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Success 101: What Every Leader Should Know

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The Bottom Line on Success


Most of us are eager to achieve success in life. But are we really sure what actions yield true, lasting success? Do you KNOW that you're taking steps in the right direction?


Success is different for every person. But the principles for the journey don't change. In Success 101, John Maxwell distills success down to its essential components. In this short and easy-to-read volume, he shows you exactly what success looks like. He also offers specific steps you can take and ways you can overcome obstacles that might otherwise keep you from achieving success.


Success breeds success—in you, in those closest to you, and in everyone you lead.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

50 people are currently reading
556 people want to read

About the author

John C. Maxwell

998 books5,843 followers
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.

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5 stars
178 (38%)
4 stars
189 (40%)
3 stars
77 (16%)
2 stars
15 (3%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for Ahmad Bin mousa.
7 reviews1 follower
April 11, 2014
كتاب من الآخر " تزبيد " ..

لطيف وخفيف وبوابة لمؤلفات الكاتب ..
Profile Image for Quique Garcia.
11 reviews
November 18, 2017
Indispensable para cualquier emprendedor y líder que esté en el camino del éxito y del liderazgo, se señalan conceptos muy importantes y algunos otros también que sirven para reforzar lo que debes saber acerca del éxito en tu vida ya sea personal y laboral o hasta en las relaciones con las personas. Habla mucho sobre todo, sobre el fracaso, la responsabilidad, la zona de comodidad y las personas en tu vida. Es muy corto el libro tan solo de 99 páginas, pero tiene un contenido muy conciso y que aporta mucho valor, John Maxwell con esta serie de libros ha podido ejercer un cambio significativo en las personas que buscan el camino a la mejor versión de si mismas.

“Piensan que para ser exitosos, deben igualar la fortuna, inteligencia, belleza, capacidad atlética, habilidad para los negocios o imaginación de alguien reconocido. Imaginan el éxito basándose en otras personas. Pero si tratáramos de parecernos a otros, sólo seríamos una mala imitación y perderíamos la oportunidad de convertirnos en la persona que debemos ser” El ABC del éxito de John C. Maxwell
Profile Image for Nguyen Huu Anh Vu.
142 reviews10 followers
January 23, 2020
Quyến sách tổ hợp những tinh hoa của các cuốn trong series 101 và gắn thêm mục đích cho nó: Để thành công

Thành công:
- Biết rõ mục đích sống.
- Có ước mơ
- Sẵn sàng thất bại. (Sẽ luôn có bài học xuất hiện đi xuất hiện lại tới khi nào ta học được nó mới thôi) -> Thái độ 101
- Bắt đầu bằng tự chủ, kiểm soát cảm xúc, thời gian, ưu tiên... bản thân

Phẩm chất cần có:
- Hợp tác, khả năng làm việc nhóm -> MQH 101, làm việc nhóm 101
- Nhân cách - xây dựng lòng tin -> Tự phát triển 101
- Năng lực -> Tự phát triển 101, Trang bị 101
- Kiên trì -> Cố vấn 101
- Không ngừng học hỏi

Sẵn sàng:
- Vượt khó -> Thái độ 101, Lãnh đạo 101
- Làm người chơi chủ lực
- Lên cấp độ tiếp theo của lãnh đạo -> Lãnh đạo 101


Hành động sau khi đọc:
- Rèn nhân cách: Xem lại các vấn đề hay gặp trong quá khứ, tìm nguyên nhân, xin lỗi, lên kế hoạch để không tái phạm
Profile Image for Fernando Cabezas Astorga.
459 reviews9 followers
February 4, 2022
Un libro para no sólo entender el éxito, sino para llevarlo a su materialización en la acción. El autor pone énfasis en varios conceptos capitales que van dando las pinceladas necesarias para configurar una vida exitosa.

Centrándose en el valor de la propia palabra y en desglosar los patrones del éxito, hilvana algunos conceptos que influyen en la mentalidad y el modo de enfrentar los desafíos, del valor del fracaso, en el hacerse cargo de las propias decisiones para construir la persona que queremos ser.

Un elemento muy destacable es que el autor cifre también el éxito en el hecho de inspirar y apoyar a otros, incluso como elemento a perseguir para el éxito personal.
Profile Image for Nasa.
95 reviews
February 22, 2025
I just finished this book, and I have to say it’s really good!

