“In my first leadership position, I mistakenly thought that being named the leader meant that I was the leader. Back then I defined leading as a noun—as the position I was appointed to—not a verb—as what I was doing. Though I had been hired as the senior pastor, I quickly discovered the real leader of the church was a down-to-earth farmer named Claude, who had been earning his leadership influence through many positive actions over many years. He later explained it to me, saying, “John, all the letters”
―
John C. Maxwell
“There is no use whatever trying to help people who do not help themselves. You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he is willing to climb himself.” —Andrew Carnegie”
―
John C. Maxwell
“It's not the position that makes the leader; it's the leader that makes the position. "
―
John C. Maxwell
“There are two things that are most difficult to get people to do: to think, and to do things in order of importance.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“English heart surgeon Martyn Lloyd-Jones asserted, “Most unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself rather than talking to yourself.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Cavett Roberts said: “If my people understand me, I’ll get their attention. If my people trust me, I’ll get their action.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Life’s greatest rewards come from your inner self, from the choices you make, from how you decide to live under whatever circumstances you find yourself in.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“I have to live with myself, and so I want to be fit for myself to know, I want to be able, as days go by, Always to look myself straight in the eye; I don’t want to stand, with the setting sun, And hate myself for things I have done. I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf A lot of secrets about myself, And fool myself, as I come and go, Into thinking that nobody else will know The kind of man I really am; I don’t want to dress up myself in sham. I want to go out with my head erect, I want to deserve all men’s respect; But here in the struggle for fame and pelf I want to be able to like myself. I don’t want to look at myself and know That I’m bluster and bluff and empty show. I can never hide myself from me; I see what others may never see; I know what others may never know, I never can fool myself, and so, Whatever happens, I want to be Self-respecting and conscience free.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them day after day.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“People cannot perform in a way inconsistent with the way they see themselves.”
―
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.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Confidence equals contentment with self; contentment is knowing you have all you need for the present circumstances.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Failures, repeated failures, are finger-prints on the road to achievement. .”
―
John C. Maxwell