--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For more than a decade, I led an…" description: "\"For more than a decade, I led an organization that put on an elaborate Christmas program each December. It was a big production, with over 250 people p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/john-c-maxwell-113_big_for-more-than-a-decade-i-led-an-organiza_2537699.jpg" --- # For more than a decade, I led an organization that put on… ![“For more than a decade, I led an organization that put on an elaborate Christmas program each December. It was a big production, with over 250 people participating in more than 20 performances. By the end of the season, everyone who participated was exhausted.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/john-c-maxwell-113_big_for-more-than-a-decade-i-led-an-organiza_2537699.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/john-c-maxwell-113_big_for-more-than-a-decade-i-led-an-organiza_2537699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/john-c-maxwell-113_big_for-more-than-a-decade-i-led-an-organiza_2537699.jpg) > “For more than a decade, I led an organization that put on an elaborate Christmas program each December. It was a big production, with over 250 people participating in more than 20 performances. By the end of the season, everyone who participated was exhausted.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Large-scale projects can overwhelm participants, leading to burnout despite impressive results. **In simple terms:** Big efforts can cause exhaustion. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with sustainable pacing. Themes leadership team management burnout Mood reflective cautious Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - annual holiday shows - large event planning - volunteer coordination Key Concepts organizational dynamics energy management Questions to Reflect On - How can you protect team energy in big productions? - What safeguards prevent burnout? A Different Perspective Success without rest can diminish long‑term effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Christmas Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-program-1404018/) [Decade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decade/) [December](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/december/) [December Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/december-big-1404019/) [Each](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/each/) [Elaborate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elaborate/) [Elaborate Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elaborate-christmas-1404020/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Everyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone/) [Exhausted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhausted/) [Led](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/led/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over/) [Participating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participating/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Production](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/production/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Program December](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program-december-1404017/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Season](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/season/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [The denominational world tries to pressure its members to focus on the birth of Christ, but in doing so layers of guilt are imposed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-clayton/the-denominational-world-tries-to-pressure-its-members-to-focus-on/) [John Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-clayton/) > [Instead of inventing imaginary friends, I invented whole imaginary worlds. They were elaborate scenarios about spies and adventurers and top secret missions. I crawled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wasserman/instead-of-inventing-imaginary-friends-i-invented-whole-imaginary/) [Robin Wasserman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wasserman/) > [The Metropolitan Opera, of course, is the gold standard in opera. The Met experience includes the huge stage, the vast audience, the elaborate sets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/the-metropolitan-opera-of-course-is-the-gold-standard-in-opera-the/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [“I had to get out of this before I was killed with some elaborate cutlery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-had-to-get-out-of-this-before-i-was-killed-with-some-elaborate/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“I actually really don't want to know," I admitted. "Up until a few seconds ago I had a lot of illusions about you being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/i-actually-really-don-t-want-to-know-i-admitted-up-until-a-few/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [In summary, the Romans were opposed to tyranny in any form; and the feature of government to which they gave the most thought was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-summary-the-romans-were-opposed-to-tyranny-in-any-form-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At the time, my personal research objectives were to provide Keynesian economics with more rigorous foundations and to tighten and elaborate the logic of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-tobin/at-the-time-my-personal-research-objectives-were-to-provide-keynesian/) [James Tobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-tobin/) > [My dog has the intellectual capacity of a lime wedge, yet even he possesses an elaborate set of assumptions, based on his ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/my-dog-has-the-intellectual-capacity-of-a-lime-wedge-yet-even-he/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [We routinely participate in elaborate nonverbal exchanges even when we are not consciously aware of doing so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/we-routinely-participate-in-elaborate-nonverbal-exchanges-even-when/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) > [There can be no defense like elaborate courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-can-be-no-defense-like-elaborate-courtesy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Structure that really pays off is all based on emotion. I don't write down an elaborate plan. It's really done by feel. It's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-swift/structure-that-really-pays-off-is-all-based-on-emotion-i-don-t-write/) [Graham Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-swift/) > [“But what was it in himself he needed to look at so much that he'd invented this elaborate scenario?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-g-hunter/but-what-was-it-in-himself-he-needed-to-look-at-so-much-that-he-d/) [Allan G. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-g-hunter/) > [I hope that if you are employed full-time, you are doing it to ensure that basic needs are met and not simply to indulge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-hope-that-if-you-are-employed-full-time-you-are-doing-it-to-ensure/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [The more we elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-we-elaborate-our-means-of-communication-the-less-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Would you care to elaborate?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/would-you-care-to-elaborate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. If you want to make your father happy, listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-make-your-mother-happy-talk-to-her-if-you-want-to-make/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Experiences isn't the best teacher - evaluated experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/experiences-isn-t-the-best-teacher-evaluated-experience-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-person-who-has-a-dream-knows-what-he-is-willing-to-give-up-in-order/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. 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