Make Today Count

Make Today Count Plot Summary

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why some days feel so fulfilling while others slip away without impact? The difference lies not in what happens to us, but in the decisions we make. Each morning presents a blank canvas, offering the opportunity to create something meaningful, purposeful, and beautiful. Yet many of us approach our days reactively, allowing circumstances to dictate our experiences rather than intentionally shaping them. The truth is that success doesn't suddenly appear in our lives. It's built day by day through consistent choices and disciplined actions. By making key decisions and managing them well in your daily agenda, you can transform ordinary days into extraordinary ones. When you realize that today is preparation for tomorrow, you begin to treat each day with greater care and intention. The way you live your life today is preparing you for your future. The question is: What are you preparing for? Success is waiting for those willing to make today their masterpiece.

Chapter 1: Choose a Positive Attitude That Propels You Forward

Your attitude is a choice you make every single day, and perhaps no other decision has a greater impact on how your day unfolds. While you cannot control many external circumstances, you always maintain control over your attitude. The remarkable power of attitude is that it acts as both a filter through which you experience life and a force that influences those around you. John Maxwell discovered this truth at seventeen when his basketball coach chose him as team captain over more talented players, explaining: "John, you have the best attitude on the team, and it influences the other players." Just weeks later, he was named "Citizen of the Month" at his school for the same reason. These experiences revealed a profound insight—his attitude was not only affecting his own life but making an impact on others. This realization led to one of his most crucial life decisions: to maintain a positive attitude and use it to influence others positively. Taking responsibility for your attitude is essential. Maxwell shares how his wife Margaret once responded when asked if he made her happy: "No, he doesn't. The first two or three years we were married, I thought it was John's job to make me happy. But he didn't. He wasn't mean to me or anything. He's a good husband. But nobody can make another person happy. That was my job." This wisdom, gained in her early twenties, illustrates a truth many never learn—each person must take charge of their own attitude. To develop and maintain a positive attitude, start by identifying areas where your thinking needs improvement. Like Lucy from the Peanuts comic strip who screamed, "I don't want to feel better!" when offered comfort, many people resist changing their negative attitude areas. Instead, think, act, talk, and conduct yourself like the person you want to become. Your thinking shapes your identity, and as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Placing high value on people and developing appreciation for life further nurtures a positive attitude. When we treat others well, our interactions become like sweet melodies accompanying our day rather than jarring noise. Similarly, appreciation isn't about sophistication but perspective. As one ninety-two-year-old woman moving into a nursing home explained about her enthusiasm for her unseen room: "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It's how I arrange my mind."

Chapter 2: Set Priorities That Align With Your Greatest Return

Understanding how to prioritize effectively can transform your productivity and satisfaction. The pivotal moment in Maxwell's approach to priorities came in 1971 when, while working on a business degree, he encountered the Pareto Principle. This concept revealed that focusing on the top 20 percent of all priorities would yield an 80 percent return on effort. This was his eureka moment, leading to a life-changing decision: to prioritize his life and focus energy on activities offering the highest return. This insight fundamentally altered his view of himself and his work. Maxwell realized he had been spending too much time on counseling and administration—areas outside his strengths—rather than focusing on activities where he excelled. These activities weren't bad, just bad for him. While initially this led to some humorous misapplications (like telling his wife they should hire someone to mow the lawn to stay focused, prompting her question, "Pay with what?"), it ultimately became a guiding principle for maximizing his effectiveness. To determine and act on important priorities daily, start by taking back control of your time. As poet Carl Sandburg said, "Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you do not let other people spend it for you." Instead of surrendering to interruptions and distractions, actively decide how your day will unfold. When ordering priorities, ask yourself three critical questions: What is required of me? What gives me the greatest return? What gives me the greatest reward? The first addresses necessities and obligations. The second focuses on high-impact activities where your contribution makes the most difference. The third considers personal satisfaction. While many people want to start with the reward question, true success comes from addressing requirements and returns before adding personal rewards. Staying in your strength zone maximizes your productivity and potential. Through trial and error, counsel from others, personality assessments, and evaluated experience, identify areas where you naturally excel. As British Prime Minister William Gladstone wisely noted, "He is a wise man who wastes no energy on pursuits for which he is not fitted; and he is wiser still who from among the things he can do well, chooses and resolutely follows the best." To manage priorities effectively, evaluate them daily since conditions constantly change. Plan your time carefully, with specific hours allocated to important tasks. Follow your plan rather than finishing low-priority tasks first just to feel accomplished. Delegate whenever possible, using the 80 percent rule—if someone else can do a task 80 percent as well as you, hand it off. Finally, invest time in developing people with the greatest potential rather than spending all your energy on problem people.

