“Recently I took my daughter Elizabeth out to a restaurant for lunch. The waitress, whose job it was to take care of people, made us feel that we were really inconveniencing her. She was grumpy, negative, and unhelpful. All of her customers were aware of the fact that she was having a bad day. Elizabeth looked up at me and said, “Dad, she’s a grump, isn’t she?” I could only agree with a look of disdain. Halfway through our experience I tried to change this woman’s negative attitude. Pulling out a $10 bill, I said, “Could you do me a favor? I’d like some change for this $10 bill because I want to give you a good tip today.” She looked at me, did a double take, and then ran to the cash register. After changing the money, she spent the next fifteen minutes hovering over us. I thanked her for her service, told her how important and helpful she was, and left a good tip. As we left, Elizabeth said, “Daddy, did you see how that lady changed?” Seizing this golden opportunity, I said, “Elizabeth, if you want people to act right toward you, you act right toward them. And many times you’ll change them.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Question for God every morning:
What is the main event today? What do you want me to focus on today?”
―
John C. Maxwell
“The number-one reason most people lose arguments is not because they’re wrong; it’s because they don’t know when to quit.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“What do the people closest to you value? Make a list of the most important people in your life-from home, work, church, hobbies, and so on. After making the list, write what each person values most. Then rate yourself on a scale of 1 (poorly) to 10 (excellently) on how well you relate to that person's values. If you can't articulate what someone values or you score lower than an 8 in relating to that person, spend more time with him or her to improve.”
―
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
“Real leadership is being the person others will gladly and confidently follow
―
John C. Maxwell
“Henry David Thoreau wrote, “One is not born into the world to do everything, but to do something.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Cuando su mentalidad es dar más de lo que toma, lo fuerza a pensar más en los demás que en usted mismo.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“If you haven’t yet discovered and developed your style, study other communicators.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“Elbert Hubbard said that the greatest mistake a person can make is to be afraid of making one.
―
John C. Maxwell
“If you are willing to change your thinking, you can change your feelings.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“The rewards leaders give are counterbalanced by the results that their people give in return.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“To succeed, you have to be open to problems. You have to be open to failure. And as you go up the ladder, you gain the right to get more problems.”
―
John C. Maxwell
“President Abraham Lincoln once remarked, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Few people have more power than an American president. Being the so-called leader”
―
John C. Maxwell
