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Master What Matters: 12 Value Choices to Help You Win at Life
Move past what used to be, stop day-dreaming about what could be, and make the most of today with the fourteen values that help leaders win at life. The choices you make every day based on your values are what define you. And define your life. Make the right ones, and you are a winner. And here’s the good they’re not rocket science. Anyone can make them. Internationally bestselling author and leadership expert John C. Maxwell shares twelve everyday choices that you can make today and every day. They will help you master what matters so that you can have a better life.
About Maxwell Moments
Maxwell Moments is an innovative new line of derivative books unlike any other Maxwell books in the marketplace. They will look and feel fresh, appealing to a younger and more innovative audience while delivering the time-tested Maxwell message of hope, personal growth, leadership development, and success.
Titles in the Maxwell Moments series will be single-concept books in a creative format, chock full of wisdom, insight, and inspiration. Each will contain the essence of one of John’s messages, divided into short chapters to be savored in small bites, read in a single sitting, given as gifts, and used as mentoring tools.
About Maxwell Moments
Maxwell Moments is an innovative new line of derivative books unlike any other Maxwell books in the marketplace. They will look and feel fresh, appealing to a younger and more innovative audience while delivering the time-tested Maxwell message of hope, personal growth, leadership development, and success.
Titles in the Maxwell Moments series will be single-concept books in a creative format, chock full of wisdom, insight, and inspiration. Each will contain the essence of one of John’s messages, divided into short chapters to be savored in small bites, read in a single sitting, given as gifts, and used as mentoring tools.
- GenresLeadership
208 pages, Paperback
Published September 13, 2022
31 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
John C. Maxwell
1,000 books5,859 followersJohn 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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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 4, 2025
A few helpful insights. Here are some of my favorites:
"What would be a successful life for you? And how can you get there? (p. 3)"
"The most successful people in life are the ones who settle their value choices early and manage those choices daily. The earlier you settle these choices in your life, and the longer you live them, the greater your potential for success (p. 6)."
"Winning at life is going to bed at night knowing you have done your best and given yourself to the things that matter the most (p. 6)."
"What matters most? The choices you make every day based on your values.
Focus on today.
See the glass as half-full.
View everyone as a potential friend.
Do what you say you'll do.
Put important ahead of urgent.
Give your family your best.
Make yourself better every day.
Think your way to the top.
Never put off your health.
Keep money in perspective.
Make room for faith.
Give more than you take (p. 8)."
"Today is the only time you have (p. 14)."
"'Make today a masterpiece' (John Wooden, p. 15)."
"Hoping for a good future without investing in today is like a farmer waiting for a crop without ever planting any seed (p. 18)."
"Today is the only time we have within our grasp. Don't let it slip through your fingers (p. 20)."
"Today is what God entrusted to me (p. 23)."
"Looking for the positive in every situation helps you see opportunities you would otherwise miss (p. 29)."
"'Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out' (John Wooden, p. 31)."
"Seeing the glass as half-full will not change your circumstances (p. 41)."
"Being connected to others is one of life's greatest joys... the best of life comes when you initiate and invest in good relationships (p. 45)."
"To succeed in life, you must care about people (p. 49)."
"You must be willing to give more than you expect to receive (p. 57)."
"When you say you will do something, small or large, do you do it? When you make a commitment, can others be sure you will keep it? (p. 61)"
"You cannot control your circumstances, nor can you control others (p. 63)."
"Commitment is what you must put in today to be successful (p. 64)."
"Your time is priceless (p. 77)."
"Since you can't change time, you must instead change your approach to it. Most people are driven by the urgent, by whatever comes up next. To win at life, you can't do that (p. 78)."
"'Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists of the elimination of nonessentials' (Lin Yutang, p. 81)."
"'Devoting a little of yourself to everything means committing a great deal of yourself to nothing' (Michael LeBoeuf, p. 82)."
"To change your life, you need to change your priorities (p. 83)."
