My PASSION Magazine

My Passion - Issue 1 - April 2015 | 29
within themselves, they really don’t need you. You are
just a temporary fixture in their life.
Working with John Maxwell feels great, not only because
he is affirming, but I also feel like he needs what I bring to
the table. Therefore, I still have my own sense of identity
by being a part of John Maxwell’s dream. It has its challenges,
being with someone who is high profile, because
when you are a man or woman who is second in an organization,
the temptation is to believe that your identity is
wrapped in that other person. This is not good. Everyone
needs to be their own person. So, I do need John. God
has been very good to me to clarify that I am called to his
vision and I need to stay in that and not make it all about
me. So, I love it, but it does come with its complications.
Working for John is very secure in itself. I have never seen
anything like it when somebody has that much image to
protect, that much authority globally and is that comfortable
in what he does. Because he is so comfortable, for
those that are on his team, it breeds confidence in our own
self. I am very comfortable that I am not the stage guy. I
have spoken on stage many times in my life. I have spent
a lot of time around a microphone and I know how to use
one, but in this current role that is not my strength zone;
that is John’s strength zone and it makes me feel very
comfortable. I don’t feel that aspiration that I have to be
behind the microphone, that I have to be the stage guy or
that I have to write a book, because I am very comfortable
that I am bringing value to the table in what I do. That
is what working for someone who is in their “sweet” spot,
comfortable in their skin, breeds so much security and
confidence in the teammates, that it helps them to achieve
their dreams. I learn that literally on a daily basis with
John and I do my very best to attempt that.
Dr. P: Do you feel that you are fulfilling your destiny?
Mark: Absolutely.
Can I go side bar with you for just a moment? One
of the most pivotal moments in my life was at the age
of 32. Someone told me that I needed to have a personal
growth plan. I had a plan on how I wanted to
grow, but everything “pre-30 years old” was accidental
growth. I just grew because of this natural ability to
lead and a natural desire to grow. However, at 32 I
needed to get really intentional. I went away for two
and half days and did an annual review. I call it an
annual review but that was really my first review so
there was nothing to review – I call it an assessment of
what was going on in my life.
I began to put plans around what I believe were the
intentional areas of my life that I needed to grow in.
The very next year, my 33rd year, I went away again
because for me (and I know that everyone reading this
may not be a person of faith), as a person of faith, I
really needed an answer from God.
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As my role as CEO of John Maxwell Company, I must
be comfortable in this role, that I will breed comfortable
security in the lives of those people who are working with
me and for me.