A 21st Century 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

A 12-Year Project Completed

It is not often that one completes a 12-year project.  This month, I have had the chance to do just that by  publishing a groundbreaking new book.  It is called, Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom.  

The result is the much anticipated release of a 21st Century analogue to Stephen R. Covey's famous 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

This Generation Next "Personal Leadership Handbook" is as different from the original 7 Habits as it is similar.  While it's tone, format, length, and anecdotally rich content strikingly diverges from Covey's 1990s work, its commitment to teaching, modeling, and championing correct principles that promote "Powerful Lessons in Personal Change" is just as effervescent and vibrant.

I first read Covey's timeless classic in 2001 to fulfill a requirement in a college leadership course.  Simply stated, the book changed my life.  To this day, with the exception of sacred religious texts that are near and dear to my heart, it has influenced my life more than any other book.  By 2003, I had a pretty clear vision of my life's professional purpose -- to write an analogue to the 7 Habits and start a company that might serve a new generation as ably as Stephen R. Covey and Hyrum W. Smith's contributions and companies served the last.

My son, Tucker, with
my well-worn copy
of the 7 Habits

The difficulty of this ambitious and audacious undertaking has been perennially perplexing and persistently painful, yet inexplicably rewarding and profoundly fulfilling.  Fraught with seemingly endless challenges, rejections, and failure over the course of the past decade, the journey also brought countless moments of satisfaction, success, and even elation.  More importantly, it bore much fruit in my own life, and is now beginning to bear fruit in the lives of others.

I can say without any reservations that the principles Covey and Smith taught in their masterful books over the years are as veracious as they are beneficial.  I know because I have thoroughly tested them in the laboratory of my own life.  Moreover, my careful study and application of them helped pave the way to the production of Self-Action Leadership, which I earnestly desire will help those in the 21st Century as ably as Covey's 7 Habits and Smith's 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time & Life Management assisted those in the 20th Century and beyond.  As I mention in my "Special Tribute" to both FranklinCovey Co-Founders in my book, "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." (Isaac Newton).

Click HERE to read my personal tributes to Hyrum W. Smith, Stephen R. Covey, & Charles C. Manz, whose work proved foundational to my own.

Self-Action Leadership presents an original THEORY and MODEL of self-leadership.  This new scholarship has been diligently hewn out of the ore of my own life's crucibles. It is further rooted in doctoral level action research and carefully corroborated by a cornucopia of wisdom literature spanning several millennia.

This insightful guide to freedom, success, and most importantly--personal change--signals a new era in self-help literature and the science of personal development.  It also aims to usher in a whole new cultural era in the Occident, namely, an AGE of AUTHENTICISM -- marked by character, integrity, hard work, and personal reliance -- which is destined to replace the perilous, perjurious, prurient, and pernicious era of POSTMODERNISM that has increasingly dominated Western Culture in the last 50 years.

Click HERE to learn more about the Self-Action Leadership THEORY

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Self-Action Leadership MODEL

Ranging far beyond the home, classroom, schoolhouse, or corporation, SAL aims to lead a resurgence of American Greatness and Leadership on the World Stage by influencing a renaissance of character and integrity by providing an education in True Principles based on Universal Laws of Natural Acquisition.

I love my Country.  I am proud to be an American, and have been saddened to observe the salient decline of our great nation.  Despite the perplexing problems that presently persist throughout our 50 States and other territories, I remain optimistic about her future.  I wrote Self-Action Leadership -- a non-partisan, secular, educational based personal development manual for my Country.  It is my way of saying THANK YOU to this great land, as well as all those who have made it the greatest nation in the world and the "Last best hope of Earth." (Lincoln)

I am who I am, and have accomplished what I have in large part because of the liberty, hope, opportunity, and inspiration I have derived from living in this blessed and magnanimous land of promise.

It is PAYBACK time!

By capitalizing on the tremendous liberty my Country has afforded me, I have been able to pursue and achieve personal freedom in a wonderfully remarkable manner.  It is my earnest hope that this manual will serve my Country in coming years by helping to preserve our liberty and expand the freedoms of others to ensure that our best day's are ahead of us -- not behind us.

Click HERE to watch Dr. Jensen's vision of restoring American Greatness through Education

Self-Action Leadership is written on the premise that organizational, national, and even international change is predicated on personal change; it all starts with the individual.  As individual units of an entity develop character, capacity, and competence, organizational conglomerates improve by a factor of those individual changes, and the accompanying synergistic infusion of efficiency, effectiveness, and prosperity can be staggering.

All lasting SUCCESS begins with EDUCATION

Talk to just about anyone and they'll offer up plenty of blame and point a plethora of fingers at other people and entities as they didactically diagnose the panoply of problems we presently face.  What is unfortunately rare is to find someone willing to look in the mirror, admit the presence of one's own bag full of blemishes, and then begin the process of fixing the only thing any of us has any real control over -- our own thoughts, speech, actions, attitudes, biases, and beliefs.

