Attitude
Mark Cole: Pride Goes Before a Fall
Growing up, my mom tirelessly reminded me of a popular verse from the book of Proverbs: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” The longer I live, the more I understand why she made sure I learned this lesson. Pride is a big problem for any leader. Here’s why: Pride Leads…
Read MoreWhy Significance is (Not-So) Serious Business
This week, the John Maxwell Leadership Podcast is continuing to explore the shift from success to significance. It’s a great two-part series, so I hope you’ll take some time to listen. While we’re on the topic of success to significance, I want to pause for a moment to talk about one of the essentials for…
Read MoreHow to Take a Compliment
“If you help other people get what they want, they’ll help you get what you want.” When I first heard Zig Ziglar teach that, I was a young leader making a lot of mistakes: I was too focused on myself, my vision, and my goals. Thinking about other people was a significant shift for me—one…
Read MoreThe Power of a Winning Attitude
One of the four key areas I’m constantly trying to grow in myself is my attitude. I know from first-hand experience that a good attitude is essential for success, because so much of how we view the world is rooted in the attitude we choose. Normally I use a blog post to offer you teaching…
Read MoreLive on the Other Side of “Yes”
One of my all-time favorite words is only three letters long. It’s a simple word to learn, but a difficult word to master because it has the power to create life as well as diminish it. It’s the word, YES. I love the word yes because of the possibilities it contains. Yes is permission. Yes…
Read MoreMark Cole: How Can You Serve and Lead at the Same Time?
When you think of servanthood, what comes to mind? Do you envision a person at the bottom of the totem pole performing a so-called “menial” task for someone else’s benefit? If so, then you have the wrong impression. Servanthood is not about position or skill. Servanthood is about attitude. We’ve all encountered people in service…
Read MoreMark Cole: Do For Others What They Can’t Do For Themselves
Christmas is my favorite time of year. I could list many reasons why, but the main reason that it is my favorite is because it is because it is built on giving. It’s built on generosity. And it got me thinking about my own life and the people around me. How am I spreading generosity…
Read MoreMark 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: 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…
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