Chapter 3: Commit to Health Habits That Fuel Your Energy

Health is an area many take for granted until faced with serious consequences. Maxwell candidly shares how for much of his life, he neglected his health while maintaining an intensely busy schedule. Leading a church of over three thousand people with a staff of fifty plus traveling to speak more than a hundred days per year for his leadership organization, he rarely exercised, ate poorly, and was overweight. Yet annual physicals showing excellent results led him to believe he could continue this lifestyle indefinitely. Everything changed on December 18, 1998, when Maxwell suffered a serious heart attack at his company Christmas party. As he lay on the floor awaiting paramedics with excruciating chest pain, he thought he might not survive. At the hospital, doctors worked unsuccessfully with various treatments until, through a remarkable chain of connections, one of the finest cardiologists in Atlanta arrived and performed a new procedure to remove a clot in his heart. The doctor later explained that had the heart attack occurred just a year or two earlier, before this procedure was developed, it likely would have been fatal. The wake-up call came during recovery when Maxwell learned he had sustained no damage to his heart and could make a full recovery—if he changed his lifestyle. At fifty-one, he made a critical health decision: to take good care of himself by exercising and eating right. This decision became even more meaningful when his doctor explained that men who survive an early heart attack and learn from it often live longer, healthier lives than those who never experience one. Finding motivation for good health often begins with having a purpose worth living for. During recovery, a friend noticed Maxwell consistently passing on desserts—uncharacteristic behavior—and asked if he'd lost his craving for sweets. "No," Maxwell replied, "but my craving for life is greater." This perspective helps us endure the small irritations of health disciplines for the greater goal of a long, meaningful life. Working in areas you enjoy also contributes significantly to health by reducing stress. When you do work you believe adds value and keeps you in areas of strength, you avoid the demoralizing effect of prolonged activity in weakness zones. Similarly, finding your proper pace—not too slow to become lazy nor too fast to burn out—creates sustainable health habits. Even at fifty-seven, Maxwell acknowledges his continuing challenge to balance his drive to accomplish with maintaining a healthy pace. To manage health effectively, eat right by focusing on moderation and daily choices rather than crash diets. Exercise consistently, recognizing that immediate payoffs often seem small but accumulate significantly over time. Handle stress effectively by addressing problems promptly rather than allowing issues to build up. These daily disciplines, while sometimes challenging, create the foundation for energy that fuels all other success areas in life.

Chapter 4: Invest in Family Relationships That Matter Most

Family relationships often face their greatest threats during periods of career success. Maxwell shares how in 1986, at thirty-nine, he noticed an alarming trend—the marriages of colleagues, college buddies, and friends were breaking down. While his own relationship with Margaret seemed strong, he realized many couples who eventually divorced had also once believed their marriages were unshakable. This realization, coinciding with his career acceleration, prompted a defining decision: to rewrite his definition of success as "having those closest to me love and respect me the most." This decision positioned his wife Margaret and children Elizabeth and Joel at the center of his definition of success. He recognized that outward achievement would be meaningless without bringing his family along on the journey, and that applause from others could never replace the appreciation of loved ones. Family became a priority that demanded intentional care and communication. Building a solid family requires deliberate effort. Early in their marriage, Maxwell neglected Margaret while throwing himself completely into his pastoral work—setting appointments every evening, working six-day weeks, and even working on his supposed day off. He mistakenly believed their six years of dating history would carry them through while he devoted himself to career building. Eventually, he realized that "a marriage can't survive forever on leftovers. It needs to be fed continually, or it will eventually starve." To strengthen family connections, first determine your priorities. After his wake-up call about neglecting Margaret, Maxwell changed his approach to career, carving out protected time for her, safeguarding his day off, and budgeting for special times together. Next, decide on your family philosophy based on core values. The Maxwells built theirs around commitment to God, continual growth, common experiences, confidence, and contributions to life—keeping their philosophy simple and focused on non-negotiables. Developing effective problem-solving strategies is equally crucial. Maxwell's friends Kevin and Marcia Myers created "fair fight rules" after realizing Kevin's outgoing, verbal style was overshadowing Marcia's quieter nature during disagreements. Their system included setting appointments to discuss issues rather than picking at each other, and allowing Marcia to speak first. After twenty years of marriage, this approach continues working well for them. Managing family relationships daily requires putting family on your calendar first. Maxwell blocks out weeks for family vacations, schedules time with Margaret not just for activities but simply to be together, and makes time for grandchildren. Creating family traditions gives your family shared history and identity, while finding ways to spend quantity time together builds bonds. As psychiatrist Armand Nicholi notes, "Time is like oxygen—there's a minimum amount that's necessary for survival. And it takes quantity as well as quality to develop warm and caring relationships."

