One Voice

As a lifelong leader, Tony Sims was committed to his personal growth and had spent years trying to raise his capacity by reading every book and listening to every speech he could find. “My biggest challenge throughout my journey has been trying to digest too much from too many leaders. I was the guy who read the books and took the courses, but never did the exercises!”

After reading John Maxwell’s The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Tony started to feel deeply connected to John’s principles and teachings. He began using the VHS kits, cassette tapes, and watching John’s videos to expand his knowledge. “In 2014 I was completing a Certified Public Managers program at a local university and one of the presenters, Bob Hurst, introduced himself as a John Maxwell Team certified coach and I thought, ‘How did I miss that?’” Immediately, Tony found the website, contacted a program coordinator, and joined the team.

Still, Tony was trying to digest teachings from multiple sources, and he found himself overwhelmed with the different styles of growth. By trying to grow in too many different ways, he was unable to focus on the key areas he needed to be successful. That all changed when he started participating in the Mentoring calls. “I’ve learned from Paul Martinelli to ‘stay with one voice,’ and my one voice is the JMT voice.”

Focused on one program, Tony was able to concentrate on his growth in a way he never had before. Almost immediately he began to increase his capacity. “In the past three years I have grown more than all of the previous 49! My purpose, vision, and goals are so much clearer.”

Gifted with a natural leadership ability, Tony has advanced his knowledge of influence, relationship management, and his ability to problem solve. Now, he holds an appointed position in his local government and he is dedicated to bringing leadership transformation to his community.

“Pace yourself,” Tony says. “Personal growth and development is a lifelong process, not an event. Take time to reflect on what you’re learning and apply the lessons before you move onto something new.”