John C. Maxwell

Good leaders must communicate vision clearly, creatively, and continually. However, the vision doesn't come alive until the leader models it.

There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. 'Good pride' represents our dignity and self-respect. 'Bad pride' is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.

Learn to say 'no' to the good so you can say 'yes' to the best.

The first time you say something, it's heard. The second time, it's recognized, and the third time it's learned.

People who use time wisely spend it on activities that advance their overall purpose in life.

Time management is an oxymoron. Time is beyond our control, and the clock keeps ticking regardless of how we lead our lives. Priority management is the answer to maximizing the time we have.

The unsuccessful person is burdened by learning, and prefers to walk down familiar paths. Their distaste for learning stunts their growth and limits their influence.

Family and friendships are two of the greatest facilitators of happiness.

A word of encouragement from a teacher to a child can change a life. A word of encouragement from a spouse can save a marriage. A word of encouragement from a leader can inspire a person to reach her potential.

If you are a leader, you should never forget that everyone needs encouragement. And everyone who receives it - young or old, successful or less-than-successful, unknown or famous - is changed by it.

Teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team.

Life is now in session. Are you present?

For more than a decade, I led an organization that put on an elaborate Christmas program each December. It was a big production, with over 250 people participating in more than 20 performances. By the end of the season, everyone who participated was exhausted.

Ranking among the greatest Christmas movie classics, 'It's a Wonderful Life' tells a beautiful story about the priceless value of relationships.

In the end, people are persuaded not by what we say, but by what they understand.

The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure.

Inability to make decisions is one of the principal reasons executives fail. Deficiency in decision-making ranks much higher than lack of specific knowledge or technical know-how as an indicator of leadership failure.

Success is due to our stretching to the challenges of life. Failure comes when we shrink from them.