“President Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“I feel like one little fellow who knelt at the side of his bed, closed his eyes, and prayed, “God bless Mom. God bless Dad. God bless Grandma.” He said it the same way every time. But one night he added, “And please take care of yourself, God. ’Cause if anything happens to you, we’re all sunk!”
―
John C. Maxwell
“As long as you are hanging around amateurs, you will think like an amateur, and you will not improve your skills.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“I always try to remember that I am a work in progress. When I maintain that perspective, I realize that I don’t have to be perfect. I don’t have to have it all together. I don’t need to try to have all the answers. And I don’t need to learn everything in a day. When I make a mistake, it’s not because I’m a failure or worthless. I just didn’t do something right because I still haven’t improved enough in some part of the process. And that motivates me to keep growing and improving. If I don’t know something, it’s an opportunity to try to improve in a new area.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Hundreds can talk for one who can think, but thousands can think for one who can see.”
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John C. Maxwell
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Warren Bennis and Bert Nanus say that “trust is the emotional glue that binds followers and leaders together.”
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John C. Maxwell
“only people who can see the invisible can do the impossible.”
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John C. Maxwell
“What can I say to get others involved around the table? How can I draw them in?”
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John C. Maxwell
“Followers tell you what you want to hear. Leaders tell you what you need to hear.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Everyone is important, but everyone isn’t equal. The person with greater experience, skill, and productivity in a given area is more important to the team in that area.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“One of the most striking scenes of the 1970s was Hubert Humphrey’s funeral. Seated next to Hubert’s beloved wife was former President Richard M. Nixon, a long-time political adversary of Humphrey, and a man disgraced by Watergate. Humphrey himself had asked Nixon to have that place of honor. Three days before Senator Humphrey died, Jesse Jackson visited him in the hospital. Humphrey told Jackson that he had just called Nixon. Reverend Jackson, knowing their past relationship, asked Humphrey why. Here is what Hubert Humphrey had to say, From this vantage point, with the sun setting in my life, all of the speeches, the political conventions, the crowds, and the great fights are behind me. At a time like this you are forced to deal with your irreducible essence, forced to grapple with that which is really important. And what I have concluded about life is that when all is said and done, we must forgive each other, redeem each other, and move on. Do”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Most people who decide to grow personally find their first mentors in the pages of books.”
―
John C. Maxwell
