“Recently I took my daughter Elizabeth out to a restaurant for lunch. The waitress, whose job it was to take care of people, made us feel that we were really inconveniencing her. She was grumpy, negative, and unhelpful. All of her customers were aware of the fact that she was having a bad day. Elizabeth looked up at me and said, “Dad, she’s a grump, isn’t she?” I could only agree with a look of disdain. Halfway through our experience I tried to change this woman’s negative attitude. Pulling out a $10 bill, I said, “Could you do me a favor? I’d like some change for this $10 bill because I want to give you a good tip today.” She looked at me, did a double take, and then ran to the cash register. After changing the money, she spent the next fifteen minutes hovering over us. I thanked her for her service, told her how important and helpful she was, and left a good tip. As we left, Elizabeth said, “Daddy, did you see how that lady changed?” Seizing this golden opportunity, I said, “Elizabeth, if you want people to act right toward you, you act right toward them. And many times you’ll change them.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Author Kenneth Blanchard says, “There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.” That’s what leaders do. They commit and follow through.”
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John C. Maxwell
“If you think you are the entire picture, you will never see the big picture.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Risk must be evaluated not by the fear it generates in you or the probability of your success, but by the value of the goal.”
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John C. Maxwell
“See the big picture. Your place on the team makes sense only in the context of the big picture. If your only motivation for finding your niche is personal gain, your poor motives may prevent you from discovering what you desire.”
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John C. Maxwell
“People change when they ... Hurt enough that they have to, Learn enough that they want to, and Receive enough that they are able to.”
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John C. Maxwell
“If you can't influence people, then they will not follow you. And if people won't follow, you are not a leader. That's the Law of Influence.”
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John C. Maxwell
“The bottom line in leadership isn't how far we advance ourselves but how far we advance others.”
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John C. Maxwell
“If you really want to be an uncommon leader, you’re going to have to find a way to get much of your vision seen, implemented, and added to by others.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Jim Sundberg says, “Discover your uniqueness; then discipline yourself to develop it.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Irresponsible leaders have a “me first” attitude and use their position for personal benefit.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Have to sow excellent seeds to have an excellent life. Must start with sowing excellent thoughts.”
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John C. Maxwell
“The ability to ask the right question is more than half the battle of finding the answer.”
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John C. Maxwell
“People don’t expect their leaders to be perfect, but they do expect them to be honest.
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John C. Maxwell
