The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset

by John C. Maxwell

What can make the difference in your life today? How can two people with the same skills and abilities, in the same situation, end up with two totally different outcomes? John C. Maxwell says the difference maker is attitude. For those who have ever wondered what may be separating them from achieving the kind of personal and professional success they’ve always dreamt of, leadership expert Dr. John C. Maxwell knows that it is attitude that colors every aspect of your life. In The Difference Maker , Dr. Maxwell teaches you how Your attitude affects everything in your life, and it's one of the few things that you can control. A good attitude doesn't necessarily make good things happen to you, but it sure does help. Or you can easily set yourself up for failure by harboring a bad attitude, undermining your own efforts to succeed. The Difference Maker reveals the skills you need to not only make attitude your biggest asset, but shows you how to maintain that attitude for the rest of your life.

Genres: Leadership, Business, Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Inspirational, Psychology

208 pages, Hardcover

Published August 27, 2006

About the author

John Calvin Maxwell is an American author, speaker, and pastor who has written many books, primarily focusing on leadership. Titles include The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. Some of his books have been on the New York Times Best Seller List.

Reviews

[Jennifer Radtke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a subscription through LIFE. It was filled with such good information that I thought I would share some of my favorite parts with you.

p 62...When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?" Think about the alternative! - Sydney J Harris

p63 Ninety percent of those who fail are not actually defeated. They simply quit. - Paul J Meyer

p70 Few things are better at helping someone overcome discouragement than spending time with the right person.

p71 Remember, everyone you come into contact with is fighting a battle. - Melvin Maxwell

p132 One of the greatest mistakes we can make in life is to be in constant fear that we will make one.

p138 The hero and the coward both feel exactly the same fear, only the hero confronts his fear and converts it into fire. - Clis D'Amato

p138 If things go wrong, don't go with them. - Roger Babson

p139 Focus on things you can control

I was amazed (still am) how everything I am reading and studying all connects together. The theme of it all seems to be that you can only control your thoughts and your attitudes. You can only control what is happening inside of you. Once you gain control of that, you can make fantastic changes in your family....your community...your world.

Feel free to contact me if you would like some more information about LIFE and the encouraging, thought provoking books and audios they have available for subscription.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed this right now. It wasn't chocked full of leadership insights as much as it was insights into every day life. Some of it was stuff I knew but it was a good reminder and it had many excellent quotes. It's actually a very quick read but I took my time with it and I'm glad I did.

[Henry Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has read several books on self-improvement (most of which are guilty of the criticism I’m about to make), this book offered some timeless and valuable, yet redundant insights on the universal laws to a better life. In other words, if this is your first time picking up a self-help book, it will be very helpful and interesting. If you are a seasoned reader of these types of books, it will feel a little repetitive. The structure of the book is simple - a word of advice, followed by several examples, some of which seem shallow and generalized, though likely true. Nevertheless, it was an adequate read and serves as a good reminder on the concept of how an individual’s perspective is crucial in achieving their desires.

[Ben Denison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Maxwell focuses on your attitude and it being the difference maker in success, attaining that goal, separating yourself from others, etc.

Made the point that one can slightly raise their skill level, may be limited on their talent, but can achieve maximum impact with a great attitude. Though not a substitute for talent, a difference maker between you and others.

I thought this was a good reminder to keep a great attitude.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxwell is masterful at squeezing an immense amount of helpful, practical advice into this short, easy-to-read, anecdote-filled book. Your attitude affects so much in your life, and it's one of the few things that you can actually control. A good attitude doesn't necessarily make good things happen to you, but it sure does help. Or you can easily set yourself up for failure by harboring a bad attitude, undermining your own efforts to succeed. Maxwell begins by wisely differentiating between what your attitude can and can't do for you, and concludes by covering five major attitude obstacles: discouragement, change, fear, problems, and failure. I'd recommend The Difference Maker to anyone that has an attitude, good or bad.

[Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

What did I think of the book...not much. The author is a supposedly successful motivational speaker, but as one reader in a group of four who discussed the book -- none of us liked it. The book is ghost written, and is without original thought. The book is mostly of quotes and anecdotes by famous and historical figures, and pop icon references. In-between the author attempts to interject (very briefly...and poorly) what he believes are the proper steps to making a difference in your own life and in the lives others. Not impressed at all with the book...basically, "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get" (Thanks Forest Gump, and not John Maxwell).

