“Write down somewhere in the margins on this page your answer to this question: How have you changed . . . lately? In the last week, let’s say? Or in the last month? The last year? Can you be very specific? Or must your answer be incredibly vague? You say you’re growing. Okay . . . how? “Well,” you say, “In all kinds of ways.” Great! Name one. You see, effective teaching comes only through a changed person. The more you change, the more you become an instrument of change in the lives of others. If you want to become a change agent, you also must change.2 Change the leader—change the organization.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation.
Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or
whatever. Do it without motivation. And then, guess what?
After you start doing the thing, that's when the motivation
comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“The best way to become a person that others are drawn to is to develop qualities that we are attracted to in others.
―
John C. Maxwell
“You have to link what you want to say to what others’ needs are.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“If you don’t like the crop you are reaping, check the seed you are sowing.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Those who lack humility are dogmatic and egotistical. That masks a deep sense of insecurity.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“THE RIGHT AND WRONG PICTURE OF A DREAM I’ve studied successful people for almost forty years. I’ve known hundreds of high-profile people who achieved big dreams. And I’ve achieved a few dreams of my own. What I’ve discovered is that a lot of people have misconceptions about dreams. Take a look at many of the things that people pursue and call dreams in their lives: Daydreams—Distractions from Current Work Pie-in-the-Sky Dreams—Wild Ideas with No Strategy or Basis in Reality Bad Dreams—Worries that Breed Fear and Paralysis Idealistic Dreams—The Way the World Would Be If You Were in Charge Vicarious Dreams—Dreams Lived Through Others Romantic Dreams—Belief that Some Person Will Make You Happy Career Dreams—Belief that Career Success Will Make You Happy Destination Dreams—Belief that a Position, Title, or Award Will Make You Happy Material Dreams—Belief that Wealth or Possessions Will Make You Happy If these aren’t good dreams—valid ones worthy of a person’s life—then what are? Here is my definition of a dream that can be put to the test and pass: a dream is an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will, and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Learning to write is learning to think. You don’t know anything clearly unless you can state it in writing.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“My Influence My life shall touch a dozen lives Before this day is done. Leave countless marks of good or ill, E’er sets the evening sun. This, the wish I always wish, The prayer I always pray; Lord, may my life help others’ lives It touches by the way.7”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Ideas have a short shelf life. You must act on them before the expiration date.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Crisis doesn’t necessarily make character, but it certainly does reveal it.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“The sum of all your thoughts comprises your overall attitude.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“THE LAW OF COUNTABILITY Teammates Must Be Able to Count on Each Other When It Counts”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Action is what converts human dreams into significance.”
―
John C. Maxwell
