Posts by John Maxwell
Mister Rogers: Leadership with Lasting Impact
What do you think of when you hear the word, “neighbor”? Depending on your age, you’re likely to think of Fred Rogers. Or, more accurately, Mister Rogers. That’s because Mister Rogers is one of the most iconic television personalities in American history. A mild-mannered Pennsylvania man with a passion for encouraging children, Mister Rogers became…
Read MoreTwo Things Every Leader Should Avoid Like the Plague
Several years ago my friend, Dave Anderson, released his book, Up Your Business: 7 Steps to Fix, Build, or Stretch Your Organization. I remember reading it with excitement, and even developed a teaching on some of the most important lessons I learned from the book. There are so many good ideas that Dave presented, and…
Read MoreThree Ways to Fan Your Flame and Avoid Burn-out
A few years ago, I was considering a crazy idea. I was thinking about retirement. I was in my late sixties, and things were going well. It was the right time for my team and myself to think about the future and what it was going to look like. As we talked, it seemed like…
Read MoreFive Freedoms
Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness…Broad, wholesome, charitable views of [people] and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” I’ve spent the past two weeks traveling around the globe, with stops in Vietnam, Oman, Myanmar, and Kish Island. It has…
Read MoreDevelop a Healthy IRA: Five Investments Every Leader Must Make
Do you have a good IRA? Before you answer, let me put things in context: this is not a blog post about traditional investment advice. This is a blog post about leadership investment advice. Good leaders are great investors. They understand not only where investments are necessary, but the type of investments required for success.…
Read MoreSmart Voices in Your Ear
Today, I want to talk to the aspiring leader, someone who dreams of making a bigger impact on their world. The leader who may have never held a leadership position, or maybe has led before, but didn’t lead well and wants to prove they have what it takes. Or maybe you’re a leader who knows…
Read MoreMark Cole: You Got A Problem?
Everybody has problems. If you aren’t sure about that statement, just ask someone—most people will gladly tell you all about theirs! When it comes to problems, I agree with Lou Holtz’s humorous perspective, “Don’t tell your problems to people! 80% don’t care and the other 20% are glad you have them.” While most people don’t…
Read MoreThe Influence of a Father
This Sunday being Father’s Day, my team requested that I write a blog post on the word “father.” While that may seem like an obvious idea, there’s a deeper meaning to that word for me personally—since 2017, the word “father” has been my life word. You see, for years—decades, really—I have prayed for and selected…
Read MoreFive Ways Leaders Change Lives for the Better
Did you know that we’re in a global leadership crisis? That thought has popped in the news a lot lately. There have been breathless editorials from all angles about the decline of leadership in government, education, entertainment, religion, business, art, and the family. We’re not as strong as we used to be seems to be…
Read MoreThe Relentless Pursuit of Improvement
Over the past few weeks, as my work has carried me everywhere from Peru to Paraguay to a weekend away with Margaret to celebrate 50 years of marriage, I’ve been reflecting on my personal journey of improvement. It’s no secret that I believe growth is the only guarantee that tomorrow will be better. It’s no…
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