"What must be done that only you can do?... What must you do personally? (p. 84)"
"There are certainly things you are born to do (p. 85)."
"Some tasks or activities make you glad you're alive (p. 85)."
"You can't allow what's urgent for others to drive your life... Run on your track. You must choose. When you take control of your day, you take control of your life. It's the only one you get. Make the most of it (p. 87)."
"Do you want to change the world and make it a better place? Good. Start by going home and loving your own family. Let change begin there (p. 93)."
"Express appreciation for each other. How do you treat your family moment to moment, day to day? Do you tell them you love them? Do you stop and take time to speak life giving words to them? You should (p. 94)."
"Put your family on your calendar first (p. 97)."
"Don't let time with family feel like an interruption. Make it an intentional act (p. 99)."
"Traditions give your family a shared history and a strong sense of identity (p. 100)."
"What are your greatest strengths? How are they related to your greatest potential? This is where you need to focus your growth (p. 111)."
"Have you ever felt like you were just stuck in some aspect of your life? You want to advance in your career, but you seem to have stalled. You desire to improve a relationship, but you aren't able to break new ground. Or you hit a plateau in your health or fitness and nothing you do seems to advance your efforts. How do you overcome such stagnation? (p. 114)"
"Personal growth changes from the inside out. When you improve your career skills, you become better equipped to face challenges (p. 115)."
"The way forward starts with internal personal growth (p. 115)."
"'If you don't try to improve yourself every day, that could be your fate (p. 116)."
"'In order to do more, I've got to be more' (Jim Rohn, p. 117)."
"'The only thrill worthwhile is the one that comes from making something out of yourself' (William Feather, p. 119)."
"Good thinkers can always overcome difficulties, including lack of resources (p. 124)."
"Whenever you're at your best, set aside a block of time every day just to think (p. 129)."
"The ultimate goal of thinking is translating ideas into action (p. 133)."
"If you make unhealthy choices, it will affect every aspect of your life--your heart, mind, and spirit (p. 138)."
"When you have something to live for, not only does it make you desire a long life, but it also helps you see the importance of the steps along the way (p. 141)."
"The worst thing you can do when it comes to any kind of potential pressure situation is to put off dealing with it. If you address issues as quickly as possible and keep short accounts with people, you greatly reduce the chances of being stressed out (p. 143)."
"People tend to value money and things over what's really important in life: other people (p. 155)."
"While possessing riches will never guarantee happiness or success, owing money can make you miserable (p. 161)."
"There is a time when people hoped that science would provide all the answers to life's questions. But science cannot do that. Ironically, what is embraced as scientific fact changes from generation to generation... Contrast that with faith. The core beliefs of Judaism and Christianity have not changed in thousands of years (p. 171)."
"Your goal should be to align your beliefs with whatever is true. Seek the truth, and you will find it (p. 173)."
"'We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience' (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, p. 181)."
"One of the most significant things a person can do while on this earth is help others (p. 190)."
"Generous people give not from the top of their purses, but from the bottom of their hearts (p. 195)."
"Giving usually involves going out of your way, but you must keep your eyes open to find opportunities to give (p. 196)."
"Live your value choices today (p. 199)."
"What would be a successful life for you? And how can you get there? (p. 3)"
"The most successful people in life are the ones who settle their value choices early and manage those choices daily. The earlier you settle these choices in your life, and the longer you live them, the greater your potential for success (p. 6)."
"Winning at life is going to bed at night knowing you have done your best and given yourself to the things that matter the most (p. 6)."
"What matters most? The choices you make every day based on your values.
Focus on today.
See the glass as half-full.
View everyone as a potential friend.
Do what you say you'll do.
Put important ahead of urgent.
Give your family your best.
Make yourself better every day.
Think your way to the top.
Never put off your health.
Keep money in perspective.
Make room for faith.
Give more than you take (p. 8)."
"Today is the only time you have (p. 14)."
"'Make today a masterpiece' (John Wooden, p. 15)."
