Maxwell Leadership Podcast

Are you leading with joy, or just surviving? In this week's episode, John Maxwell reveals eight essential ways to maximize your joy, showing how intentional living shapes your leadership journey.
After John's lesson, Mark Cole and Traci Morrow unpack the practical steps you can take to apply these principles in your own leadership. 

Key takeaways: 

Joy is found in the journey, not the destination—and it starts with living intentionally and defining your purpose. 


Growth, daily self-improvement, and a focus on adding value to others are core ingredients for a fulfilling leadership life. 


Surrounding yourself with a balanced team and staying in your strength zone amplifies both your personal impact and your collective results.


Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Maximize Your Joy (Part 1) Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Joy and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource."

This episode is sponsored by BELAY:

Leaders, stop trying to do it all yourself. The best leaders know their limits, operate out of their strengths, and set others up for success. Find freedom with BELAY — pairing you with vetted U.S. virtual assistants so you can focus on what matters. 

To help you get started, BELAY is offering Maxwell Leadership listeners a free download of their resource, The Leadership Toolkit. Just text MAXWELL to 55123 for FREE access.

References: 

Watch this episode on YouTube!

Get the 15 Laws of Growth online course for 80% off

Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community

Accelerate your growth with the Maxwell Leadership App (start your 7-day free trial today with code PODCAST7!)

How to Surround Yourself with Great People (Parts 1 & 2) Podcast Episodes

Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

How much do you really care for the people you lead—and what does your preparation say about it? In this week's episode, John Maxwell reveals why genuine care can only be expressed through the discipline of preparation, and how your commitment to leading others starts long before you ever enter the room.

After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Robinson dive into real-world strategies and personal stories to ensure you can put John's principles into practice right away.

Key takeaways: 

If you only "wing it," you may get by—but you'll never break into the top tier of impactful leadership; true excellence demands intentional effort and preparation.

Every leader carries both a "best message" (what you share in the moment) and a "big message" (the essence of who you are), and intentional preparation helps you clarify and amplify both. 


Setting your internal standard higher than external applause empowers you to lead with integrity, grow continuously, and serve those you influence at the highest level.


Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Preparing Is Caring Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Prepare and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." 

Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today!

References: 

Watch this episode on YouTube!

Get the Every Day with Purpose online course for 75% off

Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community

Accelerate your growth with the Maxwell Leadership App (start your 7-day free trial today with code PODCAST7!)

Episode 400: How to Use Failure for Success Podcast Episode

Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

Discover one of the great leadership paradoxes: the surprising growth that comes from serving others. In this week's episode, John Maxwell teaches how putting others first unlocks unexpected personal development and deeper self-understanding. 

After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Robinson dive into real-world ways to apply these transformative insights, offering strategies to help you lead with greater impact starting today.

Key takeaways: 

When leaders intentionally serve others, they gain profound insights about their own motives, abilities, and growth areas. 


True leadership begins when you shift from seeking followers for your vision to helping others achieve their own potential. 


Valuing and serving your team transforms relationships, elevates teamwork, and empowers everyone to reach greater heights together.


Our BONUS resource for this episode is the How Serving Others Unlocks Self-Discovery Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Others and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource."


Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today!

References: 

Watch this episode on YouTube! 

Get the Change Your World online course for 66% off 

What Serving Others Has Taught Me Podcast Episode 

It's Not About You: Leadership, Communication, and Putting Others First Podcast Episode 

Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

John Maxwell shares that there's one most important quality of leadership. Do you have it? In this week's episode, John Maxwell reveals why humility isn't just a virtue—it's the essential ingredient for lasting influence and meaningful leadership.

After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Goede dive into real-life examples and honest reflections, sharing how you can apply John's wisdom to multiply your impact and create sustaining influence as a leader.

Key takeaways: 

True humility empowers you to learn, grow, and serve others, turning challenges into opportunities for lasting impact.


Leaders who balance confidence with humility create environments where influence compounds and teams thrive over time.


Your willingness to be teachable and embrace gratitude—especially in adversity—is the key to both resilience and enduring success.


Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Cultivating Humility for Lasting Influence Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Cultivate and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource."
Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today!

References: 

Watch this episode on YouTube!

Get the 21 Laws of Leadership online course for 20% off

Accelerate your growth with the Maxwell Leadership App (start your 7-day free trial today with code PODCAST7!)

Acknowledge Your Humanness Podcast Episode

How to Be a Leader People Love to Follow Podcast Episode

Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

Are you striving for success, yet finding yourself wondering if your achievements really matter? The answer to a fulfilled life may lie in asking deeper questions, not just chasing accomplishments. In this bonus episode of the Maxwell Leadership Podcast, Mark Cole and Jared Cagle are joined by author and professor Arthur C. Brooks to discuss the pillars of a meaningful life (especially in an age of emptiness).

Key takeaways: 

Meaning in life isn't just about setting goals; it's about asking "why" and finding deeper significance in what you do. 


Serving others shifts the focus away from chasing success for its own sake and unlocks fulfillment through impact and connection. 


Every leader's journey is marked by both triumphs and setbacks—true growth comes from learning to find purpose in both.


References: 

Watch this episode on YouTube! 

Pre-order The Meaning of Your Life today and get VIP access to Arthur Brooks' launch event on March 27 

Learn more about Dr. Brooks' work