Transcript
A (0:08)
Welcome to the Maxwell Leadership Podcast. We're so glad you're here today because today, guess what? You're in for a change. How many of you like right now, you just, there's something you've been meaning to change, something you're wanting to change, something that you know has to change. Fred Smith says if you really wanted to be any different, you would be in the process of changing right now. Isn't that so true, Traci?
B (0:35)
It is true. And I think it really comes down to that deep question we all have to ask ourselves, is do I really want to change this or am I just circling around talking about wanting to change it?
A (0:47)
It's true. It's so true. Traci Morrow will be back with me right after we hear from John. John today is launching a two episode series for us to talk through six steps to successful personal change. Today we'll dig into three of those and then Traci and I'll come back and then once John is done, we'll have a great time and be back next episode. You guys, you have really impacted us with your feedback and so we just continue to look for more and more ways to bring you more and more of John and that's going to happen today. So here's what I need you to do. Grab a pen, grab some paper, grab your technology. John's going to give you some things that will change your mindset so you can change your outcomes. If you want to download the bonus resource or if you would like to watch us on YouTube, you can go to maxwellpodcast.com successfulchange all right, here we go. Get ready for a change. Here is John Maxwell.
C (1:55)
Mahatma Gandhi said we must be the change that we envision. So what I'd like to do in the beginning of this lesson, because it's on personal changes that you make in your life, is I would like to make some personal comments about personal change. And the first comment I would like to make is this. One person cannot change another person. Now I'm going to talk to you about an early leadership error that I made a lot because when I started as a young leader, I thought that a leader could change the people. And boy, did I work at it. I mean, I just worked real hard. Alright? I'm going to give them thoughts and ideas and principles and I'm going to change people. And after several years, sadly, it took me a long time. You have to understand, I was a slow learner. Okay? So after several years, one day I awakened to the thought that the only Person that can change themselves is themselves. You can change yourself, but I can't change you. You see, I'm responsible to you, but I'm not responsible for you. And there's a world of difference between those two. I'm responsible to teach you good leadership. I'm responsible to share things that can help add value to your life. But you're the only one that can take responsibility to change yourself. And that's what this whole lesson is about. This whole lesson is basically saying that if you don't like some of the stuff that's in your life, or if you don't like some of the things that you're doing within your life, the only person that can change that is you. Now, you can bring people around that'll add value to you. You can get people around that will encourage you, be great friends, support you, walk through with you, coach you do all that good stuff, but the only person that can change you is you. And it took me years as a leader to figure that out. Because a lot of times I think, oh, man, I gotta work harder, I gotta be better. I gotta do this more so I can get those people changed. And one day it hit, no, no, no, John. You can create the right environment. You can certainly do the right kind of teaching, but you're responsible to change yourself. One person cannot change another person. The second comment I would make about personal change is this. Most people need to look at the way that they look at change. Now, I just want to say under that kind of a quote, the only way things will change for me is. Is when I change. Has nothing to do with hope. Has nothing to do with. Well, I just hope things will change around me. No, no. The only way that things will change for me is when I change. Or I've heard this before. I don't know why I'm this way. Okay, well, you are the way you are because that's the way. Hang on, you want to be. Let's expose it for what it really is. Fred Smith was exactly right when he said, if you really wanted to be any different, you would be in the process of changing right now. So when I run into people and say, well, I really want to be different, I want to make some changes in my life, I say, your behavior tells me that you're not making the changes you need to make. In other words, your behavior will tell me, I don't want to know what your intention is. I don't want to even hear what your words are. If we're going to change, we need to look at change differently. The third personal comment that I would make is that when you make the right personal changes, I believe this with all my heart. Other things began to turn out right. Some people say I like things to turn out better for me, I like things to turn out right. I like things to turn out better in the organization or in my family, whatever it is. Then what I say to them is start with making personal changes. When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs. I'm going to work you through a six step process of how to change. And it begins with thinking. It begins with the mind. You see, beliefs are nothing more than a byproduct of what you have thought long enough about that you have bought into. Always remember that. So what you believe is something that has been previously continual. Thoughts that formed themselves to one day became a belief or it became a conviction. Everything begins with a thought. That's where it all starts. The thought is the originator of anything that happens to us. What we think determines who we are and who we are determines what we do. The process is very simple. Thinking, becoming, doing. That's always the process. Thinking, becoming, doing. Our thoughts determine our destiny and our destiny determines our legacy. And so all change. All I'm saying here is all change begins with thinking. If you change your thinking, you'll change your beliefs. If you don't change your thinking, you won't change your beliefs. So I want to believe something different. It starts there. Now, very simple. When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs. Step number two, when you change your beliefs. Now you're going to see how we're building this throughout this entire lesson. When you change your beliefs, you change your expectations. Beliefs form expectations. Belief is the knowledge that we can do something. It's the inner feeling that what we undertake, we can accomplish. For the most part, all of us have the ability to look at something and know whether or not we can do it. So in belief, there is power. Our eyes are opened. Our opportunities become plain. Our visions become realities. Our beliefs control everything we do. If we believe we can or we believe we can't, we're correct. Accomplishment is more than a matter of working harder. It's a matter of believing positively. It's called the sure enough factor. If you expect to fail, sure enough you will. We become outside what we believe inside. We're finding that if you change your thinking, you change your beliefs. And we're finding if you change your beliefs, you change your expectations. So let me talk to you about beliefs that help me change. This is Just something that works for me. I think it'll work for you too. The first thing I want you to realize is change is personal. In other words, I come to the place where I say I need to change. The second belief that helps me change is that it is possible. Not only do I take responsibility for the fact that I'm the one that needs to make the change, I have to then believe it's possible that I can change. And if I can put those two together and come to the third conclusion, I've now developed a strong belief factor for change. And the third factor is this, that change is profitable. That if I change in the right areas, it will become very profitable for me and I will be rewarded for that change. Now, change is personal, it's possible, and it's profitable. That's the belief foundation that you have to have to make the appropriate changes in your life or my life. Here's the way it works. Change your thinking, you change your beliefs, you change your beliefs, you change your expectations. Number three, when you change your expectations, you change your attitude. Because your expectations determine how you see things. I tell the story of my friend Joe Sawyer, who told me this cute story about a boy who was fishing one day. And the elderly man who was fishing nearby noticed that the young lad was having considerable success in his endeavor. And what was more unusual than the amount of fish that he would catch was what he would do with the fish once he successfully landed them on the bank. The boy would hold up each fish in his hand and, and measure it. If the fish was larger than his hand, he would throw it back in the water. He only kept the small ones. And finally, with curiosity, the old man slipped over to the young boy and he asked, son, why is it that you keep the small fish and throw the large ones back into the water? And the young boy replied, well, you see, sir, I can't keep the big ones. I only have a 10 inch frying pan. I know all kinds of people in life who have a 10 inch frying pan. They're constantly having to throw back the big ones and keep the small ones because it's the only thing that fits into the way that they think. Nelson Boswell said, the first and most important step towards success is the expectation that we can succeed. And positive expectations produce the following six always have, always will. Number one is excitement. You show me somebody that has positive expectations and you'll see a sense of excitement. Number two, conviction. A belief that something should be done. Number three, desire. Number four, confidence. Number five, commitment. Number Six Energy. If I were to ask you today, how would you like to possess these six things? How would you like to possess excitement, conviction, desire, confidence, commitment, energy. Every one of you raise your hands and it's very simple to possess those six things. It's very simple. You know how you possess them. Raise your expectations. Because your expectations change your attitude.