I don't know any other way to lead but by example.

The words of Don Shula, “I don’t know any other way to lead but by example,” rise like a call to arms for all who hold the burden of guiding others. In this simple confession lies a profound truth: that the only leadership worth following is the kind that is lived. A leader’s words may inspire for a moment, but their actions—seen, felt, and shared—become the eternal fire by which others are warmed and guided. To lead by example is to embody the very virtues one demands of others, to stand not above but among, showing the path by walking it first.

The ancients knew this law well. When Leonidas stood with his three hundred Spartans at Thermopylae, he did not command from afar. He fought in the very front ranks, sharing the same dust, the same blood, the same fate as his men. His leadership was not in speeches but in sacrifice. He led by example, and because of that, his name is remembered not as a king who ruled, but as a warrior who stood. Don Shula’s words echo the same eternal truth: people will not follow commands half as faithfully as they will follow character.

Shula himself, one of the greatest coaches in the history of American football, lived by this creed. He was relentless in discipline, demanding excellence from his players, but only because he first demanded it of himself. His preparation was meticulous, his standards unwavering, and his work ethic tireless. His players could not doubt his authority, for they saw in him a man who lived what he taught. It was this spirit that led the Miami Dolphins to a perfect season—an achievement unmatched in history. His legacy was not only victories, but the living proof that leadership through example is stronger than any strategy or command.

History is filled with those who failed because they did not understand this principle. Tyrants who demanded courage while they themselves cowered, rulers who demanded sacrifice while they feasted in luxury—such men may rule for a season, but their legacies crumble. A leader who does not live by example builds on sand; when storms come, their followers scatter. But one who embodies their own teaching builds upon stone, and their people remain steadfast, even when trials come.

The meaning of Shula’s words is both humble and heroic. He does not claim to know all ways of leadership, nor to hold secret formulas. Instead, he admits that the only way to truly lead is to live the example oneself. This truth is both empowering and terrifying, for it leaves no room for hypocrisy. If you wish others to be disciplined, you must be disciplined. If you want them to endure, you must endure. If you demand sacrifice, you must sacrifice first. Leadership becomes not a crown upon the head but a weight upon the shoulders, carried with honor and courage.

The lesson for us is clear: if you would lead in your family, in your work, in your community, do not rely on orders or empty words. Instead, live the life you would ask of others. Speak less, embody more. Let your discipline be visible, your humility tangible, your courage undeniable. For when people see these things lived before their eyes, they will follow not from compulsion, but from conviction.

The practical action is this: each day, ask yourself, “Am I showing the example I wish others to follow?” Begin with small acts—be punctual if you ask for punctuality, be honest if you expect honesty, be kind if you hope for kindness. In time, these small acts build the fortress of your character, and your example will shine brighter than any command you could give.

Therefore, O listener, carry with you the creed of Don Shula: “I don’t know any other way to lead but by example.” For true leadership is not a throne, but a torch. And if you carry it with honor, others will not need to be driven—they will walk beside you, drawn by the light you yourself have kindled.