My number one philosophy for leadership is leadership by example.

Hear the words of Linda McMahon, a leader forged in the arenas of business and public life, who declared: “My number one philosophy for leadership is leadership by example. If you are not willing to do it yourself, how can you show others how to do it?” This saying is as old as humanity itself, a truth carried by every generation: leadership is not command shouted from above, but the courage to walk the path first, so that others may follow with trust. To demand what you will not do yourself is hypocrisy; to live what you ask of others is greatness.

The ancients taught this wisdom long before McMahon spoke it. In Sparta, a king ate from the same pot as his soldiers and slept on the same ground. In Rome, generals walked beside their men through snow and mud, enduring hunger and thirst as they did. The soldiers followed not because they were ordered, but because they believed. They saw in their leaders a living example, and so they marched to the ends of the earth. This is the heart of leadership by example—to earn loyalty not through fear, but through shared sacrifice.

Consider the life of George Washington. During the bitter winter at Valley Forge, his soldiers were cold, starving, and broken in spirit. Washington did not retreat to comfort. He stayed among them, sharing their hardships, walking through the camps, speaking to them face to face. By his presence, he gave his men the strength to endure. They did not fight on for pay or for fear; they fought on because their leader showed them how. Washington lived McMahon’s creed centuries before: if you are not willing to do it yourself, how can you show others how to do it?

Linda McMahon herself proved this philosophy in her rise through the world of business. She built not only companies, but also cultures of resilience, showing that success is not achieved by titles alone, but by labor, persistence, and example. Her words reflect the universal truth that workers, soldiers, families, and communities look to their leaders not merely for orders, but for inspiration. And inspiration comes not from words alone, but from action.

But let us not be deceived—this path is difficult. To lead by example demands sacrifice, for it is easier to command from a distance than to serve alongside others. It is easier to demand discipline than to live with it, easier to call for courage than to endure hardship. Yet those who take the harder way—the way of example—create bonds that cannot be broken. Their people follow not from duty alone, but from devotion.

The meaning of McMahon’s words, then, is clear: true leadership begins with the self. If you would demand honesty, be honest yourself. If you would ask for diligence, work diligently yourself. If you would call for courage, face danger yourself. In this way, your life becomes the proof of your words, and your words gain the weight of truth. Without this, leadership is hollow; with this, it becomes unshakable.

The lesson for us is this: in every realm of life—family, work, community—let your deeds match your demands. Never ask what you will not do. Walk first, then call others to follow. Serve first, then ask others to serve. In this way, you will inspire loyalty, trust, and greatness in those around you. For as Linda McMahon has said, the number one philosophy for leadership is leadership by example, and without it, no command can last.

Therefore, let your practice be this: examine what you ask of others, and ensure your life reflects it. Be the model of the discipline you demand, the courage you praise, the service you expect. For in living the example, you will become not just a leader by title, but a leader by truth. And such a leader, in every age, will always be followed.