“You can choose to live an extraordinary life today, or you can keep waiting for the perfect time.” — Scott Trench.
It’s 1972 in Lancaster, Ohio. A young leader named John slides into a booth at the Holiday Inn, eyes bright, words racing. He’s pouring out big dreams to a man he respects. Lives to change. Vision to transform lives. People to reach.
Curt listens to John, nods, and smiles. Then he tilts his head and asks the quietest, most disruptive question John had ever heard:
“Do you have a plan for personal growth?”
Silence. John blinks. A plan for personal growth? He never thought he was supposed to have a plan for personal growth. He had passion. He had goals. He had hustle. But a plan to grow himself—on purpose, every day? He didn’t. He’d always assumed growth “just happens” if you work hard and love God.
After some silence and blabbing, Curt looked at John and said, “You don`t have a plan, do you?” John answered, “No, I don`t have a plan.” Then Curt Kampmeier said the words that changed Dr. John C. Maxwell`s life: “Growth is not an automatic process. If you are going to grow, you have to be intentional.” That single encounter felt like someone turned on the lights in a room he’d lived in for years.
The “Aha” Moment
Light dawned on Dr. John C. Maxwell. He realized he’d been trying to build bigger results on yesterday’s version of himself. Effort wasn’t the issue. Intentionality was. Growth isn’t automatic. It’s scheduled.
The Stretch
Curt’s challenge wasn’t a pep talk; it was a fork in the road. John could keep chasing outcomes…or he could become the kind of person who naturally creates them. He chose the second road—and made a gutsy decision that proved it.
The Best Investment
After that breakfast, John saved six months’ salary—not for a car, not for a vacation—but to buy Curt’s personal growth kit. Six Months’ Salary!!! He later called it the best investment of his life. Not because of the binders or tapes, but because it marked the day, he decided that MAKING PERSONAL GROWTH A DAILY PRIORITY would be the engine of everything else.
And it was. That decision reshaped his leadership, multiplied his impact, and eventually touched millions. But it started with one honest question and a genuine answer showing that personal growth is not at that point a daily priority for John Maxwell as it is now!
Your dreams and visions can only expand at the speed of your daily growth, and until you make personal growth your daily priority, becoming outstanding in your field will remain a dream.
What intentional steps can you take today to make your personal growth a daily priority? [To be continued next week].
