The 21 Laws of Leadership? More Like 21 Ways to Make You Wonder Why You're Still Procrastinating

By Benny Kennedy

So, I picked up this book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell, thinking, "Sure, let's see if I can become a Jedi master of leadership by the time I finish my coffee." And let me tell you, folks, this thing reads like a leadership buffet — but like, one of those massive all-you-can-eat places where you’re overwhelmed by choice and end up eating a slice of pizza and three different kinds of salad. That’s what The 21 Laws feels like: there’s something here for everyone, but good luck trying to digest it all at once.

Maxwell kicks things off by saying leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. I paused at that one. Influence, huh? My dog has "influence" when he looks at me with those big, sad eyes, but I'm not sure I’d trust him to run a Fortune 500 company. But Maxwell? He's not kidding. He spends the next 250 pages dropping story after story of business tycoons, historical figures, and athletes who, by their sheer magnetism and a few sharp decisions, went from Joe Schmo to Mr. CEO.

Now, here’s the thing. Maxwell’s got 21 "irrefutable" laws, and they're all pretty snappy. You’ve got the "Law of the Lid" (which isn't about canning pickles, despite the name), the "Law of Solid Ground" (which sounds like it belongs in a hiking guide), and my personal favorite, the "Law of the Big Mo." That’s momentum, folks, not a nickname for your buddy from college. It's that moment when the stars align, and suddenly, you’re unstoppable — or so Maxwell claims. I don’t know about you, but I’m still waiting for my "Big Mo" to come knocking.

Maxwell’s strength, and I have to hand it to him, is that he takes what feels like common sense and packages it in a way that makes you want to stand up and shout, "Yes! I can do that!" He’s like the friend who somehow manages to turn going to the gym into an adventure. Take the "Law of Process," for example. This law is basically saying, "Hey, leadership isn’t built in a day. You’ve got to work at it, make mistakes, learn, grow — repeat." It’s Maxwell at his most practical, reminding us that even the best leaders didn’t get there by sheer talent alone, but through grit. It’s like, okay, John, I get it. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I’m still trying to finish this to-do list by Friday.

Maxwell peppers the book with enough examples to make your head spin. The guy loves a good anecdote, and he’s got them in spades. We’re talking everyone from Mother Teresa to Ray Kroc (the McDonald's guy — yeah, that’s right, even the king of the Big Mac gets a leadership shout-out). You’ll feel inspired one moment and slightly inadequate the next, as Maxwell reminds you that if McDonald’s can create an empire from hamburgers, surely you can get that promotion you’ve been gunning for.

But here’s where I get a little side-eye going. Maxwell makes leadership seem both aspirational and — well — a bit formulaic. Like, if I just follow the 21 rules, do I get a leadership badge at the end of it? Maybe I’ll just start carrying around a clipboard, bossing people around, and see if that works.

Jokes aside, this book is a classic for a reason. Maxwell knows his stuff. The guy’s written about 900 leadership books (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration), and he’s been around the block. There’s wisdom here if you’re willing to dig through the laws and apply them one step at a time. I’ll admit, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, but if you take the Maxwell method with a side of patience, you’ll find nuggets of gold. Or at least silver.

In conclusion, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is the kind of book that will make you feel both motivated and mildly guilty for not already being the next Steve Jobs. But hey, Maxwell’s got your back. Leadership’s a process, right? So maybe after a couple more coffee refills, I’ll start figuring out this whole influence thing. Or maybe I’ll just convince my dog to sit still long enough for a selfie. Baby steps.