Our goal at Freedom Focused, and the aim of Self-Action Leadership, is to reverse this depressing trend, and return power to the people as one-by-one, individuals embrace a lifelong commitment to personal change and excellence.

Whatever your political persuasion, sexual orientation, race, culture, gender, or personality, I believe we can all unite in a pursuit of personal purification through self-awareness, personal discipline, and an accession of Universal Laws that govern both the physical world and the metaphysical results we garner by virtue of our thoughts, speech, and actions.

We invite you to join us in this movement aimed at restoring American Greatness and promoting World Peace through a dedication to individual excellence and integrity.  There can be no greater contemporary, national quest.  The impending perils of the future demand that we prepare now to tackle the trials we inevitably face down the road.  Let us prepare now lest we be swallowed up when the fiery heat of the refining fires of the future blast forth to test our mettle and see what we are really made of.

You can begin this preparatory stage now, by reading this new groundbreaking book.

CLICK on one of the links below to buy your own copy of SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom.

Buy a HARD COPY version of Self-Action Leadership

Buy an e-Copy version of Self-Action Leadership

Buy an e-version of SAL at AMAZON.COM

* Best Deal * Buy hard-copy and e-version copies of SAL at BARNES & NOBLE.COM  * Best Deal *

Click HERE to read what the EXPERTS are saying about Dr. Jordan R. Jensen and Self-Action Leadership

Click HERE to read about the AGE of AUTHENTICISM that Freedom Focused is Championing in an effort to prod POSTMODERNISM into the pages of history

Click HERE to read the Book's Foreword, written by Christopher P. Neck, Ph.D., University Master Teacher, Arizona State University; and the Book's Afterword, written by David G. Anthony, Ed.D., CEO of Raise Your Hand Texas

Click HERE to read the Author's Preface

Click HERE to watch Dr. Jensen's Full Speech on Restoring American Greatness through Education

Click HERE to watch Dr. Jensen's Introductory Seminar on Self-Action Leadership

Addressing Problems of our Age with Education in True Principles

In preparation for the 4th of July tomorrow, I wanted to share some film clips that discuss some educational solutions to the array of issues that are currently threatening the leadership, greatness, prosperity, and freedom of our blessed country -- The United States of America.


As we move deeper into the 21st Century, our nation faces profound challenges from both outside and inside of her borders.  Her deepest troubles, however, lie inside the minds and hearts of her own citizens--including YOU and ME.  Today's clips highlight what I, Dr. Jordan R. Jensen, and my company -- Freedom Focused -- are doing in an effort to become part of solutions rather than part of problems to the deep, complex, and perplexing issues of our time.

Dr. Jordan R. Jensen introduces a

Self-Help Theory of Everything

Fire, Ice, & Unity:

Successfully Confronting the Troubles of our Age

Freedom Focused's TWO Primary GOALS

Restoring American Patriotism & Greatness

Introducing Dr. Jordan R. Jensen:

Founder & CEO of Freedom Focused

A quick note to those who may have been expecting the next chapter of my book in today's blog post... Just when I thought I had shown all the video clips from my recent speech and seminar, I realized I had missed several of them. 

The next two blogs, therefore, will be dedicated to these final clips, after which I will return to the serial publication of my book -- Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal & Professional Growth beginning in a couple of weeks.  Next week's post will include one final film clip, after which, I will return again -- as promised -- to the online publication of the book.  

An Era-Shifting Speech in Education (IV)

PART 5: The Goal of Freedom Focused

At Freedom Focused, we have two overarching goals. First, EDUCATION in true principles; and Second, proactive APPLICATION of that Education.

You and I & everyone are who we are and have what we have today in large part because of our education in true principles—or lack thereof.

Good Education—and its application—is the quintessential solution to all of our preventable problems in the United States and Beyond. It is education in, and application of, true principles that leads to peace, prosperity, personal success, and professional advancement.

The Vision of Freedom Focused & the Mission of the Self-Action Leadership theory & model is to proliferate education in true principles to everyone everywhere in an effort to restore American unity and greatness in preparation to lead the rest of the world to likewise achieve their limitless potential.

PART 6: Fire, Ice, & Unity

I would like to share with you one of my favorite poems…

Fire & Ice 

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

When you consider that the legendary poet penned these immortal words but a few years after the close of World War I—not to mention the deadliest flu pandemic the world had ever known—is it any wonder that he—and others of his generation—were pondering on the sobering subject presented in this poem?

