“What makes the difference? Why do some people achieve so much? Is it…
- Family background? Having a good family growing up is something to be grateful for, but it’s not a reliable indicator of achievement. High percentages of successful people come from broken homes.
- Wealth? No, some of the greatest achievers come from households of average to below-average means. Wealth is no indicator of high achievement, and poverty is no guarantee of low achievement.
- Opportunity? You know, opportunity is a peculiar thing. Two people with similar gifts, talents, and resources can look at a situation, and one person will see tremendous opportunity while the other sees nothing. Opportunity is in the eye of the beholder.
- High morals? I wish that were the key, but it’s not. I’ve known people with high integrity who have achieved little. And I’ve known scoundrels who are high producers. Haven’t you?
- The absence of hardship? For every achiever who has avoided tragedy, there’s a Helen Keller who overcame extreme disabilities or a Viktor Frankl who survived absolute horrors. So that’s not it either.
No, none of these things are the key. When it comes right down to it, I know of only one factor that separates those who consistently shine from those who don’t: The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception and response to failure. Nothing else has the same kind of impact on people’s ability to achieve and to accomplish whatever their minds and hearts desire.”
~ John Maxwell from Failing Forward
I’m a big fan of John Maxwell.
I just asked ChatGPT for a brief bio. Here’s what I got...
John Maxwell is a renowned leadership expert, author, and speaker who has written over 100 books, many of which focus on leadership, personal development, and growth. With decades of experience, Maxwell has influenced millions through his teachings on effective leadership principles, including his famous “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.” He is also the founder of the John Maxwell Company, which provides leadership training and development to organizations worldwide. Maxwell is highly regarded for his ability to make complex leadership concepts accessible and actionable.
Well, that’s pretty solid, eh? :0
Thanks, ChatGPT.
Side note: I’ve asked ChatGPT about 1,000 questions over the last few weeks since I started using it—on everything from nutrition to training.
This is our fifth Note on one of Maxwell’s 100 (!) books. The others we’ve featured include: How Successful People Think, Leadershift, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, and his classic, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.
I read this one as part of my recent peak performance/mental toughness binge as part of the work we’re doing with more Heroic athletes, teams, and coaches.
As Maxwell says: If we want to forge excellence and activate our Heroic potential so we can fulfill our destinies, we MUST get REALLY good at using failure as fuel for our growth.
The book is packed with Big Ideas on how to do that. I’m excited to share some of my favorites. So, let’s jump straight in!
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