Maxwell Leadership Podcast

Episode: Stop Meaning Well, Start Living Well

Host: John Maxwell (and team)
Date: November 19, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, John Maxwell and his co-hosts dive into the crucial distinction between “meaning well” and “living well.” They explore why good intentions alone aren’t enough for transformational leadership and how intentional living and listening are key to making a positive, lasting impact. The discussion is practical, honest, and filled with actionable advice for anyone looking to move beyond wishful thinking and start achieving real results in leadership and life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Pitfall of Good Intentions vs. The Power of Intentional Living

(03:15 - 09:19) John Maxwell’s Teaching Segment

• Good Intentions Can Be Harmful:
  • “Can good intentions be bad? The answer is yes.” – John Maxwell [03:15]
  • Good intentions without follow-through lead nowhere; action is what matters.
• Key Differences:
  • Good intentions = wishful thinking, someday, passive, emotional-based.
  • Intentional living = purposeful, today, active, disciplined.
  • “People with good intentions have a wish someday. People that live intentionally, they’ve got a purpose and they do it today.” – John Maxwell [04:00]
• The Importance of Action:
  • Shifting from “I should” to “I will,” from “I could” to “I did.”
• Dreams Require Effort:
  • “A dream, like good intentions, is a beautiful, wonderful thing. But the moment you start the journey…once you become intentional, you pay a price.” – John Maxwell [06:00]
• Living Well Starts with Listening Well:
  • John shares how intentional listening, not just intentional action, creates value for others.
  • Personal story of John’s mother, who deeply listened and thereby built his self-worth.

2. The Transformative Power of Intentional Listening

(06:30 - 09:19)

• Intentional Listening as Leadership:
  • “She knew that the act of listening is one of the greatest ways to show people that you truly value them.” – John Maxwell, on his mother [07:00]
  • John candidly shares learning to become a better listener after feedback from his team and wife.
  • Implemented reminders (“L” on his notepad) to prompt attentive listening.
  • “We overvalue talking and we undervalue listening.” – John Maxwell [08:49]
  • Becoming an intentional listener is critical for making others feel valued and for effective leadership.

3. Moving from Passivity to Action in Stuck Areas

(11:28 - 17:28)

• Leaders aren’t passive in every area, but all have “blind spots”:
  • Co-host Traci brings up the concept that we all have areas where we are passive or avoidant, even if we’re active elsewhere.
• Three Steps to Move from Intention to Action:
  • Start small, get a win: Pick an easy, tangible first step to build momentum and confidence.
  • Write it down: “There’s something about writing down what intentionality means that locks you into it.” – Host [15:00]
  • Get accountability: Share your commitment with someone who will hold you to it.
  • Real-life examples (marathon training, personal growth planning) illustrate the principles in action.

4. Counting the Cost and Embracing Discipline

(17:28 - 24:19)

• Every worthy goal has a price:
  • “If you are going to have something of value, something that you value greatly, there’s a price tag to it.” – Host (Mark) [18:40]
  • Leaders need to set clear expectations for themselves, their teams, and their families about what will be required.
• No Shortcuts:
  • “There are no shortcuts to success. There’s no shortcuts to living. You’ve got to take the journey and you’ve got to pay the price.” – Host [20:00]
• Open Family & Team Conversations:
  • Powerful illustration: calculating the literal and figurative “cost” of big decisions and getting buy-in from family/team before major commitments.

5. The Leadership Value of “Designated Ears”

(24:19 - 32:12)

• Leaders must have trusted ‘ears’ on the team:
  • Having someone (like Kimberly for Mark) who is empowered to tell you candidly how you are perceived, what’s really being said, and where you might be misunderstood.
  • “She’s my ears on how the team is hearing me.” – Host [26:07]
• Self-reflection for Leaders:
  • Question to ask: “When’s the last time somebody told you you handled something wrong?” If nobody does, you might be surrounded by ‘yes men.’
  • “If people around you are not constantly telling you how you can improve and get better, then you have surrounded yourself with people that…the paycheck they receive is more important than their desire to see you succeed. And that is a challenge.” – Host [31:04]
• Action Item for Leaders:
  • Invite honest, even critical, feedback for continuous improvement.

6. Practicing Intentional Listening

(32:12 - 35:50)

• Mentorship vs. Leadership Modes:
  • Mark (co-host) shares how, in mentorship situations, he adopts an intentional, more patient listening style—modeled after John’s description of his mother.
  • “Leaders learn how to value someone else by asking more questions. You really can change this drive that’s within you and do more listening than you do talking. You can learn how to do it. John Maxwell’s proof. I’m proof… you can too. But it’s going to take intentionality.” – Host [34:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Good intentions will never take you anywhere you want to go. Only intentional living will get you the things you want in life.” – John Maxwell [05:16]
• “My mother was the best listener I’ve ever known…she just listened until we were finished. There was no rush, there was no push, there was no interruption. She just listened.” – John Maxwell [06:57]
• “We overvalue talking and we undervalue listening.” – John Maxwell [08:49]
• “Start small, get a win, write it down, get accountability.” – Host (Mark) [15:23]
• “If you really want to be effective…you need to get a mindset that it’s going to cost.” – Host [18:45]
• “If I want my next call to be better than my first call, I’m going to need people around me that will tell me what I did wrong, not what I did right.” – Host [31:56]
• “Leaders learn how to value someone else by asking more questions.” – Host [34:12]

Action Steps & Timestamps

03:15 – 09:19:

John Maxwell defines and contrasts good intentions with intentional living. Sharing personal stories of learning intentional listening.

11:28 – 17:28:

Advice for leaders to move from passivity to action: start small, write it down, secure accountability.

17:28 – 24:19:

The necessity of counting the cost and discussing sacrifices with both team and family before big commitments.

24:19 – 32:12:

The value of having trusted ‘ears’ on your team and inviting constructive feedback for growth.

32:12 – 35:50:

Practicing intentional listening and patience, especially in mentorship roles.

Final Takeaways

• Intentions alone do not create change—only intentional, disciplined action does.
• Listening intentionally is as important as acting intentionally for leaders aiming to add value to others.
• All success comes with a price—leaders must count and communicate that cost.
• Honest feedback is critical; surround yourself with people who help you grow, not just agree with you.
• Start with attainable steps, write down your plans, and maintain accountability for lasting change.

Resource Mention: John Maxwell’s book Intentional Living (discount link in the show notes).
Growth app video recommendation: "Small Steps and Big Growth" by Perry Holley.

This episode is a practical and motivational guide for every leader ready to stop meaning well and start living well—powered by everyday intentional choices.