Quotes from John Maxwell

The Law of Diminishing Intent says, "The longer you wait to do something you should do now, the greater the odds that you will never actually do it.

The reason most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first.

Contentment is not a popular concept. Our culture actually discourages the idea. People are continually bombarded with the message, "What you have isn't enough. You need more—a bigger house, a better car, a larger salary, whiter teeth, sweeter breath, nicer clothes . . ." The list is endless. But the truth is that possessing healthy contentment is essential to being able to withstand failure. —Failing Forward DECIDE TODAY THAT WHAT YOU HAVE IS ENOUGH.

It has been said that you don't really know people until you have observed them when they interact with a child, when the car has a flat tire, when the boss is away, and when they think no one will ever know. But people with integrity never have to worry about that. No matter where they are, who they are with, or what kind of situation they find themselves in, they are consistent and live by their principles.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Trust men and they will be true to you: treat them greatly and they will show themselves great.

Success expert Peter Lowe, who has gleaned success secrets from hundreds of people who are at the top of their profession, says, "The most common trait I have found in all successful people is that they have conquered the temptation to give up.

Such sober warnings in the Word of God should impress upon us the importance of keeping our priorities straight: God first, family second, ministry or career third. Only when a leader's relationship to God is right, and only when responsibilities as a family member are being properly met, can the leader be fully faithful in exercising the ministry God has given him or her.

Leaders have to deal simultaneously with people issues and business issues, and they need to be able to do both effectively. That's an art. As you work to develop people, maintain a relational approach, valuing them and adding value to them. At the same time, do what you must to achieve a good bottom line.

Failure results from bad breaks.

The common experiences you share with others don't have to be that dramatic (although adversity definitely brings people together). Anything you experience together that creates a common history helps to connect you to others.

Failure is inevitable; learning is optional

You beat 50 percent of the people in America by working hard," says A. L. Williams. "You beat another 40 percent by being a person of honesty and integrity and standing for something. The last 10 percent is a dogfight in the free enterprise system.