John Maxwell™ is a world-renowned speaker, author, and thought leader in the field of leadership and success. He’s written almost 100 books and has been all over the world teaching, counseling, and serving a massive audience. His accomplishments are long, but you can’t find a more humble man. As you can imagine, Maxwell is full of wisdom, which translates well into quotable tidbits. Here are six of our favorite John Maxwell quotes to get you fired up!
“Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.”
In a world that values people based on their business title and salary, John teaches the opposite. True leadership is about the people you get to serve, not the other way around. True leaders are the ones helping everyone else reach their true potential.
“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”
Change and growth are not the same thing. Life is full of change—circumstances are in constant flux and there is little you can do to avoid it. People get frustrated when they don’t have control over the situations in their lives. What’s the secret to adjusting to change? Grow along with it! Did you lose your job? Use this as an opportunity to pursue your dream career! Let growth happen, even if it’s uncomfortable.
“Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.”
Two people could be given the exact same challenge and each handle it very differently. Our reaction to inevitable events says a lot about us and ultimately determines the success of the situation.
Do you want to improve your knee jerk reaction to bad news?
- Pause. Don’t say anything, do anything, or move after hearing news that rocks you. Learn to pause for a beat and take it in.
- Breathe through your feelings. You are going to have a lot of them, and it’s healthy to feel them, whatever emotion that may be. Breathe until you feel in control again.
- Take some time to reflect. Look at it from other perspectives. It’s a great idea to communicate your need for time and space to those around you if it’s going to help you react in a more appropriate way.
- Choose your course of action. Once you’re in control enough to make a decision or to react, be wise and follow the best path for you.
“Talent is a gift, but character is a choice.”
Everyone has different talents … some easier to see than others. In some cases, you either have certain talents or you don’t, and that’s okay. But unlike natural talent, your character is entirely up to you. How you choose to live your life and treat others says more about you than your natural public speaking abilities. Some of the most talented people in the world have the worst character traits. Remember that how you choose to be is more important than what you can do.
“The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.”
The fear of failure can be debilitating, but by not moving forward we are not progressing. Courage is found in the forest of fear, so if you’re afraid of failing, gather your courage and fail anyway.
“You cannot enjoy others until you enjoy yourself because you cannot give to others what you do not have.”
It’s often said that you can’t pour from an empty cup, and this is what Maxwell teaches. The best way to take care of others is to first take care of yourself.
Be Inspired by More John Maxwell Quotes!
This list of great John Maxwell quotes goes on for pages because he speaks the truth and is relatable to most people. Strong leaders are changing the future, and you can be part of it!
Did you know that John Maxwell wrote an endorsement for Bill’s book, “Dad Always Said”? Check out more about wisdom from the greatest generation!
