Self-Action Leadership Training for EDUCATORS

For generations, educators desiring to teach LEADERSHIP,  CHARACTER, and LIFE-SKILL EDUCATION have faced the dilemma of lacking a comprehensive, cogent resource.

The purpose of this article is to introduce a new SELF-LEADERSHIP TEXTBOOK that provides a seminal solution to this dilemma.

This groundbreaking resource provides teachers, coaches, principals, superintendents, and any other educators with a goldmine of information whereby they can further prepare their students for real life and empower their future success beyond mere academic instruction.  

This new resource is called, SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP: The Key to Personal Professional, & Global Freedom, and it is changing the way educators think about leadership, character, and life-skill instruction and education generally speaking.

In the earliest days of our Republic, students' primary textbook was The Holy Bible.  The reason for this was not merely that books in general were hard to come by.  It was also because our Pilgrim Mothers and Fathers were by-and-large humble, God-fearing individuals who sought not only the knowledge to do things right in their trade, but also the courage and conviction to do the right things in their communities, homes, and personal lives as well.

Over the decades and centuries that followed, education in America became increasingly secular.  This trend was not all bad.  It did, however, carry a negative by-product—the gradual diminishment, and in some cases eradication, of principle-based leadership, character, and life-skills education.  This did not have to be the case; it was not inevitable; but nonetheless, it is what has happened.

How can educators remedy this problem, especially in light of the tremendous pressure they already face from external stakeholders (viz. State accountability measures) to "teach to the test" and meet a variety of other demands?  The answer to this question is simple, but not easy.  It will require educators to engage in deep introspection and invest an indomitable willingness to evolve and exercise transformational leadership and creativity within the confines of their own spheres of influence.  

C.S. Lewis, that venerable Christian author, once pointed out that authentic progress in any arena, including the resolution of past mistakes, can only be achieved in one way.

"We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turn, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man. We have all seen this when doing arithmetic. When I have started a sum the wrong way, the sooner I admit this and go back and start again, the faster I shall get on. There is nothing progressive about being pig headed and refusing to admit a mistake. … Going back is the quickest way on." [1]

Please do not misunderstand.  I am NOT suggesting we bring back The Holy Bible as the primary text in our nation's public schools.  I believe our Founding Fathers exercised great wisdom when they established a separation of Church and State in the public schools and governing bodies of our nation.  I am, however, stating what many educators all over the country already know to be true: that we often fail our children by providing a pedagogy entirely bereft of that special variety of instruction designed to prepare our youth with essential life-skills, empower them to become principle-centered leaders, and most importantly, promote and educate the conscience.

For any and all educators who seek a high-quality, non-denominational, secular, textbook that teaches leadership, character, good citizenship, and life-skills, look no further.  The guide you seek after has now been written and published.  It is called, Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom.

Click HERE to see the Self-Action Leadership textbook and read an extended SAMPLE on NOOK

Self-Action Leadership not only outlines a rich academically textured theory and model replete with wisdom from around the world and throughout the ages, it also comes garnished and seasoned with penetrating real-life anecdotes from the lives of successful leaders and educators who have "walked the talk" in their own classrooms, schools, and individual lives.

From my own classroom to elementary, middle, and high schools in the State of Georgia, teachers' and principals' own stories of success are richly highlighted in Book the Fourth—the fourth of five books within the text.

The other four sections of the book include Book the First, which heralds the importance of patriotism and attending to the civic duties that each individual holds to one's community, state, and nation.  Books the Second and Third (sections two & three) outline the Self-Action Leadership—or SAL—Theory and Model.  Finally, Book the Last (section five) provides additional insight into how to successfully implement the SAL Theory and Model into one's individual life—and then model and teach it to others.

Click HERE to learn more about the SAL Theory & Model.

After all the talk about the importance of inculcating leadership, character, and life-skill education into the minds and hearts of our children, a uniformed, comprehensive, self-leadership TEXTBOOK has finally been written to walk this talk.

If you are an educator, all you have to do now is get the book, read it, and then begin to formulate your own creative plans regarding how you can most effectively utilize the book as a resource in your own classroom or school.

In the meantime, listen to what other educators are already saying about this groundbreaking contribution to leadership and character education in America:

Dr. David Anthony in front of the Texas State Capitol in Austin

“Reading this 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 and former Superintendent of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District – Houston, TX  – one of the Top 25 Largest School Districts in America

Click HERE to read Dr. Anthony's Afterword to Self-Action Leadership

"Any student would benefit from the principles of Self-Action Leadership that Jordan Jensen teaches. Unfortunately, too many young people today don't learn these principles in their homes. If they don't pick them up somewhere, they are at a disadvantage in life." 

Joseph N. Jensen, M.A. (Ed.D. pending)
Principal, Orem Junior High School, Orem, Utah

To read about the remarkable progress Principal Jensen has made with his own staff and students by implicitly applying SAL-oriented principles, click HERE.

