It's said that a wise person learns from his mistakes. A wiser one learns from others' mistakes. But the wisest person of all learns from others's successes.
John C. MaxwellRead
Achievement comes to someone when he is able to do great things for himself. Success comes when he empowers followers to do great things with him. Significance comes when he develops leaders to do great things for him. But a legacy is created only when a person puts his organization into the position to do great things without him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True leadership is measured not just by personal achievement, but by empowering others and creating a lasting impact through them.
In this quote, John C. Maxwell highlights the progression of personal achievement to legacy in leadership. He emphasizes that while individual success is important, the true measure of a leader is their ability to empower others, develop future leaders, and ultimately establish an organization that thrives independently of them, creating a lasting legacy.
Themes
LeadershipLegacySuccessEmpowermentGreatness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about teamwork, this quote can illustrate the importance of empowering others.
More from John C. Maxwell
All quotes →Courage and initiative come when you understand your purpose in life.
John C. MaxwellRead
Integrity is important in building relationships. And is the foundation upon which many other qualities for success are built, such as respect, dignity, and trust.
John C. MaxwellRead
Attitude is the first quality that marks the successful man. If he has a positive attitude and is a positive thinker, who likes challenges and difficult situations, then he has half his success achieved.
John C. MaxwellRead
Big-picture thinkers broaden their outlook by striving to learn from every experience. They don't rest on their successes, they learn from them.
John C. MaxwellRead
In most cases, those who want power probably shouldn't have it, those who enjoy it probably do so for the wrong reasons, and those who want most to hold on to it don't understand that it's only temporary.
John C. MaxwellRead
Similar quotes
I’d like them to say that Shirley Chisholm had guts. That’s how I’d like to be remembered.
Shirley ChisholmRead
Business leaders who openly acknowledge people's concerns about becoming obsolete and who invest resources in workers' growth can help create a nation of learners - and perhaps resolve some of the political chaos that's bubbling around us.
Carol S. DweckRead
The key to the Toyota Way and what makes Toyota stand out is not any of the individual elements…But what is important is having all the elements together as a system. It must be practiced every day in a very consistent manner, not in spurts.
Taiichi OhnoRead
To lead people, walk behind them.
LaoziRead
As a manager the important thing is not what happens when you are there, but what happens when you are not there
Ken BlanchardRead
We must truly serve those whom we appear to command; we must bear with their imperfections, correct them with gentleness and patience, and lead them in the way to heaven.
Francois FenelonRead