John C. Maxwell Quotes & Sayings

If you focus on goals, you may hit goals - but that doesn't guarantee growth. If you focus on growth, you will grow and always hit goals. — John C. Maxwell

One of the quickest ways to gain credibility with an individual, a group, or an audience is to borrow it from someone who already has credibility with them. — John C. Maxwell

Our attitude at the beginning of a task will affect its outcome more than anything else. — John C. Maxwell

Secrecy spawns isolation, not success. — John C. Maxwell

Each day is an unrepeatable miracle. Today will never happen again, so we must make it count. — John C. Maxwell

Sometimes we hold on to our possessions because we fear we might run out - life seems scarce. But when we believe that giving is the way to live, we will produce more in the future - life seems abundant. — John C. Maxwell

Finish every day and be done with it.. — John C. Maxwell

Remember, it's the finish, not the start, that counts the most in life. — John C. Maxwell

As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behavior. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to become. Take action on your behavior. Too many people want to feel, then take action. This never works. — John C. Maxwell

If you're always at the head of the class, then you're in the wrong class. — John C. Maxwell

If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it enough. — John C. Maxwell

If you really want to be a successful leader, you must develop other leaders around you. You must establish a team. — John C. Maxwell

We fail, not because of big problems, but because of small purposes. — John C. Maxwell

Nothing is as hard as it looks; everything is more rewarding than you expect; and if anything can go right it will and at the best possible moment. — John C. Maxwell

You invest yourself in what you believe can succeed. — John C. Maxwell

Deciding what to be is more important than deciding what to do. — John C. Maxwell

If you want to help others and become a person of influence, keep smiling, sharing, giving, and turning the other cheek. — John C. Maxwell

And most important, listen. — John C. Maxwell

Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves - to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by our today. — John C. Maxwell

create memories. — John C. Maxwell

Growth today is an investment for tomorrow. — John C. Maxwell

Successful people do what is right no matter how they feel, and by doing right, they feel good. — John C. Maxwell

Most people don't like change. They revolt against it unless they can clearly see the advantage it brings. For that reason, when good leaders prepare to take action or make changes, they take people through a process to get them ready for it. — John C. Maxwell

To collaborative team members, completing one another is more important than competing with one another. — John C. Maxwell

You don't overcome challenges by making them smaller but by making yourself bigger. — John C. Maxwell

Good leaders motivate others by their listening skills. We are to: avoid prejudicial first impressions; become less self-centered; withhold initial criticism; stay calm; listen with empathy; be active listeners; clarify what we hear; and recognize the healing power of listening. Then we are to act on what we hear — John C. Maxwell

Integrity is important in building relationships. And is the foundation upon which many other qualities for success are built, such as respect, dignity, and trust. — John C. Maxwell

The only thing we can control is what we do in the present. The more we replay yesterday, the further we get from today's opportunities. And the further away we move from opportunities, the tougher the road is to get back. Opportunities never look as good coming as they do going, and they wait for no one. We need to be highly attentive to spot them. And we must be focused on our present capabilities, not past regrets. — John C. Maxwell

Effective leaders don't gather things just for themselves; they do it in order to give to others. — John C. Maxwell

Personnel determines the potential of the team. Vision determines the direction of the team. Work ethic determines the preparation of the team. Leadership determines the success of the team. — John C. Maxwell

If you believe in others and give them a positive reputation to uphold, you can help them to become better than they think they are. — John C. Maxwell

Failure is not a one-time event; it's how you deal with life along the way. Until you breathe your last breath, you're still in the process, and there is still time to turn things around for the better. — John C. Maxwell

Plan and execute your first failure so that you no longer have to fear it. — John C. Maxwell

Most people use two totally different sets of criteria for judging themselves versus others. We tend to judge others according to their actions. It's very cut-and-dried. However, we judge ourselves by our intentions. Even if we do the wrong thing, if we believe our motives were good, we let ourselves off the hook. And we are often willing to do that over and over before requiring ourselves to change. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is influence. It is the ability to obtain followers. When the leader lacks confidence, the followers have no commitment. A leader is great not because of his power, but because of his ability to empower others. — John C. Maxwell