“As a high school English teacher who also facilitates a Student Leadership class, I was thrilled to learn about this insightful guide to self-leadership that can be used as a resource in classes just like mine. Thank you Jordan! As an educator, it is encouraging to know there are people out there like Dr. Jensen who are working hard to support administrators, teachers, parents, and students alike. I am confident the message of Self-Action Leadership will help to provide the guidance our youth so desperately need to become effective self-leaders and productive members of society.” 

Shannon Lindholm
High School Teacher, Magnolia, Texas  

"Dr. Jensen, through his experience teaching, brings to light the importance of teaching leadership and character inside the classroom. Teachers will feel empowered to impact youth outside of prescribed curriculum through an understanding of Self-Action Leadership."

James Fraser
High School Teacher; Conroe, Texas

To buy a copy of Self-Action Leadership, click HERE.

Click HERE to view Dr. Jordan Jensen's Complete 1-hour Self-Action Leadership Seminar for FREE

Click HERE to view Dr. Jordan Jensen's groundbreaking speech entitled, A Twenty-First Century Vision of Education in America.

To sign up for our Self-Action Leadership Blog, add your e-mail address in the white "Follow By Email" box on the right hand side of this webpage.

Dr. Jordan Jensen
Master Facilitator

The opportunity is now here to bring explicit SAL training to YOUR classroom or school.  This opportunity includes the possibility of revolutionizing, or at least evolutionizing, your student body into pathways of holistic personal growth and progress that will produce quantum leaps in the long-term success of your bottom line—the extent to which your students become happy, healthy, contributing civic-minded members of society.

SAL Training is the training of the future.  It is training for the organizational soul.  It is the silver bullet to long-term success.

To read about one leader, Joe Jensen's, successful, implicit use of SAL principles and practices in leading his team to extraordinary, even outlying, results, click HERE.

If you are a Superintendent, Principal, Teacher, or Coach and are thinking about brining SAL training to your classroom, school, or district, where do you start?

Simple... just call us at 832-618-5451, or e-mail us at jordan.jensen@freedomfocused.com, and we will provide you with a free consultation to discover which SAL training would be right for you.

SAL trainings are deliverable in five different time frames.  Additional consulting services and a variety of related soft skills training options are also available upon request.

2-hour     ~   Introduction to SAL*

Half-day  ~  Abridged SAL training*

Full-day  ~   Abridged SAL training*

Two-day  ~  Abridged SAL training*   

Four-day  ~  Full SAL training* 

*All SAL trainings include a copy of Dr. Jensen's new book: Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom, seen below...

Notes:

[1] Lewis, C. S. (2001). Mere Christianity. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco. Pages 28-29.

Note: This article is one of SIX articles in a special series dedicated to different AUDIENCES that Freedom Focused specifically targets with Self-Action Leadership training. We invite leaders and managers of these different audiences to click on links below to read the articles pertaining to your field or constituency.

Click HERE to access article for  BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS (Leaders, Managers, & Workers)

Click HERE to access article for  EDUCATORS  (Administrators, Teachers, & Staff)

Click HERE to access article for  STUDENTS & INDIVIDUALS

Click HERE to access article for PARENTS & FAMILIES

Click HERE to access article for ELECTED OFFICIALS, LEADERS, & ROLE MODELS

Click HERE to access article for PERSONS dealing with MENTAL ILLNESS

Self-Action Leadership  ~  The Book

SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP is the key catalyst for initiating transformational leadership that lasts in any classroom, school, or district. The truth of the matter really is that simple; and the transformation of organizations through the holistic development of individuals really is that difficult—yet altogether possible for anyone willing to invest the time, effort, and sacrifice required to achieve authentic, transformational results.


Unlike any training program that has ever preceded it, Self-Action Leadership provides a single vehicle wherewith individual self-leaders can discover—and then act—upon the great truth that HOLISTIC personal development and growth spanning the mental, moral, spiritual, physical, emotional, and social elements of our individual natures is within the grasp of each one of us.

Back Cover of Self-Action Leadership, the Book

Note: Freedom Focused is a non-partisan, for-profit, educational corporation.  As such, we do not endorse or embrace political figures.  We do, however, comment from time-to-time on historical or political events that provide pedagogical backdrops to illuminating principles contained in the SAL Theory & Model.

Click HERE to learn more about the SAL Theory & Model.

To receive weekly articles from Freedom Focused & Dr. Jordan R. Jensen, sign up with your e-mail address in the white box on the right side of this page where it says "Follow by E-mail."

Click HERE to buy a copy of Dr. Jordan Jensen's new book, Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom.

Click HERE to read more about Dr. Jensen's book, Self-Action Leadership, and to review what experts in the leadership field are saying about this groundbreaking new personal development handbook.

Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Jordan R. Jensen.  Click HERE to visit the Freedom Focused website.

An Era Shifting Speech on Education (III)

PART 4: The Miracle of SAL in Underprivileged Communities

Unfortunately, SAL principles are often most shunned in those sectors of society where it is most needed. Worse still, some parents and leaders of students in these same sectors actually perpetuate the problem. From some so-called Civil Rights leaders who primarily promote grievance over proactivity and possibility, to parents who instill seeds of failure by negatively affirming their own child’s lack of worth, our nation too often fails our students who are most vulnerable to negative peer pressure, and most at risk of sliding into lifestyles that perpetuate intergenerational poverty.


