My Story, Part 3: Saying Yes to the John Maxwell Team
Dec 10, 2025 I left the Lead2Live event knowing something shifted. I wanted more rooms that challenged me and started searching on Instagram hoping to find someone who could point me in the right direction. I eventually found someone who was connected, though I had no idea who she was. Honestly, I didn’t expect her to respond at all.
I messaged her anyway, sharing my goal of attending three in-person conferences and asking which ones she recommended. To my surprise, she replied with a few suggestions. The only problem was that I didn’t know the exact name of the event she mentioned. So I googled the months March and August along with “Orlando.”
The only thing that appeared was The John Maxwell Team.
I stared at the screen, reading the words coaching, training and speaking on leadership. That wasn't what I was looking for. I just wanted to go to more events. It felt big, so I left it sit for a good while. The girls and I traveled to London for their Spring Break, and when we returned, I had a call with someone from the John Maxwell Team to learn more. After the call, I called my dad. He encouraged me to do it, so I did. I officially joined the John Maxwell Team in March of 2022, a decision that felt both terrifying and exciting all at once.
I'll never forget walking into the IMC event that August at the beautiful Orlando World Center Marriott Hotel. The room was alive and filled with people from all over the world. I knew in that moment that I needed to level up in every way. How I showed up, how I presented myself, and how I approached this new world. It was overwhelming, but in the best way.
For someone who had been a stay-at-home mom for years, returning to work was one thing. Stepping into the world of business and leadership was something else entirely. I remember sitting at a table in this massive room, listening to John Maxwell and Mark Cole talk about culture, and quietly thinking, “Why am I here? How did I end up in this room?” I was surrounded by incredibly successful people. I felt awe and disbelief being in a place I had never imagined for myself. The questioning turned into motivation.
It reminded me that growth often comes from stepping into the unexpected. Even though I didn’t know a single person in the room, I found myself inspired, challenged, and deeply grateful. For someone who had been a stay-at-home mom for years, stepping into the world of business and leadership was intimidating. Being there showed me that the places that scare you the most are often the ones that shape you the most.
If you are striving to grow, keep going. Say yes before you feel ready. Walk into rooms that intimidate you. Trust that you belong before you feel like you do. Sometimes the places that scare you the most are the ones that shape you the most.
Keep showing up!
