What to Expect When You Take the High Road
Maxwell Leadership Podcast
John Maxwell
4.8 • 2.3K Ratings
🗓️ 17 December 2025
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Leading on the high road will always cost more than you think — but it will always be worth it. In this week's episode, John Maxwell prepares you for the price of leading with integrity and conviction!
After his lesson, Mark Cole and Traci Morrow share practical takeaways from John's insights so you can apply them in your life and leadership.
Key takeaways:
— Expect that the first time you pay the price will be the hardest.
— Your account is never fully paid. High road leadership requires ongoing sacrifice.
— The high road may cost you ground, power, money or celebrity. But you'll gain immeasurable growth, strength, true wealth and credibility in return.
Our BONUS resource for this episode is the What to Expect When You Take the High Road Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/WhatToExpect and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource."
This episode is sponsored by BELAY:
Leaders, stop trying to do it all yourself. The best leaders know their limits, operate out of their strengths, and set others up for success. Find freedom with BELAY — pairing you with vetted U.S. virtual assistants so you can focus on what matters.
To help you get started, BELAY is offering Maxwell Leadership listeners a free download of their resource, 26 Things to Stop Doing in 2026. Just text MAXWELL to 55123 for FREE access.
References:
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Got big plans for 2026? Of course you do. You're a leader with vision. But when you spend the new year |
| 0:07.9 | catching up on last year's leftovers, that vision suffers. Being a better leader doesn't mean doing it all. |
| 0:15.5 | It means doing what matters most. If you want to start this year strong and ensure your priorities don't get |
| 0:22.2 | sidelined again, you need the capacity to focus on the work that only you can do. Belay has |
| 0:28.6 | helped thousands of busy leaders do just that. They pair you with a vetted U.S.-based assistant |
| 0:34.8 | so you can take back your time and lead with clarity. To get you |
| 0:39.1 | started, Belay is offering free downloads of their resource 26 things to stop doing in 2026. It outlines |
| 0:47.5 | exactly what tasks you can delegate to reach your leadership potential. To claim this offer, |
| 0:53.8 | just text Maxwell to 55123. |
| 0:57.9 | That's M-A-X-W-E-L-L to 55-1-2-3. |
| 1:04.5 | Take control of your year before it controls you. |
| 1:18.6 | Thank you. Welcome to the Maxwell Leadership Podcast. |
| 1:21.5 | We exist to add value to you, and that's exactly what we want to do today, so that you |
| 1:26.9 | will then go and multiply value |
| 1:29.3 | to others. What does it take to stay on the high road of leadership? Tracy Marl, I am so glad you're here |
| 1:37.8 | with me today. I'm so glad that you're just ready to talk about what to expect on the high road. But first I got to tell you, |
| 1:45.5 | how was, if you're listening to this live, just not too long ago was Thanksgiving. How was |
| 1:50.3 | Thanksgiving? It was so wonderful. Thank you for asking. We had multiple generations. |
| 1:57.4 | You know, we had my parents and then my brother and I and our families and then our children |
| 2:03.0 | and then our grandchildren. And of course, we always scoop up some, you know, friends from church |
| 2:07.9 | who are misplaced, some college students, you know, the tables were full. But it's, and I think |
| 2:12.8 | we talked a few weeks ago about a new grandbaby coming in. Yes. And she is here. |
... |
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