"Hoping for a good future without investing in today is like a farmer waiting for a crop without ever planting any seed (p. 18)."
"Today is the only time we have within our grasp. Don't let it slip through your fingers (p. 20)."
"Today is what God entrusted to me (p. 23)."
"Looking for the positive in every situation helps you see opportunities you would otherwise miss (p. 29)."
"'Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out' (John Wooden, p. 31)."
"Seeing the glass as half-full will not change your circumstances (p. 41)."
"Being connected to others is one of life's greatest joys... the best of life comes when you initiate and invest in good relationships (p. 45)."
"To succeed in life, you must care about people (p. 49)."
"You must be willing to give more than you expect to receive (p. 57)."
"When you say you will do something, small or large, do you do it? When you make a commitment, can others be sure you will keep it? (p. 61)"
"You cannot control your circumstances, nor can you control others (p. 63)."
"Commitment is what you must put in today to be successful (p. 64)."
"Your time is priceless (p. 77)."
"Since you can't change time, you must instead change your approach to it. Most people are driven by the urgent, by whatever comes up next. To win at life, you can't do that (p. 78)."
"'Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists of the elimination of nonessentials' (Lin Yutang, p. 81)."
"'Devoting a little of yourself to everything means committing a great deal of yourself to nothing' (Michael LeBoeuf, p. 82)."
"To change your life, you need to change your priorities (p. 83)."
"What must be done that only you can do?... What must you do personally? (p. 84)"
"There are certainly things you are born to do (p. 85)."
"Some tasks or activities make you glad you're alive (p. 85)."
"You can't allow what's urgent for others to drive your life... Run on your track. You must choose. When you take control of your day, you take control of your life. It's the only one you get. Make the most of it (p. 87)."
"Do you want to change the world and make it a better place? Good. Start by going home and loving your own family. Let change begin there (p. 93)."
"Express appreciation for each other. How do you treat your family moment to moment, day to day? Do you tell them you love them? Do you stop and take time to speak life giving words to them? You should (p. 94)."
"Put your family on your calendar first (p. 97)."
"Don't let time with family feel like an interruption. Make it an intentional act (p. 99)."
"Traditions give your family a shared history and a strong sense of identity (p. 100)."
"What are your greatest strengths? How are they related to your greatest potential? This is where you need to focus your growth (p. 111)."
"Have you ever felt like you were just stuck in some aspect of your life? You want to advance in your career, but you seem to have stalled. You desire to improve a relationship, but you aren't able to break new ground. Or you hit a plateau in your health or fitness and nothing you do seems to advance your efforts. How do you overcome such stagnation? (p. 114)"
"Personal growth changes from the inside out. When you improve your career skills, you become better equipped to face challenges (p. 115)."
"The way forward starts with internal personal growth (p. 115)."
"'If you don't try to improve yourself every day, that could be your fate (p. 116)."
"'In order to do more, I've got to be more' (Jim Rohn, p. 117)."
"'The only thrill worthwhile is the one that comes from making something out of yourself' (William Feather, p. 119)."
"Good thinkers can always overcome difficulties, including lack of resources (p. 124)."
"Whenever you're at your best, set aside a block of time every day just to think (p. 129)."
"The ultimate goal of thinking is translating ideas into action (p. 133)."
"If you make unhealthy choices, it will affect every aspect of your life--your heart, mind, and spirit (p. 138)."
"When you have something to live for, not only does it make you desire a long life, but it also helps you see the importance of the steps along the way (p. 141)."
"The worst thing you can do when it comes to any kind of potential pressure situation is to put off dealing with it. If you address issues as quickly as possible and keep short accounts with people, you greatly reduce the chances of being stressed out (p. 143)."
"People tend to value money and things over what's really important in life: other people (p. 155)."
"While possessing riches will never guarantee happiness or success, owing money can make you miserable (p. 161)."