Today we stand nearly a century separated from the national and global calamities faced by Frost and his contemporaries, which conspired then to create a dour sense of dismay and even dread for the future—and understandably so. If only the War to End all Wars had lived up to its name.

If only! 

Isn’t it amazing how the more things change, the more things stay the same?! While we may not fear German artillery shells or Turkish machine-gun fire, is a terrorist intent on destroying your home and family, any less frightening?

If we, as a nation, seek to defend ourselves and protect our futures from those who, if given the slightest opportunity, would annihilate us with pleasure, the time has come for us to “stop fighting amongst ourselves” and unite in a collective embrace of the true principles and virtues that have liberated, protected, and made us a Great Nation for nearly 230 years. Moreover, we must “face that the price for it may be dear.” [1]

UNITY – unity is the only ultimate protection against those who seek our destruction, either from without or within. Yet in recent years and decades it seems as though UNITY is the most elusive virtue of all in this, the so-called UNITED States of America. Indeed, not since the Civil War has our nation been so deeply divided along ideological, partisan lines as it is today.

In 2009, our Nation voted in a new Commander-in-Chief who was elected on the stirring rhetoric of unity, and I quote:

“There’s not a liberal America and a conservative America; there’s the United States of America. There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America. … We are one people, all pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.” [2]

I cherish these words of Mr. Obama because I share this vision of unity. With all my heart, I want to believe such unity is yet possible despite the deep divisions that currently beset our desperately fractured country.

It is in this elusive spirit of UNITY that I make this address today.

I believe it is possible to regain the kind of national unity our country enjoyed throughout the World War II period, wherein our ancestors banded together on the right side of history’s most epic struggle between good and evil.

If such a slippery status of unity is possible, what must unify us? There is only one thing, and as Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama have painfully learned the past fourteen years, that one thing is not rhetoric nor partisan politicking.

The only thing that can possibly unite us once again in this great land of promise is a collective embrace of true principles – not partisan principles – but the simple truisms of self-reliance & self-government upon which our nation was founded.

I appeal to ALL Americans to put an end to the petty bickering, self-interested chicanery, and ideological extremism from all sides that got us into this mess in the first place.

I call upon every citizen throughout this not-so-united States of America to once again reclaim our nation’s cherished birthright and nomenclature: The United States of America.

Let us all take time to sincerely evaluate the role we must individually play to reinvigorate the collective unity and greatness of which the USA is yet capable.

PART 7: The Root of the Problem

As we all well know, Washington D.C. is a mess, and has been for many years. However, contrary to popular belief, the root of our nation’s troubles do not originate in our Nation’s Capitol, or in any other house of government; they lie in our own houses, and more specifically, in our own minds and hearts. While our political system is presently polluted in many ways, such issues are NOT the roots of our greatest troubles; they are the branches and leaves.

In the words of Thoreau, “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is hacking at the root.” [3]

Freedom Focused was founded, and the Self-Action Leadership theory & model were expressly established to hack at the roots of evil.

Our biggest problems do not originate with our elected officials; they begin with the voters who elect them—and those who fail to show up to the polls in the first place. “I’m sorry to say so, but sadly, it’s true,” [4] the root of our problems lie with ME—and with YOU. 

The opening lines of the Constitution do not read, I the President. They read, We the People. And if We the People are ever to form the more perfect union envisioned by our founders, it is time to stop pointing fingers at everyone and everything except where the essence of the blame most often lies—within ourselves.

If we want different leaders, we must make our voice heard at the ballot box; but it goes much, much deeper than that. You see, the brilliance of our American political system is that the people themselves are allowed to choose their leaders. And what kind of leaders do We the People—speaking collectively and not individually—ultimately elect? The answer is: those who most closely mirror ourselves and our own belief systems, ideologies, and moral compasses. In other words, we really elect ourselves to office.

Therefore, if you like who is in office, it is probably mainly because those in office are pretty much like you are, and if you don’t like who is in office, the most productive possible response is not to go and whine about it on social media, but to go to the mirror and take a closer look at who you really are, and what you are actually going to do about it.

You see it is so much easier to point the finger of blame at those in official positions of power—and make no mistake—the power they wield is formidable, and elected leaders often make decisions rooted in arrogance, ignorance, and selfishness.

Nevertheless, until we stop blaming others and start changing the only thing we are capable of changing in the entire world—namely, our own thoughts, speech, actions, and attitudes—we will never make the kind of progress of which we are capable, and as the years go by we will find ourselves in even greater danger than we presently face.

It would be easy for me to stand here and bash President Obama, or President Bush, or President Clinton, or others in elected office. Pundits, politicians, and pop cultural icons have been incessantly pointing the finger of blame for years now, and where has it gotten us? We are more divided than ever, and our problems have only worsened amidst all the hullaballooing.