[Paul Bard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best thing about this book is this quote:

Harry Truman: "The worst danger we face is the danger of being paralyzed by doubts and fears. This danger is brought on by those who abandon faith and sneer at hope. It is brought on by those who spread cynicism and distrust and try to blind us to our great chance to do good for all mankind."

That guy is my hero!

Message of the book: have a good attitude. It's broad, and general in nature but it gets 3 stars because it's literate and well-written. Worth a quick read.

[Amin elahifard · Rating 3 out of 5]

عنوان: نگرش تا تغییر؛ نویسنده: جان سی مکسول؛ مترجم: نعیمه ترابی فرد؛ ناشر: انتشارات سپید؛ در 208 ص؛ موضوع: روانشناسی
هدف این کتاب این نیست که با جمله نگرش همه چیز است شما را بمباران کند. چون نگرش بدون مهارت به هیچ دردی نمی  خورد. این کتاب در پی آن است که به شما بگوید، نگرش می  تواند در زندگی تفاوت ایجاد کند. البته مشروط بر اینکه بدانید، نگرش نمی  تواند جایگزین کفایت و تجربه شود، نمی  تواند واقعیات را تغییر دهد، نمی  تواند جایگزین رشد شخصیت شود و نمی  تواند به خودی خود خوب بماند. پس نگرش منجر به تغییر می  شود که به درستی انتخاب شده و برای آن بهای لازم پرداخته شود.

[Ceridwen Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of my Masters programme reading list. It's very quick and easy to read. It gives an overall view of how your attitude affects both your day to day life as well as your working life. I thought it would be more concerned with management yet I found it more general.

[Tony Rogers Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is gold! A great discourse on an important fundamental of success.

[Toota · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING...

[Heather Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Like, just wow! So much goodness that I really don't know how to sum it up. John Maxwell is mostly well known for his writings on leadership especially in the business world, but this wasn't a business book. "The Difference Maker" is an inspiring book on choosing the right attitude in every situation in our daily lives and using its power for the good - as well as showing others what a difference their attitude can make in their own lives. A good attitude is a choice, one that must be made every moment of every day and in every situation - good or bad! And it holds in it's hands so much power to change our lives. I highly recommend everyone read this book and let its principles help change your mindset!

[Rachel Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Making your attitude your greatest asset”.

I enjoyed this book. My attitude and thoughts can sometimes be to my detriment, and I found some snippets in this book that have resonated with me, hopefully they’ll stick 😂

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC!!! A MUST READ!!! Life is constantly full of ups and downs and we all need a little reminder of what we can do to get through the tough times. This will be one of those books that I plan to re-read multiple times throughout my lifetime. I will definitely read other books by this author as I found his thoughts to be so impactful.

[Temitope Mamukuyomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attitude isn't always enough,one needs experience and a period of learning.

Also, attitude is key in building human to become the best.


With the right attitude, we can achieve so much.

[нєνєℓ ¢ανα]

Excellent work that deals with parenthetic discourse helping people to fulfill dreams through attitufe and the sort.

[Refilwe Mashile · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is quite interesting how much attitude can do in our lives. This book is really broad though I feel some of the examples are rather extraneous, But I love the entire concept about FAILURE, how you can manipulate it to work for you instead of crippling you. It is a good read especially if one takes time to evaluate themselves against the book.

I'm ready to make a difference in the attitude of others.

[Lucas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Livro especialmente indicado para pessoas que não tem atitudes positivas diante fracassos. Como sempre, John Maxwell escreveu sobre mais um assunto totalmente pertinente e cotidiano. Indico.

[Chioma Cynthia Nkamuo · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK TITLE: The Difference Maker (Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset)



AUTHOR: John C. Maxwell



NUMBER OF PAGES: 214



GENRE: Non-fiction 



REVIEW




In this self-help book, the author, John C. Maxwell who is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker and author of numerous books. He brought to my understanding the true essence of attitude and how it affects one's life either positively or negatively.




The author started by explaining what attitude properly means. Attitude can be as a result of several factors which includes personality, environment, expression of others, self-image, exposure to growth opportunities, association with peers, beliefs and choices.





