personal growth
Traveling to Infinity and Beyond Means Leaving Self-Centeredness Behind
Forty-five years ago, on July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin accomplished a feat considered impossible for much of human history. Escaping the gravitational pull of the earth, and soaring beyond its atmosphere, they were the first persons to set foot on the moon. Their successful mission was the crowning achievement of NASA’s…
Read MoreIs Your Environment Holding you Back?
When I was much younger, I found myself in a job situation where the environment wasn’t conducive to growth. This frustrated and discouraged me. I had always been focused on growth and improvement. From basketball as a kid to speaking professionally, I was always looking for ways to get better at what I was doing.…
Read MoreAre These Four Things Keeping You from Reaching Your Potential?
Wilma Rudolph, the Olympic track and field champion of the 1960s, said, “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” Like Wilma, I believe that we all have potential. God has designed each…
Read MoreQuotes for Lifelong Learners
On Wednesday, I wrote about learning for a lifetime. Here are some of my favorite quotes on learning and growth, to inspire you as you continue on the learning journey. “You can tell you’re on the road to success; it’s uphill all the way.” -Paul Harvey “It is the capacity to develop and improve their…
Read MoreThe Law of Environment: Growth Thrives in Conducive Surroundings
The season of spring got its name from nature’s sudden display of growth. The word “spring” literally means to leap, burst forth, or fly up. When conditions are right—warmer temperatures, longer days, and more sunlight—grasses and flowers seem to spring up from the ground overnight. However, in the wrong environment, where there’s inadequate rainfall or…
Read MoreStress: The Pathway to Growth, Renewal, and Success
To live stress-free would be to deny our responsibility as leaders. Stress accompanies growth. We have to accept that all worthwhile change, every amazing transformation and renewal, brings about temporary stress. For example, think about an expectant mother. Her pregnancy begins with morning sickness, and queasiness lingers throughout the first trimester. Her nose becomes keenly…
Read MoreMy Growth Journey So Far This Year
I love growth. I love growing both personally and professionally. I love seeing growth in people. I love seeing growth in organizations. In fact, growth is one of my values as well as one of The John Maxwell Company values. Did I mention that I LOVE growth?? My growth goal is 1 percent daily improvement.…
Read MoreWithout a Plan, You’re Growing Nowhere
Personal growth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not an automatic process. If you want to guarantee growth, then you need a plan—something strategic, specific, and scheduled. Motivational speaker Earl Nightingale said, “If a person will spend one hour a day on the same subject for five years, that person will be an expert on that…
Read MoreSeeing Opportunities and Making Them Stick
A man and his dog returned home from a walk through the woods covered in cockleburs. The tiny burs had clung to the man’s pants and the dog’s fur, and it took a long while to disentangle them all. The man, Swiss engineer George de Mestral, was impressed by how easily the burs had latched…
Read MoreThe Problem of Pride
When you think of the word pride, does it strike you as positive or negative? There are certainly many positive types of pride. It’s good to “take pride in our work.” We like it when someone tells us, “I’m proud of you.” And nearly everyone wants to live in a neighborhood where people display “pride…
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