Actively grow your leadership skills day-by-day with this timeless wisdom—comprised from fourteen of New York Times bestselling author John C. Maxwell's greatest leadership books. The Maxwell Daily Reader draws its unique power from an ageless truth: the heart of leadership is created by actions—big and small—put into practice one day at a time. Each person has inborn potential to be a great leader. Each day's message in this 365-day reader will equip you with the inspiration and advice to unlock your full leadership potential. Daily entries contain an excerpt from one of Maxwell's books that helps: Encourage and inspire you - Teach you to lead - Challenge you to be better - Prompt you to grow The secret to your success can be found in your daily agenda. People who achieve their potential do so because they invest in themselves every day. They take the time to add value to themselves and because of that, they are also able to add value to others. Easily accessible and highly actionable, this is the very best of John C. Maxwell, and it will bring out the very best of the leader in everyone. John C. Maxwell is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 33 million books in fifty languages. He has been identified as the #1 leader in business and the most influential leadership expert in the world. His organizations - the John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, EQUIP, and the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation - have translated his teachings into seventy languages and used them to train millions of leaders from every country of the world. A recipient of the Horatio Alger Award, as well as the Mother Teresa Prize for Global Peace and Leadership from the Luminary Leadership Network, Dr. Maxwell influences Fortune 500 CEOs, the presidents of nations, and entrepreneurs worldwide. For more information about him visit JohnMaxwell.com. THE MAXWELL DAILY READER 365 Days of Insight to Develop the Leader Within You and Influence Those Around You By JOHN C. MAXWELL Thomas Nelson Copyright © 2007 John C. Maxwell All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4002-0339-0 Contents Introduction.............................................vJanuary..................................................1February.................................................35March....................................................67April....................................................101May......................................................133June.....................................................167July.....................................................199August...................................................233September................................................267October..................................................299November.................................................333December.................................................365About the Author.........................................398Annotated Bibliography...................................399Sources by Book..........................................406Sources by Day and Parallel Passages.....................409 Chapter One JANUARY 1. Take Care of the Little Things 2. The Instrument of Leadership 3. Discernment 4. You Are Your Lens 5. Put People in Their (Right) Place 6. Character Is Everything 7. The Law of Influence 8. Point Out People's Strengths 9. The Power of Focusing 10. Charting the Course 11. The Law of Priorities 12. People Need to Know They Helped 13. Control What's In You 14. Leaders See Within the Larger Context 15. Be Impressed, Not Impressive 16. Manage Your Attitude Daily 17. The Law of Connection 18. Take Time to Understand People 19. The 30-Second Rule 20. Develop Relationships Before Starting Out 21. The Value of Time 22. Enlarging Others 23. Overcoming Barriers to Empowerment 24. Leaders Cannot Rise above the Limitations of Their Character 25. Vision 26. Everyone Influences Someone 27. The Heart of Leadership 28. Act Yourself into Changing 29. Let People Know You Need Them 30. Steer a Course 31. Growing to Your Potential JANUARY 1 TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE THINGS When I teach at a conference or go to a book signing, people sometimes confide in me that they desire to write books too. "How do I get started?" they ask. "How much writing do you do now?" I ask in return. Some tell me about articles and other pieces they are writing, and I simply encourage them; but most of the time they sheepishly respond, "Well, I haven't really written anything yet." "Then you need to start writing," I explain. "You've got to start small and work up to it." Leadership is the same. You've got to start small and work up to it. A person who has never led before needs to try to influence one other person. Someone who has some influence should try to build a team. Just start with what's necessary. St. Francis of Assisi sa