He outlined what attitude cannot do for a person. My favourite chapter of the book is chapter 3 where the author discusses extensively what attitude can do for me. It made me realize that attitude is a crucial aspect of my life. Attitude is also a criterion for success and the very fact that you can't buy attitude because it is not for sale. It is also one greatest asset or liability because it can make you or break you.





John C. Maxwell shared the big five attitude obstacles. I love the fact that he explained five steps to deal with discouragement. He didn't forget to mention the principles of handling problems. Fear has a destructive effect and can affect one's life negatively.





The ways to overcome fear stood out for me. I love how he gathered quotes from around the world and used to buttress his points. How an attitude can be a difference maker concerning fear made me realize the role my attitude plays as regards to how I handle fear. Fear of index helps you to know how you feel about fear.






There are three types of people in this world: the "wills," the "won'ts," and the "can'ts."  It is crucial to know that the group of people accomplish everything and the second group oppose everything while the third group fail at everything. Four things tend to pull people in the "can't" group which are expecting failure, personalizing failure, refusing to take a risk, letting failure defeat them.He went further to discuss the benefits of failure.





Attitude isn't everything, but it is one thing that can make a difference in your life.~ John C. Maxwell




He elucidated on some important thoughts to harness the power of difference maker in your life and that of others. I will be sharing them because it caught my attention as I read and they are 




✓ Make a decision to allow the difference maker to make a difference in your life.



✓ Manage decisions every day of your life.



✓ Do not allow adversity to have an adverse effect on your attitude.



✓ Once the difference maker makes a difference in your life, help others to discover the difference maker in their lives.





Moreso, he shared some appreciation messages written by his readers on how his book has impacted their lives in one-way or the other.





I highly recommend this book to individuals who want to build the right attitude and know the benefits of attitude in every aspect of life.

[T. Laane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cant myself rate a book 5 stars if it’s too “basic” - although just books like that I’d recommend for my kids/friends to start the journey into self development. A lot of stories and the plus side: many of them I haven’t heard, so the author does make an effort to talk about new things, not just famous recycled stories.
RESILIENCE - A strong mindset is key in overcoming adversity: failure can be good as long as it doesn’t break your spirit, and success must not inflate your ego. As a wise quote states, “Failure is good when it doesn’t go to the heart. Success is good when it doesn’t go to the head.” Resilience is about rising after being knocked down - the act of getting up is entirely within your control, only surrendering is the true defeat.
SUCCESS AND FAILURE - Successful people anticipate problems and hurdles, understanding that setbacks are a natural part of the journey. Even achieving only 70% of your goals is considered success, as most things won’t work out, yet the ability to persist and achieve despite challenges is what defines successful individuals. Failure is often the best teacher - a single failed project can provide more valuable lessons than multiple successful ones. Hard times are where good attitude truly shines, revealing strength and character when it’s most difficult.
CHANGE AND BELIEF - People rarely change their minds easily, even in the face of evidence. Just as the generation of Christopher Columbus still resisted believing that the earth was round, fundamental shifts in thinking often occur only as new generations take over the planet. This highlights the difficulty of reshaping ingrained beliefs and the persistence required to bring about change.

[JD' · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helen Rice, was born in 1900 wanting to study law until her father died in 1918 during the Spanish influenza epidemic.
This was interesting as I read this during COVID-19.
Her husband, a young banker committed suicide after the 1929 stock market crash.
She overcame dark times by writing poetry about letting go and letting God, overcoming adversity by looking upon it as just a bend in the road.
John Maxwell writes, "The way we think determines our attitude.
We can control our thoughts.
Our feelings come from our thoughts.
We can control our feelings by changing the way we think."

John Maxwell's 1st book "Failing Forward" was brilliant. Because back then you felt he was a "failure," or at least obscure. Today when Maxwell writes abut failure after 30 years of writing on success... it feels more like he just wants to make book sales, profits, has cheap cookie cutter principles and no longer writes with heart. That's my 2 cents worth.
Even though the book has a cool looking book cover.. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Hương · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thái độ chính là thứ làm nên khác biệt trong mỗi chúng ta. Thái độ về việc đối mặt với các vấn đề xảy ra, về khó khăn, về nỗi sợ. Chúng ta, bản thân mỗi người đều có khó khăn và nỗi sợ riêng, đa số nó là vô hình do con người tự tưởng tưởng và huyễn hoặc bản thân.
Có những khó khăn thực tế và cũng có khó khăn vô hình, hay tệ hơn là chúng ta không nhận ra được khó khăn của bản thân, một số khác thì trốn tránh.
Nhưng thực tế rằng có những điều mà thái độ không thể thay thế hay hỗ trợ bạn, đó chính là kinh nghiệm và năng lực bản thân. Nếu bạn không có một giọng hát hay thì bạn dù có chăm chỉ tập luyện đến mấy bạn cũng chỉ tốn thời gian mà kết quả đạt được có thể không bao giờ ưng ý như bạn mong muốn.