"There is a time when people hoped that science would provide all the answers to life's questions. But science cannot do that. Ironically, what is embraced as scientific fact changes from generation to generation... Contrast that with faith. The core beliefs of Judaism and Christianity have not changed in thousands of years (p. 171)."
"Your goal should be to align your beliefs with whatever is true. Seek the truth, and you will find it (p. 173)."
"'We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience' (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, p. 181)."
"One of the most significant things a person can do while on this earth is help others (p. 190)."
"Generous people give not from the top of their purses, but from the bottom of their hearts (p. 195)."
"Giving usually involves going out of your way, but you must keep your eyes open to find opportunities to give (p. 196)."
"Live your value choices today (p. 199)."
November 19, 2022
Maxwell Moments, a new line of John Maxwell books, is described as “an innovative new line of derivative books unlike any other Maxwell books in the marketplace. They will look and feel fresh, appealing to a younger and more innovative audience. Titles in the Maxwell Moments series will be single-concept books in a creative format, chock full of wisdom, insight, and inspiration. Each will contain the essence of one of John’s messages, divided into short chapters to be savored in small bites, read in a single sitting, given as gifts, and used as mentoring tools.”
In this volume in the series, Maxwell tells us that there are only a handful of important value choices you need to make in your entire lifetime to win at life. He states that most people overcomplicate life and get bogged down. He covers twelve important choices, each given their own short chapter, to make in order to be successful. They are:
• Focus on today.
• See the glass as half-full.
• View everyone as a potential friend.
• Do what you say you’ll do.
• Put important ahead of urgent.
• Give your family your best.
• Make yourself better every day.
• Think your way to the top.
• Never put off your health.
• Keep money in perspective.
• Make room for faith.
• Give more than you take.
He tells us our choices are the only thing we truly control, and that the most successful people in life are the ones who settle their value choices early and manage those choices daily.
Among the subjects he addresses in the book are your daily agenda, a positive attitude, good relationships, adding value to others, resolving conflict quickly, keeping your commitments, maximizing your potential, good thinking, being generous, excellence, and your priorities.
Maxwell Moments may very well find a new audience for John Maxwell’s teaching, and I think that’s great. For me, I’ll prefer his full-length traditional books.
Below are 15 of my favorite quotes from the book:
1. Winning at life is going to bed at night knowing you have done your best and given yourself to the things that matter the most.
2. Many people figure that tomorrow is bound to be better, but they have no strategy for making it better.
3. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
4. Everything you are doing now is something you have chosen to do.
5. To change your life, you need to change your priorities.
6. To be successful, you can’t allow what’s urgent for others to drive your life.
7. When you take control of your day, you take control of your life.
8. There is no substitute for time when it comes to your family.
9. Experience is good only if it’s reflected upon and you learn from both mistakes and successes.
10. The greater your thinking, the greater your potential.
11. The ultimate goal of thinking is translating ideas into action.
12. If you want to win at life, you must make your health a priority.
13. One of the greatest causes of debilitating stress in people’s lives is doing jobs they don’t like.
14. What is the greatest choice you can make to win at life? What value has a lasting impact? Being generous.
15. Don’t measure your life by the number of people who serve you or the amount of money you accumulate. Look at how many people you serve. The greater your giving, the greater you’re living.
In this volume in the series, Maxwell tells us that there are only a handful of important value choices you need to make in your entire lifetime to win at life. He states that most people overcomplicate life and get bogged down. He covers twelve important choices, each given their own short chapter, to make in order to be successful. They are:
• Focus on today.
• See the glass as half-full.
• View everyone as a potential friend.
• Do what you say you’ll do.
• Put important ahead of urgent.
• Give your family your best.
• Make yourself better every day.
• Think your way to the top.
• Never put off your health.
• Keep money in perspective.
• Make room for faith.
• Give more than you take.
He tells us our choices are the only thing we truly control, and that the most successful people in life are the ones who settle their value choices early and manage those choices daily.