One of my favorite passages is:
“When we have a dream, we’re not just spectators sitting back, hoping everything turns out all right. We take an active role in shaping the purpose and meaning of our lives. The winds of change don’t simply push us in random directions. When pursued, our dream becomes the strongest predictor of our future. That doesn’t mean success is guaranteed, but it significantly increases our chances.”

To me, success isn’t just about achieving what we expect, it’s about the impact we create. True success comes from what we can give and the meaning we find in contributing to others.
151 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2021
So much info! This little book was meant to be a summary, and that's what it is. It was a data dump from John Maxwell, and I plan on walking back through it and trying to pull some quotes from it. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to see progress in their life goals and careers. It had so many areas to consider how you can improve yourself and really gave some good insights. I was impressed by the amount of quality information was contained inside such a small little book.
Profile Image for Carleen.
209 reviews
September 11, 2018
"We are truly the lost generation, huffing and puffing down the fast track to nowhere, always looking for the dollar sign for direction. That's the only standard we recognize. We have no built-in beliefs, no ethical boundaries." -Texas Business

"As long as you're green, you're growing. As soon as you're ripe, you start to rot." -Ray Kroc
Profile Image for Natalia Luneva.
54 reviews21 followers
Read
March 10, 2020
Big part talking about failures and how to go about them.

"You don't spend your money, you spend your time." So if you are buying a boat house, you don't pay it with money, you pay with 5 years of your work, so next time buying something, think about what part of your life you'll need to spend buying that product.
Profile Image for Russ.
61 reviews3 followers
January 6, 2018
This is my favorite of the 101 series so far. I'm not sure why exactly - there are good reminders of success being a journey, and failures as well. Nothing earth shattering, but a lot you already know repackaged in the way that only John Maxwell does. Definitely worth reading.
Profile Image for Corey Nery-Guity.
22 reviews
December 24, 2018
Success is anything but a goal or destination. Success is more about your character and influence, how you can contribute to the world rather than a location or dollar amount.


Inspired Quote
"If you want to be a success, you have to learn success for yourself."
Profile Image for Cameron.
461 reviews33 followers
May 30, 2023
“Failure is not avoidable. It’s not to be feared, it is a measure of success. New Coke was a learning experience. Mistakes are great, look forward to them.”

“Focus on your main goal. If you try to chase two rabbits, both will escape.”

“Success is about planting seeds that help others.”
Profile Image for Luis Benites.
6 reviews
September 13, 2025
Excelente libro

Muy motivador, desafiante y una lectura sencilla y divertida. Lo disfrute.
Seguiré creciendo en mi liderazgo poniendo en práctica los principios que este libro enseña.
Profile Image for Stephen.
Author 4 books57 followers
September 22, 2017
READ SEP 2017

Another nice compact resource from Maxwell's 101 series.
1 review2 followers
February 5, 2019
Bases para el crecimiento personal

Toda persona debería leerlo. Base para todo proyecto tanto personal como colectivo. Útil para todas las facetas de la vida
Profile Image for Phuongvu.
555 reviews89 followers
May 19, 2019
Đọc tóm gọn. Dễ mang theo để đọc ở bất cứ đâu
Profile Image for Mr..
84 reviews13 followers
Read
July 1, 2019
Cheesy and cliche quotes, but still motivating. John C. Maxwell is richer than god because idiots like me read his books when suicidal. So it goes.
Profile Image for Mayra Rodriguez.
8 reviews
October 4, 2021
Los consejos son buenos y muy puntuales. Además de que el libro es muy fácil y rápido de leer.
Profile Image for Brent Maxwell.
414 reviews18 followers
August 28, 2022
A good book about getting better. It's very biased towards leadership, which is the author's speciality. Provides lots of thoughts about how to behave in a way that results in better outcomes.
15 reviews
January 26, 2023
People don't pay for things with money; they pay for them with time.

Great book.
27 reviews
September 18, 2023
Enjoyed the book and it's points it made and will read the bigger book.
Profile Image for Mason I..
108 reviews
December 30, 2023
Book 5 of 8 from the 101 collection! Gosh I wish I could give this one ten stars—so friggin good and so much value in proportion to its length 😭
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews

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