“The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example.” – John Wooden.
It was a radiant spring afternoon as Nancy, an 8-year-old with big dreams, returned home with her family after Sunday service. During lively conversation, she piped up, “When I grow up, I want to be like that man in the front.”
“Do you mean you want to be a preacher?” her father inquired.
“No,” she replied with the confidence only a child could muster, “I want to tell everyone what to do.”
Nancy’s bold declaration might seem naive, but it highlights a common misconception about leadership—a misconception that many of us have grappled with. In our fast-paced world, leadership is too often misunderstood as commanding authority rather than inspiring transformation.
Author and business professional, Ken Blanchard reminds us that, “Leadership is not about you; it’s about investing in the growth of others.” This investment begins with you. Your personal growth today is the seed for a better tomorrow. Imagine if every day you committed to learning, evolving, and leading yourself first. That’s where the magic of leadership truly starts.
Consider the remarkable journey of one of my mentors, Elizabeth McCormick—a decorated US Army Black Hawk pilot and a top-ranked Global Guru among the World’s Top 30 Motivational Speakers for 2025. With experiences ranging from command-and-control missions to high-level VIP transports, she distilled her philosophy into one powerful acronym: FLY – First, Lead Yourself!
Why is personal leadership so crucial? Because you cannot effectively guide others until you master the art of self-leadership. Dr. John Maxwell often shares that the hardest person to lead is yourself—a truth that resonates with every aspiring leader.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “People are often led to causes and often become committed to great ideas through persons who personify those ideas. They have to find the embodiment of the idea in flesh and blood in order to commit themselves to it.”
His words challenge us: before influencing the world around us, we must first embody the standards and values we wish to see. This isn’t just leadership theory—it’s the law of effective leadership.
Ray Kroc, former owner and CEO of McDonald’s, captured this idea perfectly: “The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.” You cannot be a standard or a good role model to others when you refuse to set the right standards for yourself.
Call to Action:
Reflect: What personal habits or practices are you investing in today to become the leader you aspire to be?
Share: Comment below with one change you’ve made that improved your self-leadership.
Inspire: Tag someone who exemplifies leading by example.
True leadership is a journey that starts with a single step—leading yourself. Embrace the challenge, invest in your personal growth, and become the inspiration that transforms not only your life but also the lives of others. The future is yours to shape, one intentional decision at a time. [To be continued next week].
