In this special episode of The John Maxwell Leadership Podcast, Mark Cole and John Maxwell invite daredevil Nik Wallenda on to discuss his new book Facing Fear: Step Out in Faith and Rise Above What’s Holding You Back ! John and Nik talk about why fear is so powerful, how to gain confidence under pressure, and the importance of focusing on the solution and staying positive. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Facing Fear Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from the discussio...
Dec 09, 2020•42 min
In part 2 of The Leader’s Greatest Gift series, John shares the final three points on passionate commitment and the potential for transformation when passion and commitment are combined. During the application portion of the episode, Mark Cole and Traci Morrow talk about the “leadership malpractice” of leading everyone the same; how we often confuse passion with other personality traits such as charisma and woo; and the importance of understanding yourself before trying to understand your team m...
Dec 02, 2020•30 min
This week we’re starting a new two-part series on The John Maxwell Leadership Podcast! In this series John talks about what he calls the leader’s greatest gift –– passionate commitment. He discusses the individual importance of passion and commitment, then describes the potential for transformation when these two leadership characteristics are combined. In the application portion of part one, Mark Cole and Traci Morrow discuss maintaining passion during tough times, what happens when you allow y...
Nov 25, 2020•36 min
Podcast family, we have something very special for you on the podcast this week! We are joined by our good friend Patrick Lencioni, founder of The Table Group and author of the upcoming book The Six Types of Working Genius . In this episode, Pat talks about the new assessment that his team has created, titled after the upcoming book. John took this assessment, and Patrick walks through John’s results and shows how valuable this insight is to any leader who takes the assessment. Patrick’s team is...
Nov 18, 2020•33 min
In this week’s episode, John Maxwell shares the three dimensions of expectation: expectations that we have of ourselves, that we have of others, and that others have of us. More often than not, you won’t get what you don’t expect. That’s why leaders need to set high and realistic expectations for themselves and others. For the application portion of the episode, Mark Cole and Jason Brooks discuss the expectations they set for themselves and the importance of exceeding––not just meeting––the expe...
Nov 11, 2020•49 min
If you attended out first-ever virtual Live2Lead on October 9th, you probably walked away feeling like you just drank from a fire hydrant! Each speaker offered an impactful teaching that added value to tens of thousands of leaders that day. A couple of those messages came from John Maxwell himself, but John doesn’t just attend Live2Lead to teach . He attends to learn just like you, and he gleaned some helpful takeaways from each of our wonderful speakers. So, today we’re bringing you a bonus epi...
Nov 06, 2020•30 min
This week on the podcast, we have something very special for you! We are joined by Andy Stanley to talk about his new book Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets and to ask him and John Maxwell about how we can make better decisions in our own lives. You’ll learn how to see beyond your own perspective, discern wise decisions from unwise decisions, and get a sneak peek into Andy’s new book! This is an episode you definitely don’t want to miss! Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Better Decisi...
Nov 04, 2020•35 min
When you’re better and bigger on the inside, you will become greater on the outside. That’s what this lesson is all about. John Maxwell teaches how the inside influences the outside, and what the life of an inside-out leader looks like. In the application portion of the episode Mark Cole and Jason Brooks define what John means by “inside” and “outside,” what makes inside out leadership so powerful, and how they’re applying John’s principles in the John Maxwell Enterprise. Our BONUS resource for ...
Oct 28, 2020•49 min
In part two of our Tests of Timing series, John Maxwell shares the role that mentors and past victories play in helping you make timing decisions. He also shares that well timed decisions require courage, emotional stamina, passion, and ownership. In the application portion of this episode, Mark Cole and Jason Brooks share what they are learning from their mentors right now, the strategies they’re using to generate momentum, and how they discern courageous decisions from reckless decisions. Our ...
Oct 21, 2020•42 min
Knowing when to lead is just as important as knowing what to do and where to go. That’s why we’re beginning a new series on the Tests of Timing. John Maxwell explains that, when it comes to making good timing decisions, environment is everything. So, throughout this two-part series, he walks us through a step-by-step guide complete with key questions at every step to help you test whether the environment is right for the decision you need to make. During the application portion of the episode, M...
