Maxwell - Power of your leadership - making a difference with others

Thank you to:

Laura Morton, who sat with me for hours, asking me questions and helping me remember my story

Stephanie Wetzel, who helped with the books structure and research

Charlie Wetzel, my longtime writer, who crafted and polished the manuscript

Linda Eggers, my executive assistant, who helps me to remain intentional every day

I want to start this book by asking you a simple question. Why do you want to lead others? I hope its not for power or prestige or wealth. I hope you want to lead so that you can make a difference in the world with other people. I say that because the real power of leadership comes from what we can do with and for others. The value of leadership doesnt come from recognition. Its not about having a position. In fact, you dont need a title or designated role to work with others and lead them. Whether youre the official leader or you are just passionate about a cause, you can work with others to achieve a worthy goal.

If you want to make a difference, I hope you will find helpful guidance and inspiration in this book. The most influential leaders are powerful because of their unwavering belief in what they are trying to achieve. They have a drive to make a meaningful difference in the world; to improve the lives of countless people. They want their lives to matter, to be significant.

Is that what you want? Is there something you believe in deeply? Do you want to work with others to achieve something great? Do you want to lead a life that matters? You can. Everyone is capable of achieving great things. It doesnt matter what your age, gender, nationality, or ethnicity is. It doesnt matter how much or how little money you have. You can be a leader of change.

You dont have to be a world-class leader to connect with like-minded people to make a difference. You dont have to be a Martin Luther King Jr. or a Mother Teresa or a Nelson Mandela to be part of something significant. I hope you know that. In fact, you dont have to be a leader at all. Most people who make a difference dont have any kind of formal leadership position. Theyre just intentionalwhether they are leading the team, working as part of the team, or supporting the team. One dedicated person can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

I want to tell you a story that illustrates this point. In 2013 at a speaking engagement I had in Bahrain, I sat across the table from Jaap Vaandrager at lunch. He is a highly successful businessman from the Netherlands who lives and works in Bahrain. During our conversation he asked me what I was writing. I briefly shared that I was writing this book about making a difference. He responded, My daughter Celine is making a difference in the lives of people, and she is only a teenager. He started to tell me her story, and I was blown away by it.