Because politicians are the branches and leaves—not the roots—of the problems we face, the only way to change our nation—and our political landscape—is to change ourselves.

Changing oneself does not begin in a beneficial business venture, a charitable undertaking, or a political election. It begins inside your own mind, heart, and spirit. It begins with an education in truth and an evaluation of your own motives through the honest consultation of conscience.

Then—and only then—can your positive influence begin to impact family members, friends, and your neighborhood, school, organization, community, city, county, state, nation, and world. It all starts with the ONE—with you and with me. In the words of President Theodore Roosevelt,

“[A person’s] foremost duty is owed to himself and his family … it is only after this has been done that he can help … the general well-being. He must pull his own weight first, and only after this can his surplus strength be of use to the general public. … The quality of the individual citizen is [therefore] supreme. … Character must show itself in [a person’s] performance both of the duty he owes himself and of the duty he owes the state.” [5]

Self-Action Leadership is laser focused on empowering individuals to fulfill the duty they owe to themselves first, and then to their families, neighborhoods, schools, places of work, communities, cities, counties, states, nations, and the world-at-large—and in that specific order.

A woman or man whose own life and home are not in order has no business telling other organizations, much-less nations and states how they ought to be conducting theirs. It is high time that we as Americans—and citizens of the world everywhere—turn our attention within.

I wish to make clear that I am not a politician, nor do I have any ambition or intention of ever becoming one. The color scheme of my apparel and the pin of my nation’s flag I bear proudly this day are merely tokens of the deep patriotism and love I feel for my Country—the Greatest Nation in the history of the world—even the United States of America.

Because I am not a politician, and since I make a habit of not speaking professionally on topics of which I am not an expert, I am not here to present political solutions to our nation’s current political and cultural malaise; I will leave that to professional politicians, and I believe there are some among the rising generation who will be up to the task.

If I am not an aspiring politician, then what am I? I am an educator. I am also a philosopher, poet, amateur historian, husband, father, and self-action leader. It is, therefore, into the microphone of education, philosophy, poetry, history, family, and Self-Action Leadership that I speak today.

It is through these lenses that I have produced the Self-Action Leadership theory & model over a period of a decade of diligent study and action research, ambitious—and often painful—experience, and careful (even obsessive) consultations with my own conscience. It is through these lenses that I invite you to peer through in order to better understand the only, real solution to the problems we face in the USA and throughout the World.

The message I share today is a message of REAL hope and AUTHENTIC change—not a pseudo change that originates in Washington or London or Brussels or Baghdad (real change never begins in cities or organizations) and not a false hope promised by charismatic ideologues supported by special interest groups—but a real hope & an authentic change that must be cultivated in the minds and hearts of individual men and women, boys and girls, throughout this blessed land of Promise if the USA is to remain THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH.

The deepest problems we face today originated in homes, classrooms, and individuals minds long before they began polluting organizations, houses of government, and the culture-at-large. Ironically, these problems were exacerbated not long after the United States led the world in the most climactic triumph over tyranny and evil the Planet had ever seen; namely, the Allied victory over the Axis powers of fascist Germany and Italy, and Imperial Japan in World War II. As the old adage says: “Nothing fails like success.” 

The decades following World War II were eventually given a name: Postmodernism. This cultural phenomenon was not all bad, especially in regards to its achievements in urban planning and architecture, which can be admired the world over. More imporantly, the era of postmodernism was marked by periods of unprecedented technological advancement and much needed social changes—especially with regards to civil rights. Nevertheless, the deep and indelible mark it left on the philosophical and cultural pulse of our Nation and World has been, in a word, disastrous.

Postmodern philosophy originates in the literature of the scholarly intelligentsia. Its doctrine essentially posits that there is no absolute truth, and that all so-called “truth” is, on one level or another, merely a construct of language and therefore relative to its constructor.

Ironically, postmodern philosophy flourished best in the very institutions that had traditionally been dedicated to truth’s acquisition and identification—colleges & universities. Thus it is that we see the Latin inscription, “Veritas” hypocritically emblazoned on the collegiate crests of prestigious campuses throughout the nation and world.

The philosophy of postmodernism is understandably popular with many; after all, it is much more convenient to construct one’s own truth & conscience than it is to humbly acknowledge and then dutifully attend to the edicts of an actual truth & conscience that exists outside of the whims or wishes of the natural man.

It is certainly more comfortable in the moment to claim that “anything goes” or “if it feels right, do it,” than it is to say: “I have a social and existential responsibility to do what is right—not only for my own sake, but for the sake of all those impacted by my speech and actions.”

Instead of bowing before Universal Law in the attitude of Socrates or Kant, or bowing before a Deity in the attitude of Jesus and many of our Founding Fathers, postmodernists often seek to become a law unto themselves whereby they mistakenly assume powers that are not theirs to command.

