INSECURITY: THE LEADERSHIP FLAW OF AMERICA’S WORST PRESIDENT
Every few years, historians rank America’s past Presidents from best to worst. While scholars disagree on the place of certain Presidents, they’re united in their opinion that Warren G. Harding was one of the lousiest leaders ever to have occupied the White House. Despite holding office for less than three years, Harding left a legacy…
Read MoreWe reach our potential through growth
Potential is one of the most wonderful words in any language. It looks forward with optimism. It is filled with hope. It promises success. It implies fulfillment. It hints at greatness. Potential is a word based on possibilities. Think about your potential as a human being and you get excited—at least, I hope you do.…
Read MoreThe value of bottom-line thinking
How do you figure out the bottom line for your organization, business, department, team, or group? In many businesses, the bottom line is literally the bottom line. Profit determines whether you are succeeding. But dollars should not always be the primary measure of success. Would you measure the ultimate success of your family by how…
Read MoreDISTINGUISHING BETWEEN PLAYERS AND PRETENDERS
The year was 1972 and fans packed Munich’s Olympic Stadium to witness the completion of the men’s marathon. By the time the race’s competitors reached the stadium, they would already have run 26 miles! Spectators waited in anticipation to see which contestant would arrive first and to cheer him to the finish line. A roar…
Read MoreA LEADER’S GREATEST CHALLENGE
The following clues describe an American golfer known for winning trophies yet susceptible to losing his temper. Can you name him? He was child prodigy, recognized as a top amateur by age 14. He played in his first U.S. Open at age 18. He won his first major tournament at age 21. During an event,…
Read MoreAre you really leading, or are you just taking a walk?
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “It’s lonely at the top” associated with leadership. But is isolated leadership really effective? I don’t think so. In fact, I believe that, “He that thinketh he leadeth, and hath no one following, is only taking a walk.” If you’re all alone as a leader, are you really leading? Losing…
Read MoreDO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
In the documentary film chronicling her journey to superstardom, performer Katy Perry advises her fans: “Believe in yourself and you can be anything.” However, if eleven seasons of American Idol have taught us anything, it’s that self-belief is not sufficient for success. At the beginning of each season of Idol, vocalists audition in front of…
Read MoreTeam Value
Communicate John’s leadership principles to your team with these beautifully designed infographs. Each infograph visually expresses John’s concise principles with imagery that makes them unforgettable.
Read MoreBecoming a leader before you are a "leader"
In 2003, Charlie Wetzel, my long-time collaborator, decided he wanted to tackle a goal he had held for more than a decade. At the time he was a regular runner who averaged twelve to twenty miles a week and ran two or three 10K races every year, so he picked the Chicago marathon and decided…
Read MoreAttitude: the little thing that makes a big difference
Many years ago at a conference, I tried the following experiment. I asked the crowd, “What one thing will determine our success more than any other?” The audience answered with words like job, money, education, and time. Finally someone said attitude. What I consider the most important area of our lives had come as a…
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