Chapter 5: Develop Thinking Patterns That Create Advantage

The power of good thinking can transform your life trajectory when cultivated early and consistently. Maxwell was fortunate to discover this principle in his youth when his father required all three children to read for thirty minutes daily. Two books made a profound impression: Norman Vincent Peale's "The Power of Positive Thinking" and James Allen's "As a Man Thinketh." Allen's statement that "All that a man achieves or fails to achieve is the direct result of his thoughts" particularly resonated with fourteen-year-old Maxwell, prompting his decision: "I will think on things that will add value to myself and others." This decision set the foundation for a lifetime of intentional thinking. Understanding that great thinking develops from good thinking, which develops from simply becoming a thinker, Maxwell emphasizes that quality ideas emerge only after producing many mediocre ones. The path to becoming a powerful thinker requires practice and development—your thinking ability is determined not by desire but by your past thinking efforts. Rather than viewing thinking as a single skill, Maxwell identifies eleven different thinking skills: big picture thinking, focused thinking, creative thinking, realistic thinking, strategic thinking, possibility thinking, reflective thinking, questioning popular thinking, shared thinking, unselfish thinking, and bottom-line thinking. This diverse perspective prevents the common mistake of valuing only the type of thinking at which you naturally excel while dismissing other equally valuable modes. When developing your thinking abilities, maximize your strengths while staffing your weaknesses. Most people excel naturally in a few thinking skills while struggling with others. Instead of trying to master all areas equally (which requires tremendous energy for diminishing returns), focus on developing your natural thinking strengths to exceptional levels. For areas where you're weak, gather people around you with complementary strengths. Maxwell has practiced this principle for decades—relying on his wife Margaret, his brother Larry, and various team members to compensate for his thinking gaps. To manage thinking as a daily discipline, find a dedicated thinking place. Since his first job in 1969, Maxwell has always designated a specific location for daily thinking—from a spring outside his home in Indiana to a particular chair in his Atlanta office. While the locations changed throughout his career, having a dedicated space free from interruptions became essential to his thinking process. Set aside specific think time every day, discovering when your mind is sharpest. For Maxwell, early mornings prove ideal for most thinking types, while evenings work better for reflective thinking. Find a process that works for you—whether you need music, a computer, pen and paper, or other environmental elements to stimulate your thoughts. Most importantly, capture your ideas immediately using a system of notepads, index cards, or digital tools, and then put those thoughts into action quickly before they lose their potency and impact.

Chapter 6: Practice Financial Discipline That Provides Options

Financial habits often reveal themselves early in life, as demonstrated by the stark contrast between Maxwell and his brother Larry during childhood. While Larry eagerly worked summers and saved money to buy a car at sixteen, Maxwell preferred playing with friends and had no savings. This pattern continued until 1985 when, studying for ministry (a profession unlikely to generate significant wealth), Maxwell and his wife Margaret made a pivotal financial decision: "We will sacrifice today so that we can have options tomorrow." This decision led them to establish a clear financial formula: 10 percent to church/charity, 10 percent to investments, and 80 percent to living expenses. When friend Tom Phillippe offered an investment opportunity in one of his retirement centers, they accepted. Rather than spending the returns from these investments, they reinvested them, building financial security that provided increasing options as they aged. To make wise financial decisions daily, first put the value of things into proper perspective. Our culture often values money and possessions over what truly matters—people and relationships. Alexis de Tocqueville remarked over a century ago that he knew of "no other country where love of money has such a grip on men's hearts," an observation that remains relevant today. To assess your attitude toward possessions, ask yourself: Am I preoccupied with things? Do I envy others? Do I find my personal value in possessions? Do I believe money will make me happy? Do I continually want more? As Billy Graham noted, "If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area of his life." Recognize your season of life and adjust financial strategies accordingly. Ideally, life follows a pattern from learning to earning to returning. In the learning phase (typically teens and twenties), focus on discovering talents and purpose. During the earning phase (often thirties through fifties), take care of family and prepare for the future. In the returning phase (fifties and beyond), concentrate on giving back to others. While these are generalizations, they provide a framework for financial planning throughout life. Reducing debt represents another crucial financial discipline. Michael Kidwell and Steve Rhode, experts on debt management, observe that "Every person in debt is suffering from some type of depression. Debt is one of the leading causes of divorce, lack of sleep, and poor work performance." While debt for appreciating assets like education or housing can be sensible, debt for frivolous items leads to trouble. Their five-step approach to reducing debt includes stopping further debt, tracking cash, planning for the future, avoiding expectations of instant miracles, and seeking professional help when needed. To manage finances effectively daily, become a good earner by maximizing your earning potential while maintaining proper balance with other life priorities. Practice gratitude for whatever you have rather than focusing on what you lack. Avoid comparing yourself to others, which often leads to debt from trying to match others' lifestyles. Finally, give as much as you can, recognizing that money is an extension of yourself that can bless others. As philanthropist Andrew Carnegie demonstrated by spending the first half of his life accumulating wealth and the second half giving it away, financial discipline ultimately provides options for greater service and impact.

