Investing in Your Own Leadership Development

Nearly 20 years ago I went to my first John Maxwell leadership conference.  As I  listened to him teach, a hunger to grow as a leader swelled up within me.  At the end of the first day he promoted a special on 100 of his Leadership audio tapes,  12 of his favorite leadership books and a  daily leadership devotional all packaged together in a Personal Growth Kit for $500. As he described this offer I started to salivate.  But here’s the part that really got me… He said, “I guarantee if you buy this resource and work your way through it over the next year you will not be the same!”   As I listened I knew it wasn’t a sales pitch, it was a leader who had a heart to see other leaders grow.

I was  just starting out in ministry and didn’t have $500 but I wanted those resources more than anything.  That evening  I told Cindy about the special deal and her immediate response was,  “You’ve got to get it.”  I laughed reminding her we didn’t  have $500.  But she continued to persuade me.  On the second day of the conference I went back and sat through another round of leadership training and walked away resisting the urge to make the purchase.  But again that evening Cindy urged me saying, “Mac, if you’re going to lead you have to invest in yourself.”

The next day I purchased the Personal leadership growth kit.  To this day I consider that one of the best investments in my entire life.  I listened to all 100 tapes and read all the books within 6 months.  As soon as I finished I started re-listening and re-reading.  Over the years I wore those leadership tapes out. I thank God for that Personal Growth Kit and also for a wife who was wise enough to encourage me to invest in myself.

We are five weeks away from a new year.  What are you going to do to invest in your own leadership development in 2010?