Be willing to absorb some risk and failures to allow people freedom to express themselves. — John C. Maxwell

Believe while others are doubting. Plan while others are playing. Study while others are sleeping. Decide while others are delaying. Prepare while others are daydreaming. Begin while others are procrastinating. Work while others are wishing. Save while others are wasting. Listen while others are talking. Smile while others are frowning. Commend while others are criticizing. Persist while others are quitting. — John C. Maxwell

If you embrace possibility thinking, your dreams will go from molehill to mountain size, and because you believe in possibilities, you put yourself in position to achieve them. — John C. Maxwell

You cannot separate your identity from your perspective. All that you are and every experience you've had color how you see things. It is your lens. — John C. Maxwell

If you keep your mind active, regularly take on mental challenges, and continually think abuot the right things, you will develop the disciplined thinking that will help you with whatever you endeavor to do. — John C. Maxwell

The Law of Reflection Learning to Pause Allows Growth to Catch Up with You "Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action." - PETER F. DRUCKER — John C. Maxwell

Inspiring communicators always expect a lot from their listeners. — John C. Maxwell

People naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves. — John C. Maxwell

Good thinkers always prime the pump of ideas. They always look for things to get the thinking process started, because what you put in always impacts what comes out. — John C. Maxwell

Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. — John C. Maxwell

As people gain more authority, they often develop a lack of patience in listening to those under them. A deaf ear is the first indication of a closed mind. — John C. Maxwell

Never open a can of worms unless you plan to go fishing. — John C. Maxwell

Self-centered leaders manipulate when they move people for personal benefit. Mature leaders motivate by moving people for mutual benefit. — John C. Maxwell

SUCCESS is when I add value to MYSELF. SIGNIFICANCE is when I add value to OTHERS. — John C. Maxwell

As long as a person doesn't know what he doesn't know, he doesn't grow — John C. Maxwell

Everything begins with a decision. Then, we have to manage that decision for the rest of your life. — John C. Maxwell

Attitude isn't everything, but it is one thing that can make a difference in your life. — John C. Maxwell

You don't become a success when you get your diploma, you became a success when you decided to go to college when you get your diploma you get the rewards of success. — John C. Maxwell

Talent is a gift, but character is a choice. — John C. Maxwell

The more that people know how they fit on a team, the more they will desire to properly make the most of their fit and maximize their contribution. — John C. Maxwell

COMMITMENT is the first step to every good thing I know, and the only step that matters when it comes to achievement. It inspires and attracts people, shows them you have conviction and goals, that you are focused and determined. And the commitment that is based on values will endure. Any time you make choices based on solid life values, you are in a better position to sustain your level of commitment, because you don't have to continually re-evaluate its importance. — John C. Maxwell

If you take control of your behavior, your emotions will fall into place. — John C. Maxwell

If you aren't making any mistakes, it's a sure sign you're playing it too safe. — John C. Maxwell

Integrity is the human quality most necessary to business success. — John C. Maxwell

The sum of all your thoughts comprises your overall attitude. — John C. Maxwell

Cooperation is working together agreeably ... Collaboration is working together aggressively; and theres a world of difference between those two. — John C. Maxwell

The Right Thought plus the Right People in the Right Environment at the Right Time for the Right Reason = the Right Result — John C. Maxwell

Real leadership is being the person others will gladly and confidently follow. — John C. Maxwell

We tend to think of great thinkers and innovators as soloists, but the truth is that the greatest innovative thinking doesn't occur in a vacuum. — John C. Maxwell

We won't fully experience joy until we've answered life's biggest question: Why am I here? — John C. Maxwell

Leaders will not experience long-term success unless a lot of people want them to. — John C. Maxwell

Not everyone will become a great leader, but everyone can become a better leader. — John C. Maxwell

