Lead by Example: Lessons from Football, Business, and Dave Ramsey

I recently took a family trip to the public library here in Shelbyville, Tennessee.

My daughter picked out a Sophie Mouse chapter book. She’s just starting to read on her own, and it’s been exciting to watch her grow and get better.

I grabbed EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey. I told her I’d read two chapters a day if she read one. It’s my way of showing her what it means to lead by example.

As I started reading the book, one line really stood out to me:

 

“You’re not a boss, you’re a leader. A boss tells people what to do. A leader inspires them to do it.”

 

That line hit me hard.

It reminded me of my football days. The real leaders weren’t the ones yelling from the bench. They were the ones working hard in the gym, showing up early, staying late, and giving their all. You couldn’t ask your teammates to do the work if you weren’t already doing it yourself.

 

Business works the same way.

 

Leadership isn’t just about giving orders. It’s about setting an example. If we want our teams to do better this year, we have to be the first ones to step up and lead by example.

Our success doesn’t depend on the economy or the market. It depends on us, on our attitude and our actions.

The strongest message we can send as leaders isn’t what we say. It’s how we live.

So as you grow your team this year, remember: People follow what you do. Make sure your footsteps lead them in the right direction.