A public address of this nature is no place to academically flesh out the many nuances of postmodernism. Suffice it to say, postmodern philosophy is complicit in exacerbating virtually all of our deepest—yet preventable—problems. It is the seminal author of our Nation’s present slump, and if left to flourish indefinitely, will be the finisher of American Exceptionalism and the end of whatever vestige of world peace we enjoy today.

What is the solution to Postmodernism? There is but one answer, and it is nothing short of the advent of an entirely new age: The AGE of AUTHENTICISM.

My next post will explicate this new AGE of AUTHENTICISM. Tune in later tonight or early tomorrow morning...

[1] Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. (1991). Directed by Kevin Reynolds.  Written by Pen Densham & John Watson. 

[2] From Senator Barack Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, MA on July 27, 2004. 

[3] From Walden: or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau, Chapter 1, Economy, sixth paragraph from the end.

[4] Seuss, D. (Geisel, T.) (1990). Oh, the Places You’ll Go!  New York, NY: Random House. No Page Number. 

[5] From Roosevelt’s speech, Citizens in a Republic, delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris, France on April 23, 1910. 

An Era Shifting Speech on Education (II)

PART 2: Dr Jensen's Self-Action Leadership Transformation

I am not a salesman here to sell you snake oil. I am here to share with you what really works when it comes to authentic problem solving.


The bad news is that what really works is usually HARD and requires huge investments of time, effort, and to varying degrees, pain. I know because I’ve suffered greatly along the pathways of my own SAL journey.

The good news is that if you are willing to invest the time & effort, and if you are not afraid to courageously confront pain when necessary, SAL could change your life, and the lives of those you teach, mentor, and lead.

Such changes will lead to extraordinary increases in the productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of everyone touched by the principles. I know this because SAL has led to all these things in my own life; simply stated, SAL is why I stand before you today.

To illustrate… let me share a few examples from my own life.

EXAMPLE 1: Mental Illness ~ OCD & Depression

I have battled obsessive-compulsive disorder – “OCD” – & depression for over two decades. The hellish symptoms I’ve suffered induced incalculable amounts of anxiety, guilt, stress, and anguish of body, mind, & spirit.

My symptoms led to serious issues that negatively impacted my academic performance, my social & romantic relationships, my religious practice, and every other area of my life.

Through Self-Action Leadership, I have been able to effectively manage my OCD and depression to accomplish every major academic, social, romantic, and spiritual goal I have set for myself to date.

EXAMPLE 2: Academic Struggles

Because of OCD and other issues, I often struggled academically growing up. For example, I took algebra I three years in a row. I know, it was kind of embarrassing. I failed to break a 3.0 GPA in high school, scored very average on my college entrance exam, and was rejected by the University to which I applied.

Through Self-Action Leadership, I improved my performance in college and went on to earn a doctoral degree in Education, and thanks to a couple of A-plusses, finished with a better-than-perfect 4.049 GPA.

To make up for my algebra deficiencies, I married an attractive mechanical engineer who received a perfect score on the math portion of her SAT, and whose favorite high school course was, I kid you not, algebra 1! At least now our kids will have a genetic chance when it comes to Math; and the best part is, I won’t have to help them with their algebra homework!

EXAMPLE 3: Romantic Failure

OCD and depression also negatively impacted my social life and romantic interests. Over the course of my dating experiences, I was rejected 130 times by 80 different women.

 

Now I recognize these disjointed numbers make me sound even worse at math than previously eluded, but there is an explanation… You see, some of the women rejected more than once. A couple of woman rejected me nearly 20 times between the two of them, and despite my persistence, I never convinced either of them to be my girlfriend. My OCD-influenced dating persistence was indefatigable, and my ability to take a hint was sorely lacking.

Through Self-Action Leadership, I am now married to a woman I can rightfully describe as “better than the woman of my dreams.” I say “better” because God prepared her with many wonderful attributes that even I was unable to anticipate on my own short-sighted “list” of desirable qualities in an eternal companion.

EXAMPLE 4: Fear of Public Speaking

Nearly three decades ago, I gave my first public address in front of an adult audience. Early on in my life, I sometimes found such experiences to be dreadful. I recall after one of my first public speeches at age 10 being greatly relieved it would be some time before I’d have to do that again.

Through Self-Action Leadership, I have not only conquered my fears of public speaking, but have made a career out of it—a career I LOVE—that has taken me to 44 U.S. States, 5 Provinces of Canada, 9 Shires or Counties of Great Britain, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

I do not share this biographical information to impress you, but to impress upon you that Self-Action Leadership has changed my life in dramatically positive ways; and SAL can do the same for you—if change is what you seek.