Oct 14, 2020•43 min
Today we’re releasing another Best of John Maxwell at Live2Lead! This talk is from last year when John was preparing to release his latest book, The Leader’s Greatest Return . This is one of our favorite messages from John, and we’re confident you’ll learn so much as you listen! Don’t forget, this year’s Live2Lead is on October 9, 2020, and for the first time we’re going virtual! We have an amazing speaker lineup that we’re stoked to share with you. Get your tickets and learn all about Live2Lead...
Oct 07, 2020•35 min
Podcast family! We are so excited to bring you the hardest working man in entertainment together with the hardest working man in motivation––Steve Harvey and John Maxwell. Steve is a man who needs no introduction and we are beyond excited to have him as a speaker at Live2Lead 2020! In fact, he and John sat down to record this episode and talk about a new digital product they’ve created together, Elevate Your Communication! This new digital course will be available for sale at Live2Lead, so if yo...
Sep 30, 2020•33 min
As we’ve mentioned in the past few episodes, on October 9th Live2Lead is going virtual! Recently, we’ve been sharing some great conversations from John and content from our speaker line-up for this year’s event. But, we also wanted to add something else to the mix to help you on your leadership journey. We wanted to offer you some of John’s best of Live2Lead lessons here on the podcast, so you can get a taste of what you’re in for this year! Today we’re releasing “The Best of Live2Lead: How to L...
Sep 23, 2020•39 min
Hey Podcast listeners! As you know, we’re setting aside a few episodes over the next few weeks to highlight some of the incredible speakers who will join us for Live2Lead 2020. Today, we’re excited to share a talk from Alan Mulally, former CEO of Boeing and the Ford Motor Company. Alan’s leadership helped Ford beat bankruptcy and become the only Big Three car company that didn’t take a federal bailout in the early 2000s. We’ve pulled this talk from 2015 when Alan joined us for our event Exchange...
Sep 16, 2020•33 min
On January 26, 2021, John C. Maxwell will release his next book Change Your World ! John himself says that this is the book he was created to write! So, we are very excited to give you a behind the scenes look into why John wrote the book in this one-on-one conversation between Mark Cole and John Maxwell. Change Your World aims to show people how to be a positive change agent in the lives of others. Here are the facts: our world is in trouble, there is an answer, and you are a part of that answe...
Sep 09, 2020•31 min
Yes, today is Tuesday. And, yes, we are releasing this podcast episode a day early. So, please rest assured that Tuesday did not somehow pass you by without your knowledge, and that you are, indeed, NOT going crazy! We wanted to release this episode early because we just couldn’t wait another 24 hours to share the news… We’re excited to announce that, this year, you can attend Live2Lead virtually! If you haven’t heard, Live2Lead is our live annual leadership conference, and once again we have qu...
Sep 01, 2020•23 min
We say often on the podcast that there is a leadership deficit in our country and in the world. That means there is a huge need for leaders to step up and make change. But so many leaders talk themselves out of leading because they feel they don’t have enough influence or opportunities. In this episode, John encourages everyone that you can lead right now by starting wherever you are, using what you have, and doing what you can. He talks about influence and opportunities, and how to gain more of...
Aug 26, 2020•54 min
In the second part of our series “Halftime Adjustments,” John Maxwell shares two more adjustments that leaders need to make to effectively lead in the second half of this year. He discusses the importance of embracing unchanging values in an unpredictable world and the need for emotional strength during challenging times. For the application portion of the episode, Mark Cole and Chris Goede dive into the values of The John Maxwell Enterprise and how those values have helped the organization navi...
Aug 19, 2020•53 min
In this new, two-part series, John Maxwell talks about the difference between good coaches and great coaches, and he gives guidance on how we can apply effective “halftime adjustments” to our leadership and organizations in the second half of the year. Mark Cole is joined by Chris Goede during the application portion of this episode to discuss the first two adjustments that John teaches. They discuss common thinking hang-ups that stifle fluid progress and the importance of leadership adjustments...
Aug 12, 2020•44 min
In the final installment of “A Month of Melvin Maxwell,” John shares the remaining life and leadership lessons he learned from his father, Melvin. John tells us how his father was a shining example of a person who prioritized his life, always gave his best, and enthusiastically devoted himself to a life of growth and gratitude. For the application portion of the episode, Mark Cole and Jason Brooks discuss how to determine where to focus your energy, and Mark shares the key to maintaining his ent...
