9 John Maxwell Leadership Commitments That Will Shape Your Legacy
At the 2025 Global Leadership Summit (GLS), there was a moment that wasn’t just inspiring, it was historic.
John C. Maxwell, the man who has trained millions of leaders worldwide, was honored with the Legacy Leader Award. Presented by annual GLS speaker Craig Groeschel, the award recognized Maxwell’s lifelong work of adding value to leaders who multiply value to others.
Maxwell’s influence spans decades. He’s authored more than 80 books, launched leadership training organizations that have impacted every continent, and mentored leaders across business, ministry, government, and education. His legacy isn’t just in his words, it’s in the leaders he’s multiplied.
And after receiving the award, Maxwell didn’t talk about his accomplishments.
He didn’t list his milestones.
Instead, he shared nine personal leadership commitments he wrote years ago. These commitments have guided him through every season of leadership.
These statements were more than catchy phrases.
They were vows.
Principles he’s lived, not just taught.
And as he read them, they landed on me like a spiritual gut check. Like a pile of bricks. I think you get the picture..
I want to share them with you, not as theory, but as a challenge. Because if you live these out, they won’t just shape your leadership, they’ll shape your legacy.
Let’s unpack these nine principles.
1. “I will be bigger on the inside than on the outside because character matters!”
Reputation is what people see.
Character is what God sees.
Maxwell reminded us that if our external success outgrows our internal strength, we’re heading for a collapse. Leaders can have talent, charisma, and results, but without character, it all crumbles.
How to live this:
Build spiritual and emotional depth, not just public visibility.
Guard your integrity when no one’s looking.
Ask, “If everything external was stripped away, who would I still be?”
Leader application: Sermon preparation is not the same as soul care. Private devotion must fuel public ministry.
2. “I will follow the Golden Rule because people matter!”
Leadership isn’t a numbers game; it’s a people game.
Maxwell pointed us back to the simplest leadership principle in history: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
It’s deceptively simple, and rarely lived out.
How to live this:
Treat every person as valuable, not as a means to an end.
Make decisions as if you were on the receiving end.
Listen twice as much as you speak.
Leader application: Judge your ministry not just by attendance but by how people feel known and cared for.
3. “I will value humility above all virtues because perspective matters!”
Humility is the soil where all other virtues grow.
Maxwell reminded us: humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. It’s what keeps you teachable, approachable, and focused on the mission instead of the spotlight.
How to live this:
Own your mistakes quickly.
Seek honest feedback, even when it’s hard to hear.
Celebrate others’ wins without needing credit.
Leader application: Model the kind of servant leadership Jesus demonstrated, like washing feet before giving commands.
4. “I will travel the high road because attitude matters!”
Anyone can take the low road of criticism and retaliation.
Some take the middle road of indifference.
Leaders take the high road, choosing grace, forgiveness, and optimism.
Maxwell made it clear: your attitude will set the tone for your entire team.
How to live this:
Speak well of people who have wronged you.
Let go of grudges that weigh you down.
Stay hopeful when others get cynical.
Leader application: Bless those who leave your church. Restore fallen leaders with dignity. Keep your spirit untainted by bitterness.
5. “I will teach only what I believe because passion matters!”
Maxwell’s rule: never teach from a place you haven’t personally lived.
If the truth hasn’t first changed you, it won’t have the same power when you try to deliver it to others.
How to live this:
Teach from conviction, not convenience.
Let your leadership be fueled by personal transformation.
Share from your scars, not just your successes.
Leader application: Preach from the overflow of your walk with God, not just your sermon notes.
6. “I will develop myself because growth matters!”
Growth doesn’t happen by accident; it’s intentional.
Maxwell has said for decades: “You can’t give what you don’t have.” If you stop growing, your leadership stops multiplying.
How to live this:
Commit to lifelong learning.
Surround yourself with mentors and peers who challenge you.
Invest in books, courses, and coaching, not just for skills but for your soul’s health.
Leader application: Continually sharpen your leadership in theology, pastoral care, and cultural engagement.
7. “I will be salt and light because faith matters!”
Salt preserves what’s good.
Light reveals what’s true.
For Maxwell, leadership and faith are inseparable. Leadership without a moral compass drifts into self-interest.
How to live this:
Let biblical values shape your decision-making.
Lead with integrity, even when it costs influence.
Be a consistent moral and spiritual example.
Leader application: Live so that your actions point people toward Christ without needing to announce it.
8. “I will finish well because consistency matters!”
Starting well is easy.
Finishing well is rare.
Maxwell reminded us that leadership success isn’t about bursts of brilliance; it’s about faithfulness over time.
How to live this:
Keep showing up when it’s inconvenient.
Maintain your values year after year.
Pace yourself so you can finish strong.
Leader application: The true measure of ministry isn’t how fast you grew, it’s whether you stayed faithful to the call until the very end..
9. “I will play the infinite game because legacy matters!”
The infinite game is about building something that lasts beyond you.
It’s not about winning this week; it’s about impacting forever.
Maxwell challenged us to stop measuring leadership in short-term wins and start measuring it in long-term fruit.
How to live it:
Mentor and equip the next generation now.
Build systems and cultures that will outlast your leadership.
Measure success by what you set in motion, not just what you complete.
Leader application: Your greatest work may be the leaders you leave behind, not the events you led.
Why These Commitments Matter More After the Award
Hearing these nine commitments was powerful on its own.
Hearing them right after Maxwell received the Legacy Leader Award gave them a whole new weight.
Craig Groeschel didn’t just honor Maxwell for his achievements; he honored him for a lifetime of living these principles. This wasn’t a theory session. It was a testimony.
Maxwell’s legacy isn’t built on charisma, marketing, or shortcuts.
It’s built on a foundation of character, humility, consistency, and faith, one choice at a time, year after year.
My Challenge to You
I left GLS with a conviction: I can’t just admire these commitments. I have to adopt them.
Here’s my challenge for you:
Pick one of these nine statements.
Write it somewhere you’ll see it every day.
Pray it into your life.
Live it out intentionally this week.
Then, when it becomes part of you, pick another.
Leadership is not about doing everything perfectly tomorrow; it’s about becoming the kind of person who leads faithfully for a lifetime.
If you’re a pastor or church leader who feels called to lead at this deeper level, but you need tools, encouragement, and accountability, this is exactly what I help leaders do.
Through one-on-one coaching, I help leaders design strategies that work, implement systems that last, and develop the kind of character that can carry their calling for decades.
If you’re ready to grow bigger on the inside so you can lead stronger on the outside, let’s talk.
Schedule a free discovery call today.
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See you next Saturday!
Eric V Hampton