Self-Action Leadership holds the power to transform entire cultures, restoring the virtues of hard work, integrity, self-reliance, and trained capacity into the American workforce, American schools, American communities, American homes, and ultimately, into the mind of every American who is willing to cultivate a desire to work, plan, strive, and exercise self-discipline. 

 

PART 3: What is Self-Action Leadership?

Self-Action Leadership theory is a morally informed version of self-leadership theory. Self-leadership refers to the cognitive & behavioral strategies human beings apply to lead themselves to get results.

Whether you know it or not, and whether you like it or not, you are a self-leader. All human beings are self-leaders; however, not everyone is effective at leading themselves.

Self-leadership theory has been bandied about the academy for over three decades now. The Father of the Field – Dr. Charles C. Manz of the University of Massachussetts – first published the term along with his theory of self-leadership in 1983.

Many scholars were hesitant at first to embrace an idea that seemed so self-evident and relatively unimportant.

However, as Dr. Manz and his colleagues continued to publish new papers on the subject, self-leadership theory began to receive greater attention and respect in academic circles and beyond, especially as it began informing practical professional leadership models and constructs such as self-directed work teams, also known as self-managed work teams.

Over time, this once marginalized sector of the academy has increasingly garnered the attention of major players in the leadership field. Perhaps it was the Darden Business School’s James G.S. Clawson, who said it best when, in 2008, he wrote:

I remember when Manz first came out with his work on self-leadership. At the time it seemed odd to me. I will admit I am a slow learner on some things. [because] I have come to believe that one of the biggest leadership issues [throughout the World today] is the inability of people – even and especially managers and executives – to lead themselves. [1]

Thus it is that from the Board Room to the Classroom; from the Executive Suite to the entry-level cubicle; and from the Oval office to the 18-year-old voter, self-leadership is a universal concept—applicable to all.

Self-Action Leadership theory, or just SAL theory, mirrors self-leadership theory in many ways. For example, we agree with Dr. Manz that:

Effective self-leadership can be learned and thus is not restricted to people we describe as "self-starters," "self-directed," "self-motivated," etc. The ideas provided by self-leadership … are [therefore] relevant to … anyone who works. [2]

SAL also builds upon self-leadership theory in two KEY ways.

First, the SAL theory & model is independent of, and dramatically expands upon, Manz’s existing self-leadership theory through the original use of atmospheric and construction metaphors.

Second, SAL adds to existing self-leadership theory by providing a moral imperative to both its instruction & application.

The inner compass of Conscience

Self-leadership theory alone lacks this moral imperative, and thus may inadvertently empower evil as well as good. For example, Adolf Hitler—that unprecedented fiend of the failed Third Reich—was a rather remarkable self-leader in many ways. To use one of Stephen R. Covey’s models, Hitler possessed ample self-leadership skills in the areas of vision, passion, and discipline. What he lacked, of course, was a conscience. [3]

Conscience: The Light Within

If vision, passion, discipline, and conscience represent four wheels of a car, it is readily recognizable what happens to its drivability if one of the wheels is absent. Self-Action Leadership adds the vital fourth wheel of conscience to the automobile of your life.

Any thought, word, or action that leads to negative or destructive long-term results for any human being impacted (including yourself) cannot qualify as SAL. All SAL-influenced thoughts, words, and deeds will contribute to positive and constructive long-term ends of any human being impacted thereby; if they do not, they cannot qualify as SAL actions.

Thus Self-Action Leadership draws a moral line in the sand by making explicit what so often is not clearly, much less overtly, stated in businesses, schools, communities, neighborhoods, and homes—that there really is a real wrong and a real right, and as human beings who live interconnected lives, we have an existential duty to try our best to do what is right and to avoid what is wrong—and to teach others to do the same.

Self-Action Leadership is a model for self-renewal that I believe almost anyone from any gender, culture, religion, political party, or sexual orientation can embrace. In a nation of extraordinary diversity and difference of thought, opinion, and ideology, it may be the only way to restore American Unity & Greatness.

My vision of Self-Action Leadership is to teach the theory & model to everyone in America who is willing to listen—and then, after the message has been thoroughly proliferated here at home, my colleagues and I aim to take it to the rest of the world.

SAL training is needed everywhere because, as Dr. Clawson so piercingly pointed out, it isn’t just kindergartners and college students who struggle with personal leadership issues; otherwise polished managers and executives often struggle right alongside the rest of us.

From Board rooms and corporate settings to blue collar establishments; from universities to elementary schools; from community centers to living rooms, and from the bookshelves of executives to the popular blogs of stay-at-home moms, there is no corner of society where SAL training is not needed—and needed badly.

Self-Action Leadership training is not reserved for privileged populations. In fact, underprivileged populations need SAL education as badly as anyone. Fortunately, there is no secular message that will more powerfully empower the presently powerless than the message SAL has to offer.


