“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
John C. Maxwell
Leadership isn’t theory. It’s not about the perfect plan, the polished speech, or the catchy slogan. Leadership is movement. It’s the discipline of stepping forward when it’s easier to stand still. It’s the courage to take responsibility before it’s convenient. It’s the humility to teach what you’ve learned so others can do it even better.
You can’t lead from the sidelines. You can’t expect people to follow a path you haven’t walked. Real leadership—lasting leadership—is a relentless cycle of learning, doing, and teaching.
Know the Way: Clarity First, Confidence Second
You can’t lead people somewhere if you don’t know where you’re going. Clarity is the foundation of leadership, and it’s built through curiosity, discipline, and reflection. If you’re uncertain about your direction, your team will feel it.
John Doerr’s Measure What Matters lays out a powerful system for setting goals that drive real impact. If your vision feels blurry, start there.
Go the Way: Leadership Is in the Doing
Talking about leadership is easy. Living it is something else entirely. It’s about doing the hard things when no one’s watching. It’s making the tough calls, owning mistakes, and modeling resilience when things get messy. People follow what they see, not what they hear.
Jocko Willink’s Extreme Ownership is a gut check on this principle. It’s a no-nonsense read on why leaders must take full responsibility—always. If you haven’t read it yet, make it your next book.
Show the Way: Great Leaders Create Leaders
If your leadership dies with you, it was never leadership—it was control. The real test of leadership is whether the people you guide become leaders themselves. Do you simplify the path so others can follow? Do you invest in their growth? Do you give them the confidence to step up, even in your absence?
Simon Sinek’s TED Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action, unpacks this idea beautifully. If you want to understand why some leaders leave a lasting impact, watch this. I’ll bet I have seen it 50+ times in my life and I learn something new every time I watch it.
Leadership Is Service, Not a Spotlight
If leadership is about you, you’re missing the point. The best leaders aren’t chasing status—they’re creating space for others to thrive. They make the hard decisions so their teams can focus on the mission. They show up early, stay late, and do the thankless work that makes success possible.
Leadership Is a Lifelong Commitment
The moment you think you’ve “made it” as a leader is the moment you stop being one. Leadership is a process of constant refinement—sharpening your skills, adapting to new challenges, and never settling for yesterday’s success.
Who you are today isn’t enough for the challenges of tomorrow. Keep pushing. Keep learning. Keep leading.
Are You Walking the Path?
You don’t need permission to lead. You don’t need a title, a corner office, or the perfect plan. You just need to start.
Leadership is action. The only question is—are you moving?
