Maxwell Leadership Podcast
Episode: How to Surround Yourself with Great People (Part 1)
Host: John Maxwell (with co-hosts Mark Cole and Traci Morrow)
Date: February 11, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the foundational principles of intentionally surrounding yourself with great people as a transformational leader. John Maxwell, along with co-hosts Mark Cole and Traci Morrow, discusses actionable strategies and mindsets for elevating the quality of relationships in your life—highlighting why and how influential communities shape our leadership journey. The episode focuses on practical steps, real-life examples, and personal reflection to help listeners “up their people game” in 2026.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Power of Desire in Attracting Great People
- Desire precedes greatness: John asserts that surrounding yourself with great people starts with an authentic yearning to become great yourself.
- Quote: “The better you are at surrounding yourself with people of high potential, the greater your chance for success.” — John Maxwell [03:40]
- John recalls his early days as a pastor wanting to make a difference, guided by a hunger to learn from the best.
2. Take Initiative: Seek Out Great People
- Great people don’t just come to you—you must go to them.
- Mark Cole: “Go to where great people are. Birds of a feather flock together. Great people flock together.” [06:00]
- John shares his story of cold-calling pastors from America’s largest churches to learn from them—even offering $100 for 30 minutes of their time (a significant sum relative to his salary at the time).
3. Create a Growth Environment
- John lists 10 elements of a growth environment (five of which are tied directly to the presence of great people):
- Others are ahead of you
- You’re continually challenged
- Your focus is forward
- The atmosphere is affirming
- You’re often out of your comfort zone
- You wake up excited
- Failure is not your enemy
- Others are growing
- People desire change
- Growth is modeled and expected
- Key Insight: Five of these—1, 4, 8, 9, 10—depend on the quality of the people around you. [10:38]
4. Do What Great People Do
- Proximity isn’t enough; you must mimic the habits and disciplines of the great people you meet.
- John: “We want to somehow have success without paying a price… If you don’t do the did, you don’t get the do.” [12:41]
- Consistency in adopting these habits is essential to breaking through the “success plateau.”
5. Challenging Yourself in New Environments
- Stepping into rooms where you’re not the most accomplished person is crucial for growth.
- Traci Morrow shares her anxiety attending her first “Exchange” event, highlighting the power of discomfort in fostering growth and new relationships. [24:28]
6. Bringing Value to Relationships
- Preparation is key: Mark advises listeners to enter new circles aiming to bring value, not just to take.
- Quote: “Every time you have the opportunity to get connected with people of greatness, be prepared. Always bring value. Always take something away to apply.” — Mark Cole [17:50]
- When building new relationships, focus on what you contribute and how you can learn.
7. The Compounding Effect of Consistency
- Mark attributes his and John’s access to world leaders to decades of consistently adding value to others.
- Quote: “Consistency compounds… 50 years of continually adding value through servant-based leadership that John Maxwell has done… I get to reap the benefit of someone else’s consistency.” — Mark Cole [21:38]
- The credibility and impact of your network build slowly, through years of service and intentionality.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- John Maxwell [04:25]: “That evening I was very aware, I was very grateful because I was very aware that the people sitting around that table had made me better than I actually am.”
- John Maxwell [08:15]: “The starting point of all achievement is desire.” — (quoting Napoleon Hill)
- John Maxwell [11:38]: “Surrounding yourself with great people… you got to go to where the great people are. They’re not going to come to you in the beginning.”
- Mark Cole [17:50]: “Every time you have the opportunity to get connected with people of greatness, be prepared. Always bring value. Always take something away to apply.”
- Traci Morrow [24:28]: “If you’re the biggest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”
- John Maxwell [12:41]: “If you don’t do the did, you’re in deep doo doo.”
Key Timestamps
- 03:40 — John’s statement on desire and success.
- 04:25–06:35 — John’s story of gratitude at a dinner with influential people; the importance of environment.
- 08:15–11:38 — John’s early experiences, desire for greatness, and outreach to top pastors.
- 10:38 — The ten elements of a growth environment.
- 12:41 — On the realities of success and “doing the did.”
- 15:56–17:50 — Standout statement: “If you want to surround yourself with great people, it begins with desire.” Discussion and practical application.
- 21:38 — Consistency compounds: The long-term investment in value-driven leadership.
- 24:28 — Traci’s personal experience in stepping out of comfort zones; being “the smallest person in the room.”
- 26:18–30:38 — Mark’s reflections on moving from directive to directional leadership, and his method of placing himself in developmental environments with mentors.
Actionable Takeaways
- Reflect on your desire. What do you really want to achieve, and are you acting on your vision, even if it’s incomplete?
- Intentionally seek environments where growth is modeled. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you.
- Embrace discomfort. If you’re always the “biggest” presence in your room, it’s time to find bigger rooms and new circles.
- Always be prepared to add value in every relationship or connection.
- Be consistent in your growth and in serving others—over time, this will create access and influence far beyond what’s possible in the short term.
Closing Thoughts
This episode is both a mindset shift and a practical guide geared towards leaders who want to elevate themselves by elevating the company they keep. The discussions are rich with real-world examples, transparent personal stories, and direct instructions aimed at helping you take the next step in your leadership journey by intentionally surrounding yourself with people who will stretch, sharpen, and inspire you.
Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where John Maxwell will share more advanced strategies on this topic.