Maxwell Leadership Podcast
Episode: Success and Failure: The Partnership that Fuels Growth
Host: John Maxwell, with Chris Goede and Mark Cole
Date: March 11, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the interconnected relationship between success and failure and how embracing both fuels transformational leadership growth. John Maxwell and his co-hosts, Mark Cole and Chris Goede, explore strategies for reframing failure as a key ingredient in future success, discuss practical frameworks for learning from mistakes, and challenge listeners to maximize the return on their failures—not just their successes. The tone is candid, encouraging, and rooted in years of leadership experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Paradoxical Partnership: Success and Failure

[03:26] John Maxwell’s Core Message

• Every success has stories of failure behind it, but not all failure stories lead to success.
• The difference lies in your perspective on failure:
  • If you separate failure from success, you’ll view it as a problem and avoid it.
  • If you see failure as part of the success journey, you’ll learn from it and turn it into a growth opportunity.
• “How we view things determines how we do things.” — John Maxwell [03:46]

Key Takeaways

• Valuing Failure: Seeing failure as a component of success encourages learning and continued effort rather than withdrawal.
• Humility and Maturity: Pairing success and failure fosters personal development.
• Memorable Quote: “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” — John Maxwell [05:33]
• Avoid living in the ‘failure line’ by separating it from success. Instead, say, “Some days I win and some days I learn.”

2. Decision Making vs. Decision Managing

[06:16] John Maxwell

• Decision making is overrated; decision managing is underrated.
  • Everyone makes bad decisions, but what separates successful people is their response—they learn, adjust, and move forward.
  • Ownership over mistakes is key: “Successful people, when they make a bad decision, don’t deny responsibility... They basically say, ‘Okay, I messed up here. Now what do I learn?’” — John Maxwell [07:12]

The Power of Daily Management

• Managing daily decisions is the path to compounding growth.
• Reference to “Make Today Count”: “One day I will see the compounding results of each day lived well.” — John Maxwell [09:20]
• Practical daily disciplines (listed in the transcript) build long-term growth when practiced with consistency.

3. Practical Application: Turning Failure into Growth

[12:47] Mark Cole & Chris Goede Discussion

• The ability to extract a return on failure can change a leader’s trajectory.
• Environment matters: Being in a leadership culture that values learning from mistakes enables personal growth.
• “Failure paralyzes people outside our bubble.” — Chris Goede [12:52]
• Don’t lose the lesson: Reflecting on failure is more important than the experience itself.

4. Mark Cole’s Four-Step Failure Processing System

[17:47+] Mark Cole

• Step 1: Know Yourself:
  Understand your personal tendencies towards self-criticism or self-indulgence around failure.
  “I am my own worst critic... For me to embrace failure I had to remove it from being a personal indictment.” — Mark Cole [15:35]
• Step 2: Know What You Need in Failure Moments:
  Recognize what support, environment, or self-talk you need after a failure.
• Step 3: Identify Progress:
  Find something, however small, that shows growth from previous experiences.
• Step 4: Always Take a Lesson:
  “While you’re down, pick something up.” — Mark Cole [18:41]

5. Accountability and Vulnerability in Leadership

[19:07] Mark Cole

• Own your failures openly and quickly; this creates accountability and teaches your team not to tie failure to personal worth.
• “As soon as I recognize it’s a failure, even before I know the lesson, I’ll go, ‘Hey, guys, I failed...’” — Mark Cole [19:28]

6. Leading Others Through Failure

[25:54] Mark Cole

• The way leaders handle teammates’ failures impacts both individual confidence and business outcomes.
  • Positive feedback after a mistake increases creativity.
  • Overly critical or micromanaged responses can diminish independence and require more managerial intervention.
• “How you handle your teammates not only will mess up their confidence, it’s going to mess up your agenda. I’m living proof.” — Mark Cole [27:17]

7. Decision Management in Action

[28:15+] Practical Story

• Labeling decisions accurately and managing them intentionally is crucial.
• Avoid surrounding yourself with “yes people”—be open to ongoing evaluation and honest feedback.
• Don’t let mediocre decisions persist; be willing to pivot or stop if necessary.
• Example: John Maxwell’s product launch — initially doubted but managed well, leading to great success through effective management.

8. Living Without Regrets and Embracing the Present

[33:44] Mark Cole

• Best leaders view the past without regrets:
  • Regretting past choices devalues the lessons learned and current opportunities.
  • “To regret would denounce how powerful it is to be me right now... If I would have made that decision differently, would I be participating in what I’m doing today?” — Mark Cole [34:04]
• Advice to those in the “dip” of failure:
  • “You wouldn’t be learning what you’re learning today if you had not stumbled yesterday...” — Mark Cole [35:45]
• Failure is a universal experience, not a personal indictment.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” — John Maxwell [05:33]
• “Decision making is overrated; decision managing is underrated.” — John Maxwell [06:16]
• “I am my own worst critic... For me to embrace failure I had to remove it from being a personal indictment.” — Mark Cole [15:35]
• “While you’re down, pick something up.” — Mark Cole [18:41]
• “How you handle your teammates not only will mess up their confidence, it’s going to mess up your agenda. I’m living proof.” — Mark Cole [27:17]
• “Some days I win and some days I learn.” — John Maxwell referencing his growth mindset

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:26] John Maxwell on the partnership of success and failure
• [06:16] Decision making vs. decision managing
• [11:54] Return on failure as a principle for leaders
• [15:00-21:43] Mark Cole’s framework for processing failure
• [25:54] Case studies in leading others through failure
• [28:15] The art of managing decisions, not just making them
• [33:44] Advice to your younger self: Embracing the present, letting go of regrets

Listener Q&A: Dealing with Difficult Leaders

[37:37] (Listener Submitted Question)

• Tactics for addressing condescending or morally demeaning leaders:
  • Open, specific conversation; provide examples, approach with care vs. condemnation.
  • Use “intent vs. perception” language to lower defensiveness.
  • Remember your own values and don’t let toxic environments change you.

Final Thoughts

The partnership between success and failure is not just a philosophical concept but a practical framework for growth-minded leaders. Consistent reflection, managing decisions beyond the moment of choosing, and approaching both personal and team failures with transparency and curiosity are recurring themes. The episode challenges listeners to:

• See failure as a friend, not a foe
• Commit to learning from every setback
• Encourage a culture where sharing and reflecting on failures is normal
• Avoid regrets and appreciate the journey that every decision and every mistake shapes

This mindset, reinforced by personal stories, actionable frameworks, and memorable one-liners, invites leaders at every stage to grow through—not just go through—their failures.

Resources Mentioned

• John Maxwell’s book: How to Get a Return on Failure
• Amy Burkett’s book: The Dirty Little F Word
• Maxwell Leadership resources at maxwellpodcast.com/partnership