Maxwell Leadership Podcast – "Write Your Own Story"
Host: John Maxwell with Mark Cole (co-host and CEO of Maxwell Leadership)
Episode Date: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the empowering concept of "writing your own story" as a leader and individual. John Maxwell and co-host Mark Cole discuss how to be intentional, take ownership of your life's narrative, and live with purpose. With wisdom drawn from John’s personal journey and practical exercises, the conversation aims to inspire listeners to step off the sidelines and actively craft a life and leadership legacy that matters. Through stories, actionable assignments, and a focus on personal strengths and the needs of others, the episode urges listeners to write a story they—and those around them—will be proud of.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Take Ownership of Your Story

• Blank Page Analogy

  • [01:50] John shares a formative story:

    “I unwrapped it. It was a book. And on the outside of the book was the title, the Greatest Story Ever Told… And much to my surprise, when I opened up the book, the pages were blank. And Eileen on the first page wrote these words. John, your life is before you. Fill these pages with kind acts, good thoughts, matters of your heart. Write a great story with your life." – John Maxwell

  • This gift inspired John to take an active role in crafting his own life story, rather than letting others write it for him.

• Active vs. Passive Living

  • Many people live passively, reading a story written by others. The challenge is to "take the pen" and intentionally write your own narrative.

2. The Two Driving Principles in John Maxwell’s Life

• Making a Difference

  • [05:38]

    “I want to make a difference. I want to make a difference in the lives of people.” – John Maxwell

  • This desire was inspired by watching his father’s impact on others.

• Doing Something That Makes a Difference

  • Intentionally align your strengths and passions with the needs of others.
  • [07:08]

    “You put your giftedness alongside the needs of people... The thing you do well, put it alongside the people and their greatest needs.” – John Maxwell

3. Practical Steps: Discover and Apply Your Giftedness

• Identify What You’re Good At

  • Ask: What is my strength? What am I passionate about?
  • Align these with real needs in your community, team, or broader sphere.

• Significance over Success

  • [08:43]

    “Success is when I add value to myself. Significance is when I add value to others.” – John Maxwell

4. Intentional Life Reflection Exercises

• Mark Cole shares two foundational exercises, both for personal reflection and growth:

  • Write Your Epitaph:

    • [09:25] “I want you…to write out what you want your most coveted loved ones … to say at your passing. What do you want written on your epitaph?” – Mark Cole

  • Describe a Day 30 Years in the Future:

    • Visualize and describe an ideal day in your life 30 years from now, focusing on the people, work, and impact you desire to have.
    • [11:55] “I want you to go out 30 years from now and write a story—a recap of what you did all in one day.” – Mark Cole

5. The Power of Mentorship and Leadership Development

• Personal stories of mentoring individuals and senior leadership teams highlight the impact of intentional guidance on writing a new chapter for leaders and organizations.
• Assessing and aligning unique talents with people’s needs is crucial in succession planning and leadership transitions.

6. The Importance of Making Others Feel Valued

• [24:22] “People want to feel valued.” – Mark Cole
• Using stories (like Jerry’s generous birthday gift) to illustrate that leaving a memorable impact is less about material success and more about how you make others feel.
• Harvard study cited:

  “90% said, it's how they made me feel, it's that they made me feel valued.”

7. Leadership Application: Crafting Your Team’s Story

• Challenge for leaders:
  • Envision how people will describe your leadership and your company’s culture five years from now.
  • [30:20] “How do you imagine your leadership being described by the people on your team five years from now?” – Mark Cole
  • Begin writing that desired story now by aligning your ability with people’s needs and focusing on building value-based relationships.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ownership:

  “Don’t let anybody fill those pages in for you. Don’t let anybody write those words in for you. You take the pen in hand, you write the words of the pages, you write your own story.” – John Maxwell [02:42]

• On Starting Small:

  “Start small, believe big.” – John Maxwell [07:18]

• On Value:

  “Success is when I add value to myself. Significance is when I add value to others.” – John Maxwell [08:43]

• On New Beginnings:

  “When we deny the story, it defines us. When we own the story, we can write a brave new ending.” – attributed to Brene Brown by Mark Cole [09:25]

• On Intention in Leadership:

  “Continually find ways to add value by matching the leader's ability with the people's needs.” – Mark Cole [21:55]

• On Legacy:

  “Your people are going to remember you five years from now because of how you made them feel, the value you added to them, the way that you made your story about them.” – Mark Cole [29:18]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:50] John Maxwell: The “Greatest Story Ever Told” blank book story
• [05:38] John chooses to make a difference—story of his father
• [07:08] How to align your giftedness with the needs of others
• [08:43] The difference between success and significance
• [09:25] Mark Cole: Reflection exercises (epitaph and future vision)
• [24:22] Mark Cole: The need to feel valued, significance for leaders
• [30:20] Challenge for leaders: Imagine your impact in 5 years
• [31:45] Listener Q&A: On unconditional love in leadership and culture

Action Steps & Listener Assignments

• Write your own eulogy or epitaph: Focus on what you hope loved ones will say about you. What legacy do you want to leave?
• Describe your life 30 years from now: Write about a day in your ideal future—who’s there, what you do, what impact you have.
• Reflect as a leader: Imagine your company or leadership five years from now. Are people telling the story you want to be told? What must you change or start now to shape that narrative?
• Match your abilities to people’s needs: Regularly assess your unique gifts and look for ways to serve and add value intentionally.

Closing Thoughts

This episode is a call to action for anyone who wants to live with greater purpose, intention, and impact. John Maxwell’s personal stories and practical wisdom, combined with Mark Cole’s real-world assignments, offer listeners a step-by-step guide for taking charge of their life and leadership journey. By doing so, listeners are encouraged not only to add value to those around them but also to ensure their legacy and story are ones of significance.

“Write your own story. You are telling a story. Is it with intention or is it by accident?”
—Mark Cole [16:57]