Aug 05, 2020•1 hr 6 min
In part three of our series on the lessons John Maxwell learned from his father, Melvin, John shares the importance of giving God the credit, living a generous life, and being intentional every day. Mark Cole and Jason Brooks continue their discussion on what they’re learning from this series. They discuss why knowing and investing in the strengths of your team members matters and different ways that leaders can be generous aside from money alone. Our BONUS resource for this series is the Month ...
Jul 29, 2020•56 min
In part two of our series on the lessons John Maxwell learned from his dad, Melvin, John talks about the importance of encouraging others, working hard, and maintaining a positive mindset. In the application portion of the episode, Mark Cole and Jason Brooks discuss the tension between human nature and leader nature, and the importance of authenticity in leadership. Our BONUS resource for this series is the Month of Melvin Maxwell Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s tea...
Jul 22, 2020•50 min
Whenever John Maxwell is asked who his mentors are, his dad, Melvin is at the top of the list. Melvin’s leadership in John’s life set the example and helped shaped John into the man he is today. As some of you may know, Melvin Maxwell passed away on July 4th, 2020 at the age of ninety-eight. So, to honor Melvin, John Maxwell is sharing a 4-part series on the lessons that he learned from his dad throughout his life. Melvin’s legacy lives on through those he’s impacted both directly and indirectly...
Jul 15, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Recently ESPN released a 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls entitled “The Last Dance.” John Maxwell watched this series and gleaned several important leadership lessons that he shares with you here on the podcast. Mark Cole and Chris Goede join in for the application portion of the episode to talk about championing the people around you to accomplish great things together. Chris Goede shares what he’s learned about leadership from his years of playing football in both th...
Jul 08, 2020•1 hr 1 min
In this episode, John Maxwell Zooms with Miles McPherson, pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, California, and author of The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation . They discuss the importance of celebrating what different races have in common, the often-overlooked paradox of being “colorblind” to race, and the value of confronting our own blind spots. Mark Cole is joined by Traci Morrow for the application portion of the episode to discuss John and Miles’s conversation. They each ...
Jul 01, 2020•40 min
Casey Crawford is the co-founder and CEO of Movement Mortgage. When Movement Mortgage launched in the middle of the 2008 financial crisis in the U.S., their goal was to become a financial services company that people could trust. In this episode we share two key clips from a conversation between Casey, John Maxwell, and Mark Cole about what it means to be a values-based organization in the midst of crisis. Mark Cole and Jason Brooks offer their insights on these clips and share how adversity rev...
Jun 24, 2020•44 min
This week on the podcast, we’re discussing two key clips from a recent conversation between John Maxwell, Simon Sinek, and Mark Cole. They discuss the importance of listening and empathy when it comes to leading and connecting with people––especially those unlike us. During the application portion of this episode, Mark Cole and Jason Brooks discuss what we can accomplish by listening to others and stepping out of our own perspective. During times of tension, we often avoid the most pertinent con...
Jun 17, 2020•46 min
The best leaders have the courage to change when it’s easier to remain comfortable. In this episode, John Maxwell shares an insightful lesson on courage and how to keep moving forward in the midst of fear and uncertainty. He reminds us that courage is a choice and requires us to act. Mark Cole and Chris Goede join the discussion and provide application to help us embrace John’s principles in our own leadership. Chris points out that this teaching is not just for the times we’re in now but for al...
Jun 10, 2020•49 min
Hi Podcast Family! Today we have a special message for you from John Maxwell. Last Monday, John shared a timely message about leadership in light of the civil unrest and racial injustice we’re seeing in America right now. We wanted to share this message as a reminder that what you focus on expands. With so much going on around us, figuring out where to focus can be hard. But John encourages us to focus on being a leader who adds value to others and who listens before you blame others. We believe...
Jun 05, 2020•38 min
In this episode, John Maxwell teaches five ways that leaders need to stretch themselves in order to grow. He sets up this lesson by teaching the Law of the Rubber Band, which says, “Growth stops when you lose the tension between where you are and where you can be.” Mark Cole is joined by Traci Morrow for the application portion of the episode to discuss the areas of their lives they’ve had to take out of “automatic” and how their roles as leaders have required them to stretch their perspectives....
Jun 03, 2020•56 min