QuoteProject
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.
John C. Maxwell
ShareWTF𝕏

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

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
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

Politicians have to be committed to people in equal measures.
Angela MerkelRead
I applaud Women in Film - not only for celebrating the successes of women, but for providing a safety network to mentor women and to discuss the particular issues that arise in a very male-dominated industry.
Cate BlanchettRead
A leader who doesn't hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader.
Golda MeirRead
If there are only three guys at the top of the organization handling things, it's the definition of a bankrupt company. In creating leaders without titles, we are going to have organizations with people at the helm putting forth their best.
Robin S. SharmaRead
Except for the title 'father,' there is no title, including 'vice president,' that I am more proud to wear than that of United States senator.
Joe BidenRead
You don't have to wait till your party's in power to have an impact on life at home and around the world.
William J. ClintonRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.