Quotes from Today Matters

John C. Maxwell Quote on Setting Yourself Up For Success

“Set the tone for your day by treating people better than you expect to be treated by them. Be the first to smile. Express your appreciation for them. Expect the best out of them. If you act first, you will set yourself up for success.”
John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

Beyond the Quote (146/365)

One thing is for sure, the opposite certainly won’t set you up for success. You can treat people worse than you expect them to treat you. You can wait to smile until they smile at you. You can withhold any appreciation you might have towards others and express gratitude only when it would be rude not to. You can expect the worst out of them. The thing is, though, if you wait to act, you will be outsourcing part of your success onto them—to people and circumstances out of your control. And is success even possible if it’s out of your control?

“The greatest of all miracles is that we need not be tomorrow what we are today. The greatest of all insights is that we cannot be tomorrow what we do not do today. That is why today matters.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“I’ve been told that certain species of fish will grow according to the size of their environment. Put them in a tiny aquarium, and they remain small even at adulthood. Release them into a huge natural body of water, and they grow into their intended size. People are similar. If they live in a harsh and limiting environment, they stay small. But put them someplace that encourages growth, and they will expand to reach their potential.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“By choosing to embrace and practice good values every day, you choose the higher course in life. And your life goes in a direction that you will always feel good about. You may not always get what you desire, but you will always be the person you desire to be.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“People give not from the top of their purses, but from the bottom of their hearts.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“A person’s level of income and their desire to give have nothing to do with one another.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“You can’t light another’s path without casting light on your own.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“I think many people believe the best way they can help others is to criticize them, to give them the benefit of their ‘wisdom.’ I disagree. The best way to help people is to see the best in them.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

One of life’s greatest joys:

via Today Matters

Finding Hope in a Hopeless Situation — The Story of Antwone Fisher

Excerpt: The following is an excerpt from Today Matters by John C. Maxwell. In it, he shares the incredibly powerful story of Antwone Fisher and how he found hope and changed his life for the better in an utterly hopeless situation. I’ll turn it over to Maxwell to lay out the details. Enjoy.

“If you want to make a positive impact, no matter how far-reaching, start at home. Treat your family members like treasures.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“Though you cannot go back and make a brand-new start, my friend, you can start now, and make a brand-new end.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“Given the choice, would you rather save time or money? Most people focus on dollars. But how you spend your time is much more important than how you spend your money. Money mistakes can often be corrected, but when you lose time, it’s gone forever. Your priorities determine how you spend your time, and time is precious. The following statements may help you put time in perspective: To know the value of one year… Ask the student who failed the final exam. To know the value of one month… Ask the mother of a premature baby. To know the value of one week… Ask the editor of a weekly newsmagazine. To know the value of one day… Ask the wage earner who has six children. To know the value of one hour… Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To know the value of one minute… Ask the person who missed the plane. To know the value of one second… Ask the person who survived the accident. To know the value of one millisecond… Ask the Olympic silver medalist. Your time is priceless.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“You cannot buy or win happiness. You must choose it.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“The most successful people in life are the ones who settle their critical issues early and manage them daily.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“I believe that everyone chooses how to approach life. If you’re proactive, you focus on preparing. If you’re reactive, you end up focusing on repairing.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.” ~ John C. Maxwell, Today Matters

The Lifebuilder’s Creed

By Dale Witherington

Today is the most important day of my life.
Yesterday with its successes and victories, struggles and failures is gone forever.
The past is past.
Done.
Finished.
I cannot relive it. I cannot go back and change it.
But I will learn from it and improve my TODAY.

TODAY. This moment. NOW.
It is God’s gift to me and it is all that I have.

Tomorrow with all its joys and sorrows, triumphs and
troubles isn’t here yet.
Indeed, tomorrow may never come.
Therefore, I will not worry about tomorrow.

Today is what God has entrusted to me.
It is all that I have. I will do my best in it.
I will demonstrate the best of me in it —
my character, giftedness, and abilities —
to my family and friends, clients and associates.
I will identify those things that are most important to do TODAY,
and those things I will do until they are done.
And when this day is done
I will look back with satisfaction at that
which I have accomplished.
Then, and only then, will I plan my tomorrow,
Looking to improve upon Today, with God’s help.

Then I shall go to sleep in peace … content.

—— —— ——

Source: Today Matters by John C. Maxwell

“Multitudes of people have failed to live for today. They have spent their lives reaching for the future. What they have had within their grasp today they have missed entirely, because only the future has intrigued them… and the first thing they knew the future became the past.’ ~ William Allen White