[1] Clawson, J. G. S. (2008). Leadership As Managing Energy. International Journal of Organizational Analysis. Volume 16, Issue 3. p. 174-181. DOI:10.1108/19348830810937943. Page 175.
[2] Manz, C. C. (1983). Improving Performance Through Self-leadership. National Productivity Review (pre-1986). Volume 2, Issue 3, p. 288-297. Page 289.
[3] Covey, S.R. (2004). The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness. New York, NY: Free Press. Page 85.

Something Worth Doing Before Dec. 31st

With my marathons now behind me, it is time to turn my attention to more important matters… MUCH more important matters.

If I were a betting man, I’d wager good money on the fact that you love your Country and are concerned about the direction it has been heading.

And I’d guess that over the years, you have received no small portion of e-mails from well intentioned people seeking ardently, but less effectively, to do something about it by letting their voice be heard by forwarding along partisan propaganda filled with partial truths, half truths, or even outright lies that their senders failed to properly vet before forwarding them along to you.

Regardless how passionate you feel about the issues, you’ve probably found yourself growing weary of the steady stream of “junk political e-mails” that litter your inbox, and come to habitually delete most of them without a second glance. You may have even grown sufficiently annoyed to ask your “Friend” to remove you from his/her mailing list.

Many of you may have also gotten to the point where you avoid watching most news programs because of the bitter, strident, and even childish bickering that often fills the airwaves as the Media fights on in their acrid civil war.

In your heart, you wish there was something you could do to let YOUR voice be heard in support of character, conscience, liberty, and the Constitution, but in the hustle and bustle of daily life that swarms you with family, career, church, social, and personal obligations, you doubt there is much you can really do that would make any substantive difference.

For many years now, I have experienced these same emotions and frustrations. The past several years, however, I have discovered something I CAN do about it. The purpose of this e-mail is to share with you my plan, and ask for your support by simply reading the rest of this e-mail.

I believe that most fair-minded people of conscience can sense viscerally that the fundamental issues facing contemporary nations, governments, organizations, schools, homes, and individuals are not rooted primarily in policy problems, but in a bankruptcy of character. Policy, of course, is an outgrowth of character, but before institutional policies can be changed, or widespread cultures altered, individual character must be purified. My expertise is not in policy or culture. I do, however, know a thing or two about character; hence, this is where I have opted to make my contribution. This contribution has been many years in coming. For instance:

• Since I was eight years old, I have been deeply interested in the subject of character development. About that same time, I attended my first time management seminar, and began using my first Franklin Day Planner to organize my time as well as to identify, clarify, and prioritize my values, and set goals for personal development and self-improvement. 
• For the past 28 years, I have been, for better or worse, OBSESSED with my own character development, and how I might become an effective voice that could inspire others to become their best selves. 
• For the past 25 years, I have been diligently studying history and the work of experts in the fields of philosophy, theology, philology, self-help, and personal development. 
• For the past 13 years, I have been striving earnestly to develop a new theory and model of self-leadership that encapsulates the holism of my own thinking on the subject. 
• Over the past 5 years, I have completed a Doctoral degree in Education, written a 1,150-page dissertation, and an 802-page book in an effort to clearly articulate this newly developed Theory & Model. 

This coming January, I will be publishing an extensive revision – a more readable version – of this combined work, a project in which I have invested literally thousands of unpaid hours of labor over the course of many years.

I have also consulted with and received feedback and input from many wise, capable, and experienced individuals. This feedback has helped shape the final product into something I am very confident in, and proud of.

Those familiar with Physics have likely heard of String Theory, or a Theory of Everything. Such postulated theories attempt to isolate all the laws of science down into one fundamental premise, sort of like the Theory of Relativity does for the Law of Gravity, but with a far more expansive and comprehensive scope in mind.

You might say that my ambition has been to do something similar in the field of self-help and personal development. I have undoubtedly failed to perfectly achieve such an audacious ambition. Nevertheless, in making the attempt, I can say with confidence I have been successful in distilling a clear and vital message out of a sea of constituent truisms about living life effectively. I say this in all humility, recognizing – often painfully so – that I regularly fall short of the very ideals I put forth in my comprehensive work. The chasm between understanding & articulating theory and effectively undergoing practice is often very wide.

The purpose of this e-mail is NOT to ask you to buy my book. There is no need for that, because beginning on its date of publication in late January of next year, I am going to be giving it away for FREE in serial installments on my blog. This is in honor of one of my literary mentors—Charles Dickens—who often published his novels, including his wildly famous, A Tale of Two Cities, a chapter at a time in English newspapers before releasing it in book form. Those who read my book, serially or otherwise, will notice a touch of Dickens here and there in my own work.

