--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I vividly remember a conversation I had…" description: "\"I vividly remember a conversation I had many years ago in 1974, which marked a turning point in my leadership journey. I was sitting at a Holiday Inn w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/john-c-maxwell-113_communication_i-vividly-remember-a-conversation-i-had_2495328.jpg" --- # I vividly remember a conversation I had many years ago in… ![“I vividly remember a conversation I had many years ago in 1974, which marked a turning point in my leadership journey. I was sitting at a Holiday Inn with my friend, Kurt Campmeyer, when he asked me if I had a personal growth plan. I didn't. In fact, I didn't even know you were supposed to have one.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/john-c-maxwell-113_communication_i-vividly-remember-a-conversation-i-had_2495328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/john-c-maxwell-113_communication_i-vividly-remember-a-conversation-i-had_2495328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/john-c-maxwell-113_communication_i-vividly-remember-a-conversation-i-had_2495328.jpg) > “I vividly remember a conversation I had many years ago in 1974, which marked a turning point in my leadership journey. I was sitting at a Holiday Inn with my friend, Kurt Campmeyer, when he asked me if I had a personal growth plan. I didn't. In fact, I didn't even know you were supposed to have one.” [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. A pivotal conversation highlighted the need for a personal growth plan in leadership development. **In simple terms:** Leadership needs a personal growth plan. Key Takeaway Create and follow a personal growth plan. Themes leadership personal development planning Mood reflective motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - team building - mentoring - public speaking Key Concepts growth mindset goal setting self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - Do you have a clear personal growth plan? - How can you start one today? A Different Perspective Often people overlook formal planning, leading to aimless effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Conversation Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation-years-1007071/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Growth Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth-plan-322992/) [Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiday/) [Inns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inns/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-journey-1007070/) [Personal growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-growth/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Point Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-leadership-591002/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Turning point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turning-point/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [ When you finish reading the book \[Today Matters\], take the daily dozen and list them in order of how well you do them. For… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/when-you-finish-reading-the-book-today-matters-take-the-daily-dozen/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [For many many years, I've taught, not only leadership, but I've taught people that they need a personal growth plan. Growth is not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/for-many-many-years-i-ve-taught-not-only-leadership-but-i-ve-taught/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [No matter where you are in your leadership journey, never forget that what got you to where you are won't get you to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/no-matter-where-you-are-in-your-leadership-journey-never-forget-that/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The only point of having power it seems to me is to empower others. The only point of leadership is to inspire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/the-only-point-of-having-power-it-seems-to-me-is-to-empower-others/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [The end point of leadership is not just the position of power we reach, but the continual change and deepening we experience that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-hagberg/the-end-point-of-leadership-is-not-just-the-position-of-power-we/) [Janet Hagberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-hagberg/) > [“Part of the Growth Plan's genius lay in how diabolical it was. 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Your leadership journey begins when you set out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-kouzes/who-are-you-this-is-the-first-question-your-constituents-want-you-to/) [James M. Kouzes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-kouzes/) > [You need to be strategic about how you define your leadership journey and where that takes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/you-need-to-be-strategic-about-how-you-define-your-leadership-journey/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“Military leadership is a journey, not a destination. It is continually challenged, and must continually prove it self anew against fresh obstacles. Sometimes those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-zahn-star-wars-thrawn/military-leadership-is-a-journey-not-a-destination-it-is-continually/) [Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-zahn-star-wars-thrawn/) > [“get-after-it plan for success and owning your place at the next summit in your leadership journey”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/get-after-it-plan-for-success-and-owning-your-place-at-the-next/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Leadership is a journey, not a destination. It is a marathon, not a sprint. It is a process, not an outcome. (quoting John Donahoe)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-george/leadership-is-a-journey-not-a-destination-it-is-a-marathon-not-a/) [Bill George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-george/) > [Don't just let your career happen to you. You need to be strategic about how you define your leadership journey and where that takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/don-t-just-let-your-career-happen-to-you-you-need-to-be-strategic/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [I would suggest two approaches to begin the leadership journey in earnest. First would be to ask oneself, in every interaction with others over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-strock/i-would-suggest-two-approaches-to-begin-the-leadership-journey-in/) [James M Strock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-strock/) ## 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. 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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. 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