Maxwell Leadership Podcast
How to Surround Yourself with Great People (Part 2)
February 18, 2026
Host: John Maxwell
Guests/Co-hosts: Traci Morrow, Mark Cole

Episode Overview

In Part 2 of "How to Surround Yourself with Great People," John Maxwell continues sharing actionable strategies for leaders who want to elevate their influence by cultivating exceptional connections. Picking up where Part 1 left off, John shares the final three of six keys for attracting, connecting with, and retaining great people. The episode also features rich stories, reflective questions, and practical company examples from Maxwell Leadership, highlighting how these principles work in both business and personal growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Recap of Part 1 and Setup for Part 2

• Mark Cole summarizes the previous episode's points:
  • Desire to be great must come from within.
  • "Go where great people are" to be in their orbit.
  • "Do what great people do" by modeling behaviors you admire.
• Mark quotes Andrew Carnegie:

  "I owe whatever success I have attained to my ability to surround myself with people who are smarter than I am." (03:08, B)

• Today's focus: the final three keys to surrounding yourself with great people.

4. Be Unforgettable (John Maxwell, 04:13)

• John shares Jack Welch's advice to "get out of the people pile"—stand out in a crowd.
• Practical tip:

  "Do for others what they cannot do for themselves." (04:34, D)

• Preparation and intentional service make you memorable.
• Always approach relationships in a servant's posture.
• Becoming unforgettable attracts great people to you.

Memorable Quote:

"Get unforgettable. It will be absolutely life changing for you." (05:28, D)

5. Live Out Your Great Vision (John Maxwell, 05:50)

• Vision needs to be demonstrated, not just articulated.
• Leadership is "show and tell":

  "Telling is not enough. You have to also show it." (06:22, D)

• John outlines the stages of "vision maturity":
  • Starts focused on self.
  • Moves to setting measurable goals ("markers, not makers").
  • Shifts to inclusion of others ("from me to we").
  • Grows by asking what others need or want.
  • Advances by finding a "vehicle" to move the vision forward (conferences, books, organizations).
  • Becomes a "vision of attraction" and "participation."
  • True vision requires asking for commitment from others.

Memorable Quote:

"You never know the validity of your vision until you ask for commitment." (08:58, D)

6. Be Greater on the Inside Than You Are on the Outside (John Maxwell, 10:09)

• Leaders must possess "bigness of spirit": generosity, abundance, a focus on others.
• John shares a powerful John Wooden story:

  "He smiled that big, beautiful John Wooden smile and he gave me that wave. ... That's what I’m talking about." (11:07, D)

• Emphasizes the platinum rule:

  "Treat others better than you're treated." (11:55, D)

• Every year, John reviews whom he spends time with, seeking those with "bigness of spirit."
• An inward spirit of generosity and positivity is attractive to great people.

Memorable Quote:

"Treat others better than you're treated. Go that second mile." (11:55, D)

Application in the Maxwell Leadership Culture

• Traci and Mark discuss making these principles part of company culture.

• At Maxwell Leadership events, they strive to create unforgettable moments (e.g., surprise interactions with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, exclusive experiences with world leaders).

  "What's going to be unforgettable about this moment? What's going to be that moment that everybody is still talking about?" (18:12, B)

• Traci notes that studying how Maxwell Leadership treats people is a leadership lesson in itself.

  "It’s really a study in leadership... a vision lived out..." (21:07, C)

Living an Evolving Vision

• Mark shares how Maxwell’s vision stays alive:
  • Nonprofits have trained 6 million leaders worldwide.
  • The coaching business has grown to 59,000 coaches in 169 countries.
  • Initiatives in youth leadership impacting over 3 million students.
• Vision is kept alive by energy, excitement, and constant communication.

Memorable Quote:

"Is your vision excitable to you? Because if it's not, guess what? It's not excitable to anybody else, either." (25:36, B)

Making Vision About "We", Not "Me"

• Mark offers ways leaders can test if their vision is too self-focused:

  1. Who is the benefactor?
  2. Is the vision believable?
  3. Is there buy-in?

  • "If the greatest benefactor is you, then it's your vision. It's not a people's vision." (27:06, B)

• Successful movement requires buy-in so people are willing to help accomplish the vision.

• Traci and Mark reference the evolution from "Intentional Living" to "Change Your World" as John Maxwell’s shift from a focus on self (“me”) to a larger, transformative “we” vision.

Memorable Quote:

"[Intentional Living] is the best book of insight into John Maxwell. But Change Your World went from me to we." (30:36, B)

Action Steps & Takeaways

• Leaders must constantly evaluate whom they're spending time with and seek out those possessing a generous, abundant spirit.

  "You are who you hang around, you are who you're spending time with. This is leadership." (32:09, B)

• Surrounding yourself with great people is a non-negotiable leadership ingredient.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• "I owe whatever success I have attained to my ability to surround myself with people who are smarter than I am.” – Andrew Carnegie (03:08, B)
• “Do for others what they cannot do for themselves.” (04:34, D)
• “Get unforgettable. It will be absolutely life changing for you.” (05:28, D)
• “Telling is not enough. You have to also show it.” (06:22, D)
• "You never know the validity of your vision until you ask for commitment." (08:58, D)
• "Treat others better than you're treated. Go that second mile." (11:55, D)
• "What's going to be unforgettable about this moment?... That is the discipline." (18:12, B)
• "Is your vision excitable to you? Because if it's not, guess what? It's not excitable to anybody else, either." (25:36, B)
• "If the greatest benefactor is you, then it's your vision. It's not a people's vision." (27:06, B)
• "[Intentional Living] is the best book of insight into John Maxwell. But Change Your World went from me to we." (30:36, B)
• "You are who you hang around, you are who you're spending time with. This is leadership." (32:09, B)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:08 – Recap and Andrew Carnegie quote.
• 04:13 – John Maxwell begins the new lesson: “Be Unforgettable.”
• 05:50 – “Live Out Your Great Vision”; vision maturity stages.
• 10:09 – “Be Greater on the Inside Than You Are on the Outside”; bigness of spirit.
• 14:49 – Application at Maxwell Leadership, unforgettable moments.
• 21:07 – Study leadership in practice at Maxwell events.
• 22:39 – Nonprofits, coaching, and youth leadership vision in action.
• 27:06 – Testing vision: Who benefits? Is it believable? Is there buy-in?
• 30:36 – Difference between “Intentional Living” and “Change Your World.”
• 32:09 – Final reflection: “You are who you hang around.”

Conclusion

This episode provides concrete, experience-tested strategies for leaders to elevate their circle of influence. By being unforgettable, living out a compelling vision, and demonstrating “bigness of spirit,” transformational leaders not only attract great people—they empower them to join in building something lasting and meaningful.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own circles, the nature of their vision, and their ability to inspire commitment in others, with practical tools and wisdom to put these lessons into action.