Leading up to its date of publication, I will be publishing two (2) blog posts per week (on Mondays & Thursdays) that provide sneak peaks of what the manuscript has to offer. These sneak peaks will introduce and outline the book, and provide inspiring messages to uplift you in your daily journey through life.

Beginning January 5th, I will send out WEEKLY blog posts with chapters (or chapter sections), which will typically be readable in about 20 minutes. These weekly blog posts will continue until the entire book is made available serially online.

This letter serves as the first blog post. A schedule for subsequent blog posts throughout the remainder of this year is provided at the end of this post.

And now… I have TWO very simple requests of YOU,

my dear family members, friends, and colleagues.

First, please sign up to receive my Free Blog Posts. If you have already signed up, you are set. If you are not yet signed up, and if you desire to receive blog posts in the future, simply click on the link below and add your e-mail address on the right hand side of the page where it says: “Follow by E-mail,” and then click “Submit.” You will then begin receiving future Blog Posts in your e-mail inbox. And don’t worry, I will not sign up anyone against your will; this is a 100% voluntary invitation.

Click Here to Sign up to Receive Dr. Jensen’s Freedom Focused Blog Articles

Second, if you believe this is something that others in your family or social circle would appreciate receiving on a bi-weekly and then weekly basis, please e-mail, facebook, tweet, etc., them and encourage them to also sign up for the blog.

That’s it!

I feel confident you will find the blog posts both interesting and inspiring in a way that brightens your hope for your future, as well as the future of our great, albeit presently declining, nation—a country I dearly love and intend to do everything in my power to make certain Her greatest days are before us instead of behind us. In addition, you may read things that will help you in your own self-leadership endeavors, as well as to gain ideas about what you might do to further promote the causes you feel most passionately about in defense of truth, virtue, liberty, character, and freedom.

I close with an excerpt from my book’s Afterword, which was written by Dr. David G. Anthony, the CEO of Raise Your Hand Texas, and the former Superintendent of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (the 3rd largest school district in Texas and one of the top 25 largest school district in America). A few additional endorsement quotes from leadership scholars around the Country are included as well:

“Reading [Jordan’s] book may be the most worthwhile thing you do this year. I hope the message of Self-Action Leadership makes its way into the minds and hearts of students, parents, and business professionals everywhere. Its presence in the literature is a service to our Country.”  

~ David G. Anthony, Ed.D., CEO of Raise Your Hand Texas

“There is no more important contributor to your own effectiveness than how you lead yourself. If you want to learn a great deal about the latest thinking on self-leadership, read this book.” 

~ Charles C. Manz, Ph.D: The University of Massachusetts, co-author of Mastering Self-Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence, and Father of the self-leadership field in the Academe

“Jensen has accomplished a task that is very difficult for any author to achieve, and that is to produce a single text that is highly relevant to multiple audiences at the same time. Because of the universal applicability of basic self-leadership principles, his message is germane not only to persons struggling with OCD, depression, or other forms of mental illness, but to civic leaders, business professionals and workers of all kinds, educators, students, parents, and children—in short, to everyone. Indeed, I do believe that virtually anyone who reads this book will be able to take something away from it that will improve his or her life in a significant way. In the process, it might even touch emotions in your heart that will move you to joy and tears. It takes a talented writer to do all of these things, so I know you’ll enjoy reading this book. More importantly, I know you’ll come away a wiser person with an increased motivation to begin taking action to realize your own Self-Action Leadership potential, an opportunity we can all take full advantage of, if only we will.” 

~ Christopher P. Neck, Ph.D. : University Master Teacher, Arizona State University, and co-author of Self-Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence and Management

"While a number of books and articles have been written on the topic of self-leadership, Jordan Jensen’s Self-Action Leadership goes deep below the surface level of basic self-leading strategies and accompanying examples to provide an in-depth examination of how self-leadership processes can be woven effectively into the fabric of one’s life. A deeply personal and richly emotive narrative, Self-Action Leadership takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery, providing one of the most detailed and applied treatments of self-leadership concepts currently available." 

~ Jeffery D. Houghton, Ph.D.: West Virginia University, Associate Professor of Management, & leading self-leadership Scholar.

“Jordan Jensen has written a thorough, intense, and illuminating autobiographical volume about how to lead self. His story, compounded by OCD and a determination to improve, will help others reflect on how they might best lead themselves – given whatever genetic endowment or mimetic inheritance they may have received. Jordan’s depth of analysis and self-insight will inspire others to take a similarly in-depth review of who they are who they want to be—at least once before they die—a journey well worth the effort.”  

~ James G.S. Clawson, Ph.D.: The Darden Graduate School, The University of Virginia, and author of Level 3 Leadership: Getting Below the Surface.