A few months ago, I had the pleasure of spending time with Margaret Maxwell, wife of John Maxwell. It wasn’t our first meeting—she had graciously welcomed us into their Florida home once before—but this was the first time I really got to sit with her. To talk. To listen. To understand the woman who has stood beside one of the most recognized leadership voices in the world.
What I learned during those conversations was powerful. Margaret raised their children, supported John through years of ministry, book tours, business building, and keynote stages—and still managed to lead a full and fulfilling life of her own. She’s an incredibly talented artist and a gifted decorator. She is calm, gracious, and balanced—everything you’d hope to find beside a man who carries so much of the world’s weight on his shoulders. She may not be front and center, but her presence, her partnership, has been instrumental to John’s success. She is the balance.
So why am I sharing this today? Well, tomorrow marks our 26th wedding anniversary. The Sunster and I—yes, 26 years of marriage, and 20 of those working side-by-side. And before you say it, I know… I don’t look a day over 30 (humor me, please). But really, today has me feeling reflective.
You know that old saying, “Behind every great man is a great woman”? I’ve always wondered—why behind? I like to think that beside every great man is a great woman. Beside him, not behind. Every step of the journey, we’ve taken it together. Sometimes I lead, sometimes he does. And that’s the key—balance. Every successful relationship, personal or professional, depends on it.
They say opposites attract, yin and yang. But more than that, real partnership is about recognizing that where one of us may be weaker, the other is stronger. The struggle comes when you have too much of the same personality—too many strong wills or too much passivity—and suddenly, there’s friction instead of flow.
During dinner with Margaret, we talked about that—knowing when to step forward and when to step back. Sometimes we anticipate what our partners need before they even know it themselves. Sometimes we carry more, sometimes less. It’s not about being the same—it’s about knowing each other well enough to move together in sync.
Someone asked me recently what the secret is to 26 years of marriage—and working together, no less. And the truth is simple: we’ve always seen each other as equals. Different strengths, different superpowers—but equal value. We’ve learned when to stand tall and when to yield, when to speak and when to just be there. That’s not compromise—it’s respect. It’s love. It’s balance.
And honestly, these same principles apply to leadership teams. The best teams aren’t made of all type-As or followers. The most successful teams are built with a thoughtful mix of personalities—people who challenge, support, stretch, and steady one another. People who know when to take the lead, and when to step back and cheer someone else on. That’s what makes it work.
Whether in marriage or in leadership, the most enduring partnerships are built not on sameness, but on synergy—two people, or a team, who understand that strength doesn’t always mean being out front. Sometimes it means holding steady beside someone else, offering support, wisdom, and presence. Margaret reminded me of that. And after 26 years with Sunny—building a life, a business, and a shared purpose—I know that true partnership is never about who leads, but about walking forward together, in step, and balanced.