Among the subjects he addresses in the book are your daily agenda, a positive attitude, good relationships, adding value to others, resolving conflict quickly, keeping your commitments, maximizing your potential, good thinking, being generous, excellence, and your priorities.
Maxwell Moments may very well find a new audience for John Maxwell’s teaching, and I think that’s great. For me, I’ll prefer his full-length traditional books.
Below are 15 of my favorite quotes from the book:
1. Winning at life is going to bed at night knowing you have done your best and given yourself to the things that matter the most.
2. Many people figure that tomorrow is bound to be better, but they have no strategy for making it better.
3. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
4. Everything you are doing now is something you have chosen to do.
5. To change your life, you need to change your priorities.
6. To be successful, you can’t allow what’s urgent for others to drive your life.
7. When you take control of your day, you take control of your life.
8. There is no substitute for time when it comes to your family.
9. Experience is good only if it’s reflected upon and you learn from both mistakes and successes.
10. The greater your thinking, the greater your potential.
11. The ultimate goal of thinking is translating ideas into action.
12. If you want to win at life, you must make your health a priority.
13. One of the greatest causes of debilitating stress in people’s lives is doing jobs they don’t like.
14. What is the greatest choice you can make to win at life? What value has a lasting impact? Being generous.
15. Don’t measure your life by the number of people who serve you or the amount of money you accumulate. Look at how many people you serve. The greater your giving, the greater you’re living.
June 5, 2025
Simple? Yes. Easy? Not always.
But it’s a choice that’s well within your reach.
12 value choices that prioritize what really matters for us!
1. Focus on today.
2. See the glass as half-full.
3. View everyone as a potential friend.
4. Do what you say you’ll do.
5. Put important ahead of urgent.
6. Give your family your best.
7. Make yourself better every day.
8. Think your way to the top.
9. Never put off your health.
10. Keep money in perspective.
11. Make room for faith.
12. Give more than you take.
But it’s a choice that’s well within your reach.
12 value choices that prioritize what really matters for us!
1. Focus on today.
2. See the glass as half-full.
3. View everyone as a potential friend.
4. Do what you say you’ll do.
5. Put important ahead of urgent.
6. Give your family your best.
7. Make yourself better every day.
8. Think your way to the top.
9. Never put off your health.
10. Keep money in perspective.
11. Make room for faith.
12. Give more than you take.
December 30, 2024
This book was a random find for me and it didnt disappoint at all. We are what we choose to be everyday. So the book covers 12 value choices to live a better life. Each choice is beautifully written and explained in the pages. What I loved most about the book is there is no unnecessary exaggeration of same thing repeatedly. Points were crisp, easy to understand and throughout the book there are multiple quotes by famous personalities which feels relatable.
October 18, 2022
A Short Read but drives the point
A guide to lead a fuller life. A book to be read and re=read. One of thos books that well set a constant reminder on paying attention to what really matters in life.
A guide to lead a fuller life. A book to be read and re=read. One of thos books that well set a constant reminder on paying attention to what really matters in life.
August 17, 2024
Visited Barnes and Noble and the cover on this book grabbed me. It’s a quick read because you are reading great quotes and reminders about what really counts in life.
The book is well written and definitely worth the few dollars it costs.
The book is well written and definitely worth the few dollars it costs.
October 15, 2022
Lovely book on life principles that one can adopt. A quick read with nice quotes and ideas.
October 28, 2022
a motivating read
Quick and effective making you want to act! Great new format from an incredible author exposing his knowledge to a new generation
Quick and effective making you want to act! Great new format from an incredible author exposing his knowledge to a new generation
May 21, 2023
Master what matters
The book is about mastering life requirements one must read who seriously cares about their life. The book is precise but mine of information
The book is about mastering life requirements one must read who seriously cares about their life. The book is precise but mine of information
Read
June 7, 2023Interesting collection of short thought provoking quotes.
January 13, 2026
This self-help book was such an easy read, but was very beneficial and carries a lot of important lessons in life at the same time.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews