_Leading Difficult People by Evangelist Dag Heward-Mills_ ~Chapter 1~ _Go in First_ Matthew 16:24 says, "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone wants to be my follower, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me'". Jesus led his disciples by example. He never told them to do what he couldn't do. Don't make the mistake of trying to lead people to a road you never walked. A person who knows the way and who walked the way is a better teacher than the one who only heard about the way. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, "I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand." This means people never forget what they saw. A true leader walks the journey before directing people there. People retain only 11% of what they hear and forget the 89%. Therefore, set an example, and people will never forget your teaching. Peter saw Jesus praying; hence, after his departure, Peter emphasized prayer. *Reflection Questions* 1. In what areas of my life am I asking others to do something that I'm not doing myself? How can I start leading by example in these areas? 2. What are some challenges I'm facing in my leadership journey where I need to "walk the journey" before directing others? 3. How can I apply the principle of "I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand" in my own life and leadership? 4. What example can I set today that will inspire and motivate others to follow my lead? 5. How can I prioritize prayer and other spiritual disciplines in my own life, so I can lead others in these areas with authenticity and authority? Take a moment to reflect on these questions, and ask God to guide you as you seek to lead others by example.