Chapter 7: Live Values That Guide Your Daily Choices

Values provide the foundation for consistent decision-making and integrity throughout life. For Maxwell, a defining moment came in 1970 at age twenty-three when reading J. Oswald Sanders' "Spiritual Leadership." Until then, he had been a people pleaser in his leadership, making decisions based on popularity rather than principle. The book challenged him to lead according to values, prompting his decision: "I will lead others based on the values I embrace." This commitment transformed his leadership approach, as he wrote three specific commitments inside the book's back cover: to be God's man regardless of where his work took him, to develop his potential fully without becoming lazy or indifferent, and to be a true spiritual leader guided by his faith rather than being "poured into another man's mold." For thirty-four years following this decision, Maxwell has consistently asked himself: "Am I leading others according to the values I embrace?" While this value-based leadership occasionally alienated him from others, it never alienated him from himself. To embrace and practice good values daily, start by creating a comprehensive list of admirable character qualities and important principles. After generating this initial list, set it aside temporarily but continue thinking about it. Over several weeks, refine the list by combining overlapping ideas and narrowing it down to core values that truly represent your highest ideals. Ask yourself: What would you be willing to live for? To die for? Eliminate anything superficial or temporary, and if married, involve your spouse in this process to ensure alignment. Embracing these values wholeheartedly prevents the midlife crisis that Jim Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, described as "more a phenomenon of a wrong value system than it is the age group in which it occurs. All of a sudden you realize that the ladder you've been climbing is leaning against the wrong wall." As physicist Albert Einstein advised, "Try not to become men of success. Rather, become men of value." This wisdom recognizes that focusing on values naturally leads to a better quality of life, integrity, and often success as a byproduct. Managing values as a daily discipline requires vigilance because your values will be continually tested by those who don't share them. Maxwell practices reviewing and reflecting on his values daily using a small notebook containing his "Daily Dozen" that he carries everywhere. Additionally, he gives himself a "twelve-minute test" each evening, spending one minute reviewing each of his twelve core values to ensure he stays aligned with them. To become better at living your values daily, articulate and embrace them frequently through written statements explaining how each value applies to your life. Keep these statements visible and refer to them when making decisions. Business leaders understand this principle—Stew Leonard, president of his grocery store chain, continuously verbalizes the value of customers by reminding staff that each customer represents $50,000 in lifetime value. Compare your practices to your values daily, remembering that the disconnect between knowing and doing creates chaos in your life. Most importantly, live out your values regardless of feelings, letting principles rather than emotions guide your actions. As Ken Blanchard and Norman Vincent Peale wrote, "Nice guys may appear to finish last, but usually they are running in a different race."

Summary

The journey to making each day a masterpiece begins with recognizing that success is not an accident but a process built through daily decisions and disciplines. Throughout this exploration of twelve critical life areas, one truth emerges consistently: what you do today shapes who you become tomorrow. As Maxwell discovered after his heart attack, "My craving for life is greater" than momentary pleasures—a perspective that transforms how we approach each day. Your masterpiece life awaits your decision to begin. Choose one area from the Daily Dozen to focus on this month—whether attitude, priorities, health, family, thinking, commitment, finances, faith, relationships, generosity, values, or growth. Make the decision that will move you forward, then practice the corresponding discipline every day. Don't try to change everything at once. By focusing on one decision each month, within a year you'll find your life moving purposefully in directions you've deliberately chosen. When you take care of today, tomorrow takes care of itself.

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John C. Maxwell

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