Posts by The John Maxwell Company
Comedy or Tragedy, How Do You View Life?
For comedian Stephen Colbert, the date September 11th carries even deeper significance than it does for most Americans of his generation. On that day, when Colbert was ten years old, Eastern Airlines Flight 212 crashed into a muddy cornfield outside of Charlotte, NC, skidding for hundreds of feet before bursting into flames. 72 of the…
Read MoreSooner or Later?
Sports teams at the University of Oklahoma are known as the Sooners, one of strangest nicknames in collegiate athletics. The story of how their peculiar nickname originated highlights a key ingredient to success in leadership: initiative. In 1889, the U.S. government agreed to open up public lands in Oklahoma to aspiring homesteaders. Anyone who agreed…
Read MoreDon’t Let Broken Trust Rust Out Your Relationships
When you’ve broken a teammate’s trust, don’t let the relationship rust; take action immediately to repair and restore it. As a leader, you’re out in front casting vision and giving direction. You’re vocal and highly visible; your words and deeds affect a lot of people. Eventually, you’re going to say or do something that violates…
Read MoreEntering the Construction Zone
Trust is the foundation of any relationship. Developing trust is like constructing a house. It takes time, and it must be done piece by piece. As with a building, it’s much easier to tear down trust than it is to build it up. We take for granted that the buildings we enter—homes, offices, restaurants, and…
Read MoreWhy Talent Won’t Cut It
Talent is never enough. There’s no substitute for it, but there’s also no guarantee of success with it. To turn talent into influence, a person must prepare it with hard work, surround it with the right relationships, strengthen it by taking responsibility, and protect it with character. Preparation Positions Your Talent Author Emile Zola spoke…
Read MoreHard-Fought Optimism
You may shoot me with your words,You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise. ~ Maya Angelou from Still I Rise As a child, Maya Angelou was the victim of a brutal assault. After she testified against her abuser, an angry mob hunted…
Read MoreAsk Not What Your People Can Do for You…
Early in their careers, young leaders tend to be concerned with self-advancement. They ask: what can others do for me? They spend the bulk of their time trying to get other people interested in their ideas and abilities. To this end, they trumpet their accomplishments and show off their knowledge. In short, they try to…
Read MoreThe Real MVP
Kevin Durant, Most Valuable Player of the NBA, recognized that receiving a trophy celebrating his individual brilliance gave the false impression that he had earned the accolade on his own. He admitted this during an emotional acceptance speech at his MVP award ceremony. When we see an outstanding performer, we’re awed and amazed by their…
Read MoreWant to Soar Higher? Shed Your Sandbags!
Hot-air balloons were originally propelled, not by heating the air, but by releasing helium or hydrogen. The gases, being less dense than air, generated the lift to carry the balloons skyward. These gas balloon-aircrafts were outfitted with sandbags to provide ballast. When the pilot wanted to gain altitude, he would throw the sand overboard so…
Read MorePracticing Disciplines Today That Will Lead to Success Tomorrow
Everyone wants to be thin, but no one wants to diet. Everybody wants money, but not many people want to work long hours or to follow a budget. Lots of people would like a nice yard or garden, but few want to pull weeds. The common denominator of success is discipline—forming the habit of doing…
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