Mark Cole: Busy is a Four-Letter Word
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? That time of year when people are busier than ever preparing for family visits, fighting crowds at the mall, wrapping presents, finishing projects, and setting goals, all while trying to bake fruitcakes for neighbors. Our lives are busy with so much still to be done. And…
Read MoreBe a Giver
We’re nearing Christmas, and everywhere you look, there are advertisements encouraging you to think about the people on your gift list. Whether it’s your spouse, your children, a parent or a co-worker, there’s a lot of emphasis placed on giving just the right gift. As a result, people are cheerfully—and busily—shopping to put a smile…
Read MoreMark Cole: How to Grow Your Influence
If your life in any way connects with other people, you are an influencer. My good friend Tim Elmore shared an amazing statistic with me several years ago that I’ve never forgotten. Sociologists tell us that even the most introverted individual will influence 10,000 people during his or her lifetime. Everyone influences someone! That means the question we…
Read MoreThe Leadership Reproduction Cycle
The end of the year is almost here, and I know that many companies are going through the same season as my team at The John Maxwell Company: annual reviews. This is the time of year when our leaders sit down with their team members and go over PPFs for the past 12 months: Personal,…
Read MoreMark Cole: Success Begins With Purpose
The most popular question John Maxwell receives when he is on the road speaking and coaching is: “How do I become successful?” John’s reply usually goes something like this: “You cannot achieve what you have not defined.” John’s response is designed to help the questioner begin the journey to discovering his or her purpose. John…
Read MoreThe Shift from Uniformity to Diversity
Have you ever noticed that in many space movies, the bad guys all suffer from the same disease? I’m not exactly a movie buff, but I do observe patterns, and it occurred to me that in many science-fiction space movies, there’s a common theme when it comes to the villains. A lack of diversity. Think…
Read MoreMark Cole: Cultivating Gratitude
This week, I have been intentionally reflecting on the importance of gratitude in leadership. And I keep coming back to a very important question—how do I cultivate a willingness to be grateful? The truth is, the best version of you is a grateful you. But it is more natural to be entitled and selfish than…
Read MoreThree Steps to Generosity
This week, America will celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving—a day set aside to be grateful for everything from family to food to faith. While people celebrate in different ways, the point of the holiday is to stop for one day and reflect on the abundant blessings we have. It’s also the official kick-off to the…
Read MoreLeading in Polarized Times
Lately, it seems as though people are dividing themselves into categories, drawing lines between themselves and others that are increasingly harder to cross. All over the world, we are now defined largely by what separates us. As a leader, this makes for a challenging culture to navigate. One of the biggest responsibilities we have is…
Read MoreMark Cole: If You Want Answers, Ask Questions
Questions have power. Think about the power of simply asking, “Why?” Bernard Baruch said, “Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the only one who asked why.” Thank God for Isaac Newton! But what about the millions who saw the apples fall and never asked why? What kept them from asking the question? Have…
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