“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.”
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John C. Maxwell
“A person who knows how may always have a job, but the person who knows why will always be his boss.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Irresponsible leaders have a “me first” attitude and use their position for personal benefit.”
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John C. Maxwell
“You cannot kindle a fire in any other heart until it is burning within your own.”
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John C. Maxwell
“I believed that if you have the heart to make a difference, there is always an answer, but if you have a heart of indifference, there is never an answer.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Since we tend to see ourselves primarily in light of our intentions, which are invisible to others,” said philosopher J. G. Bennett, “while we see others mainly in the light of their actions, which are all that’s visible to us, we have a situation in which misunderstanding and injustice are the order of the day.”
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John C. Maxwell
“If you pair excellence with humility, people not only won’t run over you, they will respect you.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Success is . . . knowing your purpose in life, growing to reach your maximum potential, and sowing seeds that benefit others.”
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John C. Maxwell
“A person with a negative self-image will expect the worst, damage relationships, and find others who are similarly negative.”
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John C. Maxwell
“Real leadership is being the person others will gladly and confidently follow.”
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John C. Maxwell
“If you wouldn't follow yourself, why should anyone else?”
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John C. Maxwell
“Most of us think wonderful things about people, but they never know it. Too many of us tend to be tight-fisted with our praise. It’s of no value if all you do is think it; it becomes valuable when you impart it.”
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John C. Maxwell
