Episode Overview: A Leader Sees More and Before (Part 2)

In this episode, John Maxwell and hosts Mark Cole and Chris dig into the final three principles from John’s five-part framework on how transformational leaders “see more and before.” Continuing from Part 1, they explore practical ways to broaden a leader’s vision, sharpen direction, and accelerate progress. The conversation centers around cultivating curiosity, intentional growth, and relational investment—as well as the power of asking great questions and bringing others along for the journey.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Power of Asking Questions

• John Maxwell emphasizes: Transformational leaders don't lead by assumption. Instead, they ask questions—internally and externally—to truly understand their people and broaden their perspective.
• Quote:

  “When you start asking questions, you stop leading by assumption because now you know where they are and you know what they're thinking...”
  — John Maxwell [03:34]

• Critical Question:
  “Who do you know that I should know?” — John Maxwell suggests this unlocks doors to powerful relationships and learning opportunities.
• Leadership Practice: John has maintained "learning lunches" monthly for 40 years, always with people bigger, better, smarter, or more experienced than himself, using questions to extract knowledge and wisdom.

Host Commentary on Curiosity and Internal Application

• Mark Cole’s experience being questioned by John:
  “This is little old me, right? Big old John wanting me to tell him what he’s missing. I’m not going there. This is a trick question.”
  — Mark Cole [15:06]
• Lesson Learned: It's not about having the perfect answer, but engaging authentically and showing the ability to contribute.
• Practical Tip:
  “Those of us that get asked that question, you need to have an answer even if it sounds silly at first, even if it Sounds irrelevant at first.”
  — Mark Cole [18:14]

Notable Insights on Authenticity

• Authentic questioning may start as a checklist task for leaders but must transform into genuine curiosity to unlock team potential.
• Gold is found in the "second, third, and fourth question"—the real breakthroughs come through deeper dialogue, not just surface-level questions.

2. Intentionally Grow Every Day

• John’s Principle: Growth is the only way to expand capacity and be ready for more—hope is not a strategy; growth is.
• Quote:

  “The only guarantee you and I have that tomorrow is gonna get better is that we're growing today.”
  — John Maxwell [06:48]

• Leaders must shift from being goal-oriented to growth-oriented.
• Mark Cole’s Leadership Practice:
  Personal daily growth is a must; using tools like the Maxwell Leadership App and learning from others is critical.
• Quote:
  “Don’t tell me what you’re going to do, show me what you’re going to do.”
  — Mark Cole [25:33]

3. Invest Time with the Right People and in the Right Places

• John's Mentor Advice: Meet great people, go great places, attend great events—this expands vision by exposure.
• Story:
  John shares about his mentor Elmer Townes and the “John Wooden” breakfast that turned into a six-hour session, sparking a 10-year mentoring relationship.
• Takeaway:

  “Every time I’m around a bigger person, when I leave them, I feel bigger myself.”
  — John Maxwell [09:55]

• Watch Out:
  Spending time with “smaller” (more average, less ambitious) people can reduce your vision and capacity.

Host Application: Mark Cole on Discipline & Exposure

• Quote:
  “It started…with a discipline I had 13 years ago…Every year I would find people leading with better, with more zeros than I had to lead, with greater brand recognition, with greater global vision.”
  — Mark Cole [27:25]
• Key Reflection: Leaders must not only expose themselves to new environments but spend time consciously reflecting on those experiences to apply insights back to their own vision.

Memorable Moments and Notable Quotes

• On Hope as a Strategy:

  “Hope is not a strategy. Dear God. Hope if. Hope, Hope, hope. Let's just raise the bar a little bit above hope.”
  — John Maxwell [07:14]

• On Contributing in Leadership:

  “The value of leadership is all in your ability to contribute when a problem or a situation is trying to be solved, not your contribution to be used—your ability to feel confident enough to contribute.”
  — Mark Cole [15:45]

• On Staying In The Room:

  “John says it often. I can get you in the room, but I can't keep you in the room…It was because I was consistent, I was passionate, I was clear. I was certain I should be in the room.”
  — Mark Cole [34:21]

• On Shaping the Future:

  “You can see the future, but then you begin to shape the future. I think there’s a middle step…you see it, then you seize it—it becomes yours. Then you start shaping it.”
  — Mark Cole [35:22]

Structural Outline with Timestamps

• [03:21] John Maxwell's Principle #3: Ask Questions
  • Why leaders must ask and not assume
  • Learning lunches & question-based networking
• [06:48] Principle #4: Intentionally Grow Every Day
  • Hope vs. Growth strategy
  • Growth expands leadership capacity
• [09:55] Principle #5: Invest Time with People & in Places
  • Seeking bigger people/environments
  • Story of John Wooden
• [12:14] Host Analysis: Applying the Principles Internally
  • Translating external curiosity to organizational growth (Mark & Chris)
  • Mark’s internal leadership journey around questioning, growth, and exposure
• [23:46] The Discipline of Daily Growth
  • Mark’s daily approach and leveraging tools like the Maxwell Leadership App
• [26:42] Investing Time "Properly"
  • Seeking out bigger thinkers and applying learning for organizational growth
• [31:00] Reflection and Sharing
  • Importance of quiet reflection after exposure
  • Bringing lessons back to the team
• [34:20] "Staying in the Room": Longevity in Leadership
  • Clarity, certainty, and consistency as keys
• [36:14] Listener Q&A: Accountability in Today’s Generation
  • Chris shares on transparent, peer-based accountability versus hierarchical approaches

Key Takeaways for Leaders

• Practice authentic curiosity—ask probing questions internally and externally, and encourage team contribution.
• Growth must be a daily, intentional discipline; leaders can only give what they have cultivated themselves.
• The company you keep will shape your vision—regularly seek out those leading at a higher level.
• Don't just expose yourself to greatness; take time to reflect and apply those lessons.
• Bringing new leaders along for the journey (as John did with Mark) is critical to legacy and multiplication.
• Buy-in increases when team members are seen, heard, and valued through genuine leadership inquiry.

Episode’s Most Impactful Quote

“The only guarantee you and I have that tomorrow is gonna get better is that we're growing today.”
— John Maxwell [06:48]

For more tools and resources, including a free leadership toolkit and the daily app, visit maxwellpodcast.com.