[Leya · Rating 5 out of 5]

at this point in my life right now this is exactly what I needed to read. my attitude has not really been the best. been feeling a bit discouraged, so the topic on discouragement really resonated with me.
like mr Maxwell says he is not a motivational speaker but a motivational teacher, so love that the book gives practical steps that one can take to help resolve some of the obstacles in our attitude.
some take away:

failure is not a one time event p158

failure isn't failure if you do better the next time p153

people cannot perform in a way inconsistent with the way the see themselves p149

[Rasha El-Ghitani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book’s primary strength lies in its clarity and motivational tone. Maxwell effectively breaks down abstract concepts into actionable guidance, using relatable examples and leadership-oriented insights. Its structure is logical and easy to follow, making it suitable for both personal and professional development contexts.
However, the book leans more heavily on inspirational reasoning and anecdotal illustration than on empirical research. Readers seeking data-driven psychological analysis may find the discussion broad or idealistic at times. Additionally, some of the recommended strategies assume a degree of personal stability and support that may not apply to all circumstances.

[Heskarioth · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a shallow book, no references, collection of posts twisted into a book. 5 rules of this and 5 rules of that, blablblablabla.
I would have called this book: collection of cool quotes I try to fit into my narrative with some random statistic thrown here and there.
Maybe too long for a book title.
I remember reading another book from John Maxwell and I didn't remember it being this shit.
Either this book is an exception to his "well accomplished record" or my reading tastes have drastically improved. I'm inclined to believe the latter.
How is that it's rated 4.21? How?

[Jacob Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the read but I didn’t feel like it was anything groundbreaking. That’s mostly because I’ve read quite a few self help books and much of what I read here has been discussed by many different authors. However, I still recommend reading The Difference Maker because John C. Maxwell is one of the most intriguing personal development writers of our time with the stories he tells to demonstrate his points and how every book of his is reliably engaging. Even though I felt like this one was mostly review I still enjoyed the heck out of it!

[Jenna Santacroce · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted it to, but this just did not do it for me. It felt like it was missing depth. The analogies as corresponding stories didn’t feel strong enough to support or supplement his claims. Also sometimes contradictory.

I will say, one piece resonated with me at the start of the book - I don’t remember the exact quote (and am not near the book at the moment), but similar to your attitude is your root (interior) which directly influences your fruit (exterior). It’ll seep out of you. You can’t fake it until you make it, and have to rework it.

[Hero · Rating 1 out of 5]

lost in all meaning of this book when he wrote Palestine teror1st and israhell hero, that was first.
second he wrote a story about a young man who failed to impress his girl to his mother until he did it but his father dislike her, what's the moral story of failure chapter for this? i don't get it
the third is he wrote about people who get fired multiple times is more energic to jump into new challenge than people who stay in the same job for years, bruh.. in 2025 a grad like me barely get a job let alone ppl who wants to stay at their jobs, he thinks its easy to get a job nowadays

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had great strategies for how to choose a positive attitude in the face of fear, failure, or discouragement. While this is easier said than done, the audiobook version of this text was a great resource on my commute to and from work. It also had great reminders about how your positive attitude, especially during challenging times, says a lot about you, and that the way you reflect upon your previous mistakes better prepares you to conquer those challenges in the future.

[Fabricio Mena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Si bien la esencia del libro es buena no me dejó tan impactado como creía. El contenido es de 3 estrellas. Las dos estrellas que puse son por los errores en la edición y la mala traducción. Comienzo a pensar que son libros baratos porque la editoriales saben su mala calidad. En el futuro trataré de comprar ediciones en su idioma original aunque quizá sea el último que lea de este autor, llevo dos o tres de él y nunca me han super impactado.