24 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From John Maxwell On Personal Growth

Today I had the privilege on being part of an online coaching session conducted by John Maxwell.  As longtime readers of this site know, I had the privilege of working for John for six years and consider him my spiritual hero.  His teaching focused on his passion for personal growth.

Much of the content came from his wonderful book Intentional Living: Choosing A Life That Matters.  If you have not already picked up a copy, do yourself a favor and order a copy today HERE.  You can thank me later.

You check out today’s coaching yourself and register for a second viewing of the online event here.  It will take about 20 minutes.  Also, make sure you wait to the end as John offers some incredible additional resources to help you with your own personal growth.

Now, onto John’s thoughts.  All quotes below are from him.

1. What are you doing to develop yourself? – This determines your long-term future.
2. What are you doing to develop others? – This is all about compound and multiplication.  This determines the success and growth of your business.
3. Growth is not automatic.  If you’re going to grow, you’re going to have to grow on purpose.
4. The reason we are not intentional in our growth in we have gaps.
5. Assumption Gap – I assume that I will grow automatically.  Most people live by assumption.
6. Assumption is a huge disappointment in life.
7. Knowledge Gap – I don’t know how to grow.
8. The value of what you do for people is not so much what you do for them as much as it is getting them started.  Getting started is the key to life.
9. Personal growth keeps me prepared.
10. Constant growth is the preparation for the opportunity.
11. You don’t go into an opportunity.  You grow into an opportunity.
12. If you’re growing, you’re always ready.
13. Everything good in my life is a product of personal growth in my life.
14. Everything you want in life is based on your ability to develop yourself.
15. You don’t not start because of what you don’t have… The fruit of everything good in life begins with a challenge.
16. Everything is uphill that’s worthwhile.

1. Make a commitment to intentionally grow.
2. Make that commitment public.  A commitment that is not public is worthless… A shared commitment becomes a strong commitment.
3. identify the areas you want to grow personally in.  It needs to be at least two and no more than five.  You want to grow in an area of choice and an area of skill.
4. Invest one hour a day in those two areas.  Preparation.  Practice.  Reflection.  You do it every day.
5. Invest one hour a week on reflection and writing on what you’re learning… Jot before you journal.
6. Share your growth with someone.
7. Don’t spend time with people who aren’t thrilled with your progress.