Maturity is the ability to see and act on behalf of others. Immature people don't see things from someone else's point of view. They rarely concern themselves with what's best for others. In many ways, they act like small children. — John C. Maxwell

Exceptionally hard decisions can deplete your energy to the point at which you finally cave in. If you mentally crumble and degenerate into negative thinking, you'll magnify the problem to the point where it can haunt you. — John C. Maxwell

The more tuned in you are to your purpose, and the more dedicated you are to growing toward it, the better your chances of reaching your potential, expanding your possibilities, and doing something significant. — John C. Maxwell

Policies are many, Principles are few, Policies will change, Principles never do. — John C. Maxwell

While personal maturity may mean being able to see beyond yourself, leadership maturity means considering others before yourself. — John C. Maxwell

Why did the achievers overcome problems while thousands are overwhelmed by theirs? They refused to hold on to the common excuses for failure. They turned their stumbling blocks into stepping stones. They realized that they couldn't determine every circumstance in life but they could determine their choice of attitude towards every circumstance. — John C. Maxwell

When you face discouragement, you can do one of two things, and the one you choose will color your perspective. You can look at others to place the blame, or you can look at yourself to discover your opportunities. The choice is yours. — John C. Maxwell

Don't let your mandate come from the grumbling of the crowd. Get your cues from God and the mission He has given you. — John C. Maxwell

As a leader, you will never get ahead until your people are behind you. — John C. Maxwell

If you want to do something really big, do it as part of a team. — John C. Maxwell

You must have a long-range vision to keep you from being frustrated by short-range failures. - CHARLES NOBLE — John C. Maxwell

You are nothing unless it comes from your heart. Passion, caring, really looking to create excellence. If you perform functions only and go to work only to do processes, then you are effectively retired. And it scares me - most people I see, by age twenty-eight are retired. — John C. Maxwell

To be an influencer, you have to love people before you can try to lead them. — John C. Maxwell

The leader's attitude helps determine the attitudes of the followers. — John C. Maxwell

Good people always rise to your level of expectation. — John C. Maxwell

You have no control over how much talent you possess. You control only what you do with it. — John C. Maxwell

A leader is great not because of his or her power, but because of his or her ability to empower others. — John C. Maxwell

Anyone who loves his opinions more than his teammates will advance his opinions but set back his team. — John C. Maxwell

To get out of a hard situation, try a soft answer. — John C. Maxwell

Confidence equals contentment with self; contentment is knowing you have all you need for the present circumstances. — John C. Maxwell

When a leader reaches out in passion, he is usually met with an answering passion. — John C. Maxwell

Tell them how much you appreciate them. — John C. Maxwell

Progress is often just a good idea away. — John C. Maxwell

Look at our society. Everyone wants to be thin, but nobody wants to diet. Everyone wants to live long, but few will exercise. Everybody wants money, yet seldom will anyone budget or control their spending. — John C. Maxwell

Attitude ... is the prophet of your future. — John C. Maxwell

Values hold the team together, provide stability for the team to grow upon, measure the team's performance, give direction and guidance and attract like-minded people. — John C. Maxwell

If you want to become a better listener, however you need to learn to direct that energy and attention positively by concentrating on the person you're with. — John C. Maxwell

The smartest person in the room is never as smart as all the people in the room. — John C. Maxwell

Good attitudes among players do not guarantee a team's success, but bad attitudes guarantee its failure. — John C. Maxwell

Good things happen to a team when a player takes the place where he adds the most value. Great things happen when all the players on the team take the role that maximizes their strengths - their talent, skill, and experience. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership deals with people and their dynamics, which are continually changing. The challenge of leadership is to create change and facilitate growth. — John C. Maxwell

Integrity is not so much what we do as much as who we are. — John C. Maxwell

What I had been taught all my life was not true: experience is not the best teacher! Some people learn and grow as a result of their experience; some people don't. Everybody has some kind of experience. It's what you do with that experience that matters. — John C. Maxwell