Quotes by John C. Maxwell

Ranking among the greatest Christmas movie classics, Its a Wonderful Life tells a beautiful story about the priceless value of relationships.

For more than a decade, I led an organization that put on an elaborate Christmas program each December. It was a big production, with over 250 people participating in more than 20 performances. By the end of the season, everyone who participated was exhausted.

Teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team.

If you are a leader, you should never forget that everyone needs encouragement. And everyone who receives it - young or old, successful or less-than-successful, unknown or famous - is changed by it.

A word of encouragement from a teacher to a child can change a life. A word of encouragement from a spouse can save a marriage. A word of encouragement from a leader can inspire a person to reach her potential.

Family and friendships are two of the greatest facilitators of happiness.

The unsuccessful person is burdened by learning, and prefers to walk down familiar paths. Their distaste for learning stunts their growth and limits their influence.

Time management is an oxymoron. Time is beyond our control, and the clock keeps ticking regardless of how we lead our lives. Priority management is the answer to maximizing the time we have.

People who use time wisely spend it on activities that advance their overall purpose in life.

The first time you say something, its heard. The second time, its recognized, and the third time its learned.

Learn to say no to the good so you can say yes to the best.

There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. Good pride represents our dignity and self-respect. Bad pride is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.

Good leaders must communicate vision clearly, creatively, and continually. However, the vision doesnt come alive until the leader models it.

The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.

Everything rises and falls on leadership.

Leadership is influence.

I vividly remember a conversation I had many years ago in 1974, which marked a turning point in my leadership journey. I was sitting at a Holiday Inn with my friend, Kurt Campmeyer, when he asked me if I had a personal growth plan. I didnt. In fact, I didnt even know you were supposed to have one.

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.