulders of giants

Who deserves the credit for your successes? If you said, “I do,” you may be mostly right. We all must make our own choices and reap the results of those choices. However, I say you’re mostly right because no one succeeds in a vacuum. I believe that all successful people owe a debt of gratitude to others. And alone, we can have only a very limited impact on the world. As I’ve written before, one is too small a number to achieve greatness.There’s a poem by Saxon White Kessinger that I’ve quoted...

3 Ways My Mentors Changed My Life

I heard a story the other day of a man who was driving in the middle of a downpour. The rain came down in sheets and visibility was just terrible. The man was unsure if he should stop or keep going. Suddenly he spotted a set of taillights ahead of him and decided he’d simply follow them. They seemed to be going in the right direction, and it was a big comfort to know there was another person on the same journey. Well, he followed those taillights for what seemed like miles, until they suddenl...

What’s your mid-term grade for growth?

I’ve written here on the blog about my practice at the end of every December, where I take stock of the previous 12 months and plan the next year. For me, it’s a wonderful time of reflection and strategy. I guard that time every year, and the practice has served me well.However, December is not the ONLY time that I reflect and strategize. I believe that it’s important to take stock of our goals and priorities often. This is especially true in the area of personal growth. I evaluate my time mo...

A Legacy We Can All Achieve

What kind of legacy do you want to leave? Here in the United States, Father’s Day is almost here. And at this time of year, there’s always a lot of talk about the kind of legacy a father should leave for his children.But I believe the subject of legacy should apply to more than fathers. That’s because we all leave some kind of legacy – whether we’re trying to or not.What is a legacy? Something you leave behind. That includes possessions that we pass on to the next generation. But it’s so much...

Don’t try to manage your time - manage yourself!

Here's an important announcement: There is no such thing as time management.Think about it; the term is an oxymoron. Time cannot be managed. It cannot be controlled in any way. Everyone gets the same number of hours and minutes every day. Nobody—no matter how shrewd—can save minutes from one day to spend on another. No scientist—no matter how smart—is capable of creating new minutes. Even with all his wealth, someone like Bill Gates can’t buy additional hours for his day. And even though peop...

Live2Lead: A Chance to Serve your people and your community

What’s your highest calling as a leader? Well, I believe it’s being a servant leader. I often teach that leaders ask the question, “Will I help people?” But servant leaders ask, “HOW will I help people?” When you’re a servant leader, you do so much more than just make people a priority. You look for specific opportunities to serve them and help them reach their potential.In my own leadership journey, I’ve made servant leadership my goal for many years. And as my influence has increased, I’ve...