Archive for books
Coming next month: A Day About Books
Posted by: | CommentsJust this week I finished the preliminary work on the creation of my next book. Not the one for 2012 – that one’s been finished since last fall. No, this is my 2013 book, which we need to turn in THIS fall. That’s the way publishing works: everything takes a long time to go from written to published.
I’ve learned a lot about the publishing world in the 20+ years that I’ve been writing books. Some of it is obvious, but other things are not common knowledge. And over the years, I’ve often been asked to share what I know and how I personally have been able to create at least one book – and often more! – each year.
Maybe you want to write a book. Or maybe you’re just interested in knowing about the process. Either way, I think you might enjoy a new seminar my John Maxwell Team has created:
“A Day About Books”
June 23, 2012, 9:30am-5:00pm
in West Palm Beach, Florida
(special VIP events optional)
In it you’ll learn how I get ideas, and how I work with my research, writing, and publishing team to take those ideas from concept to publication.
Plus, I’m excited to announce a special guest speaker:
Michael Hyatt, Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest Christian publishing company in the world and the seventh largest trade book publishing company in the United States.
In addition to knowing a lot about the publishing world, Mike has become an expert on establishing a platform as a writer and/or speaker. You’ll come away from his session with many practical ideas on how to pursue making your book idea a reality.
I hope you can join me for this special event. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and experiences as a successful author with you.
For more information and to register, visit HERE.
A Wonderful Christmas Gift
Posted by: | CommentsLast week I got a big surprise at the Christmas lunch given for the John Maxwell Company.
John Hull, the CEO of EQUIP, and Mark Cole, the CEO of the John Maxwell Company, asked me to tell the story of what got me started on a lifetime of personal growth. It’s a story I’ve told many times before, so I gladly complied.
It began in February of 1974 when I met a man named Curt Kampmeier for lunch and he asked me an important question. I had just told him about all of my dreams and goals—all of which would be a real stretch for me—and he asked, “Do you have a plan for personal growth?”
After hemming and hawing for a few minutes, I had to admit that I didn’t have a plan. Curt’s response? “John, personal growth doesn’t just happen.” He went on to explain the value of a personal growth plan, and he offered to sell me a kit that would cost the equivalent of a month’s salary.
Though it took Margaret and me six months of scrimping and saving, we came up with the money. We skipped lunches and did without some things, but I bought that kit. My lunch with Curt is what connected the dots for me between personal growth and success. It changed my life.
At the lunch, I told the story as they requested, and then I started to go on about how I was disappointed that I had never seen Curt again, even though I’d told the story so many times over the past 37 years.
I cannot tell you how shocked I was by happened next. They invited Curt Kampmeier to step into the room!
Somehow members of my team had found Curt and invited him to join us for lunch. He had traveled down from Ohio to be with us!
Few things take me by surprise and I’m rarely speechless, but this was one of those times when words didn’t suffice to express what I was feeling. This man’s question long ago changed my life! And now I would finally get the chance to thank him for it.
Seeing Curt was one of the best Christmas gifts I’ve ever received. Why? Because personal growth changed my life. Since my meeting with Curt back in 1974, I’ve planned it into my daily life, reading books, listening to great teachers, and developing measurable goals and plans to make it happen. I believe the consistent discipline of growth has made it possible for me to add value to people and achieve many of my goals.
I believe it can do the same for you.
And I’d like to help you in the same way that Curt helped me. So in January and February, I’m going to offer a growth opportunity with a group study of my latest book, The 5 Levels of Leadership.
Each week, participants will be invited to read a section of the book, read my current thoughts on those concepts, enter into the discussion by answering questions I provide, and take action to grow.
You can join and participate at any time. If you want to experience the whole study, pay attention to upcoming posts for details on when and how we’ll launch. Also, you’ll get the most out of this if you learn with others – ideally, your friends or colleagues, your team, or a group of like-minded leaders – so now is a good time to start thinking about gathering a group. The comment section here will also be a good place for discussion. I’m hopeful that it will generate lots of interaction. So even if you have to study alone, the blog can serve as your group.
I’m looking forward to growing in 2012. I hope you are too.
What I’m Reading, Winter 2011
Posted by: | CommentsAs winter arrives here in the US, I find that it’s the perfect time of year to stay indoors and read a good book. And since I’m always reading books to continue to grow personally, this seemed like the perfect time of year to share with you WHAT I’m reading. The following are books I’ve read recently and recommend:
The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham, by Harold Myra
The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World, by Harvey Mackay
How to Run Your Business by The Book:
A Biblical Blueprint to Bless Your Business,
By Dave Anderson
The Leadership Ellipse: Shaping How We Lead by Who We Are
By Robert Fryling & Eugene H. Peterson
Answering some questions on the 5 Levels
Posted by: | CommentsWhat level are you on as a leader at work? At home? With a new employee? I hope you’ve had the chance to assess yourself on the 5 Levels of Leadership, either through the book or the free iPhone app. (Search 5 Levels and John Maxwell to find it in the App Store.)
And if you’ve purchased The 5 Levels of Leadership, I want to thank you. I hope it’s adding value to you and empowering you to go to your next level of growth. If you’re still considering whether the book is for you, take a look at the following video. I recorded it a few weeks ago to answer some of the questions I’m most often asked about the 5 Levels. Hopefully it will answer YOUR questions and help you decide if this book will help you grow.
Thank you for joining me on this journey through The 5 Levels of Leadership. I’ve enjoyed sharing a sneak peek at my book and reading your insights into what makes an effective leader. Now we’ve got just one more week before the book comes out. I hope you’ll purchase and read it – not just for my sake, but because I know that the concepts within it can teach you how to grow as a leader.
Here’s a sneak peek at Level 5: The Pinnacle. I hope it inspires you to become the kind of leader who can eventually rise to that level:
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Rare is the leader who reaches Level 5—the Pinnacle. Not only is leadership at this level a culmination of leading well on the other four levels, but it also requires both a high degree of skill and some amount of natural leadership ability. It takes a lot to be able to develop other leaders so that they reach Level 4; that’s what Level 5 leaders do. The individuals who reach Level 5 lead so well for so long that they create a legacy of leadership in the organization they serve.
The individuals who reach Level 5 lead so well for so long that they create a legacy of leadership in the organization they serve.
Pinnacle leaders stand out from everyone else. They are a cut above, and they seem to bring success with them wherever they go. Leadership at this high level lifts the entire organization and creates an environment that benefits everyone in it, contributing to their success. Level 5 leaders often possess an influence that transcends the organization and the industry the leader works in.
Most leaders who reach the Pinnacle do so later in their careers. But the Pinnacle level is not a resting place for leaders to stop and view their success. It is a reproducing place from which they make the greatest impact of their lives. That’s why leaders who reach the Pinnacle should make the most of it while they can. With gratitude and humility, they should lift up as many leaders as they can, tackle as many great challenges as possible, and extend their influence to make a positive difference beyond their own organization and industry.
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P.S. October 4 is the actual date of publication for The 5 Levels of Leadership. I’d appreciate it very much if you would help get the word out. On Twitter, you can use the hashtag #5Levels. And here’s the link that you can share anywhere:
http://tinyurl.com/5levelslead
Thank you!
