Maxwell Claims Most Companies Microwave Leaders Creating Pop-Tart Leaders Industry Wide
"Because we microwave so many leaders, that's why we have so many Pop-Tart leaders running. You got a lot of Pop-Tart people in your company. It's because you've been microwaving. We need to quit microwaving leaders and we need to start crock-potting leaders."
About this episode
On this episode of the Ed Mylett Show, host Ed Mylett continued his series on John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, focusing on the Law of Process, which states that leadership develops daily, not in a day. Mylett opened by criticizing social media culture for creating unrealistic expectations of overnight success, particularly among young people who see constant streams of supposed millionaires on their phones. He drew on a personal story about his father's journey to sobriety, describing how his dad committed to staying sober one day at a time rather than attempting permanent transformation in a single moment, ultimately succeeding for the rest of his life. Maxwell's teaching formed the core of the episode, where he attacked the myth that leaders are simply born with innate ability. While acknowledging some people have natural leadership leanings, Maxwell insisted anyone can learn to lead through sustained process and daily growth. He introduced the critical distinction between events and process: events encourage decisions and motivate people temporarily, while process develops and matures leaders over time. Maxwell used particularly vivid language to critique corporate training approaches, claiming companies 'microwave' leaders through quick seminars and workshops, producing what he called 'Pop-Tart leaders' who lack depth and staying power. He advocated instead for 'crock-potting' leaders through slow, sustained development. The episode emphasized that leadership encompasses at least seven core facets including influence, navigation, empowerment, relationships, timing, momentum, sacrifice, and attitude, making it impossible to master quickly. Mylett closed by urging listeners to choose one daily leadership habit to practice consistently, reinforcing that small daily improvements compound into extraordinary long-term results.
Key takeaways
- Maxwell criticized companies for microwaving leaders through quick training, creating Pop-Tart leaders instead of slow-cooking sustainable leadership.
- The Law of Process states leadership develops daily through sustained habits, not through single breakthrough moments or events.
- Maxwell identified at least seven core leadership facets including influence, navigation, empowerment, relationships, timing, momentum, and sacrifice that cannot be fast-tracked.
- Events like conferences motivate and encourage decisions but only process through daily practice actually matures and changes leaders.
- Mylett shared how his father achieved lifelong sobriety by committing to one more day at a time rather than attempting overnight transformation.
- The secret of success is found in daily agenda and habits, not in single moments or what we plan to do sometime in the future.
- Maxwell insisted anyone can learn to lead despite natural leanings, challenging the born-leader myth prevalent in business culture.