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My mentor, John C. Maxwell, celebrated his 74^th birthday recently with a look back on lessons learned and blessings received.

One thing he said stands out and bears repeating.

It is this:

“You’ve probably heard me say that, as I get older, I’m certain about fewer things—but the things of which I am certain, I’m more certain of than I’ve ever been in my life.”

This is an amazing life perspective.

He went on to explain these things of which he is certain.

• Personal growth is a must for every leader.

He once invested a month’s salary into a personal growth program. It was a personal sacrifice that has paid exponential dividends in helping him become the person he is today.  Sometimes personal growth takes sacrifice, but it is essential. And he will be the first to tell you – as a leader, even if you are 74, there is still room and a need to grow.

• Transformation is achievable.

John believes in solid principles and that, if enough people live by those principles, they have the power to change the world. Transformation starts at the individual level, spreads to the community level, and has the power to change at exponential levels beyond that. Knowing your core values and acting upon them is truly transformational.

• Reproducing leaders is essential for success.

It is not enough to lead. Leadership is not an end in and of itself. It is a means to growth and reproduction of value. Your greatest value as a leader is not in what YOU can do. It is in what you can do with and for others. We are designed to interact with the world around us. Lives of true significance are measured in impact. Income is great, but what really matters in the end is this: “Did you make a difference in the lives of others?”

John sums it up well:

“No one changes the world alone; one is too small a number to achieve greatness, which means leaders must produce other leaders to help carry the message and the load. Producing leaders isn’t something you leave to chance, either. It’s an intentional investment on the part of a leader to pour themselves into other people.”

Are you intentionally growing, living by principle, and reproducing other leaders?

Click here to learn more about John’s new book, Change Your World, and to take his new Values Assessment, which helps you identify what you value most.

As the CEO of Strength Leader Development, Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after international executive mentor, coach, trainer, and speaker. Deb is well versed in global business operations and helps business leaders and their teams to discover and leverage their strengths, so they can create highly collaborative teams that deliver great results. With a refreshingly direct style, and using the Maxwell Method, Deb helps leaders and teams to deliver profitable results. Connect with Deb to learn more about her mentorship and coaching programs to equip you with advanced strategies to elevate your results.