To illustrate this point, consider the words of Felicia Cockrell, an African American woman. Before I share her quote, let me summarize Felicia’s AMAZING story—a story I have highlighted in detail in my upcoming book and previous blog posts.

Felicia was raised on the infamous South Side of Chicago. Growing up, Felicia experienced the presence of structural inequality and other difficult realities of being Black while living on the “wrong side of the tracks.”

To her everlasting credit, she was able to practice Self-Action Leadership in a big way. This resulted in her doing well academically, qualifying to attend safer, more prestigious magnet schools, and eventually graduating from Purdue University with a degree in engineering. She has since served her country abroad in the Navy and worked for a Fortune 100 Company making a six-figure salary. She presently works as an project manager for Google, and is the proud mother of two.

        

Before she could seriously dream about achieving such impressive accomplishments, Felicia had to learn about and exercise SAL. Part of exercising SAL is learning, and then having the courage and self-confidence, to respond maturely to negative peer pressure, which she did. In her own words:

“Peer pressure is a BIG problem with inner city youth. Of course it is likely a problem with all youth, but I think it’s more intense in the inner city because there is a lot of pressure to be “Black.” The Black stereotype is you don’t care about work, you don’t care about anything except clothes and the opposite sex, and these attitudes are perpetuated throughout the community, so if those things aren’t a high priority, people think there is something wrong with you.

Worse still, if you don’t like those things you get talked about, and when I say talked about—I mean YOU GET TALKED ABOUT—you get reamed. You can’t talk about college, and you’re not supposed to like school. My peers would make fun of me for being smart, and they would call me “White girl” because I talked proper and I liked Seinfeld.”

If the problem only persisted among one’s peers, it might be a more manageable situation, but when it extends to parents & leaders, the problem becomes virtually unsolvable on a collective scale. Again, I quote from Felicia:

“One of the things I’ve seen hurt many people in the inner city is the pressure to not be successful. You would be surprised at how many parents will jab at their kids and say things like: “You’re never going to be anything, so why do you even try?” Tragically, that kind of stuff is said in a lot of households; there is a lot of negative reinforcement to not achieve goals. The aim is to maintain the status quo, which isn’t anything to brag about. My advice to everyone who faces that kind of pressure and negative reinforcement is to not let others bring you down. And believe me, they will try. Some people will even make it their goal in life to bring you down. Don’t let them do it!”

As a professional educator, I have spent nearly five-years in the classroom, first as a part-time substitute teacher in the Atlanta, Georgia area, and second as a full-time classroom teacher in the Houston, Texas area.

My teaching experiences brought me up close and personal with inner-city youth of all colors and cultures in a variety of different situations. From once putting out a fire—literally—to physically restraining a student to end a physical confrontation, I have had many stressful classroom experiences over the years. God bless all teachers of youth! In the Atlanta area alone, I visited over 40 different elementary, middle, high, and alternative schools as a substitute teacher.

Throughout the course of my combined teaching experiences, I have either worked with or mingled among students from over 100 different countries. For those who are underprivileged and marginalized, I have seen first hand the dramatically negative impacts of peer, parental, neighborhood, community, and cultural pressure to not succeed.

I have also observed the negative impacts that drug use, irresponsible sexual behavior, and possible gang-related activities have had on the lives of America’s already most vulnerable youth. It is a vicious cycle that ensnares millions in its imprisoning shackles. It is a very real American tragedy, but it doesn’t have to remain this way.

There are many causes to this deep & complex problem. Some of the biggest contributors to these problems are structural inequality and insufficient resources. Such problems, however, are secondary.

Until the root of the issue is properly addressed, no amount of money, nor formal edicts to enforce structural egalitarianism, will produce the fundamental socio-cultural transformations that our communities so desperately need.

The primary problem is poor education & too few role models of Self-Action Leadership and success. If we change the educational culture in our troubled communities, we will dramatically change the communities themselves in one generation. It is as simple—and as difficult—as that.

In conjunction with the many sad situations I became familiar with as a teacher, I also came to discover—and appreciate—the extraordinary innate, talent, capacity, and potential of many of these underprivileged and underserved students. To illustrate, I share three examples from my own classroom experiences.

EXAMPLE 1: 

As a high school English teacher in Houston, Texas, two of my top students came from single-parent households. Both of these students had one significant thing in common—their mothers were extraordinarily proactive in supporting their education—and demanded that their students did their homework & got good grades.

Moreover, these Mothers supported me as a teacher, and expected their children to listen to, and follow, my academic and behavioral directives. Such parental responsibility and support, even though it only came from one parent, worked wonders in the lives of these two students, and served to protect them from much of the adversity and negative pressures they faced from their peers. As important a role as “teacher” is, positive parental affirmation and support dwarfs any positive impact I may have had as a teacher—despite all my efforts to effectively teach them both English & SAL principles. Both of these students ended up going on to college. I am proud of them!

EXAMPLE 2:

Of all 150 or so students that passed through my classroom as a full-time English teacher, my overall top-performing student was not white or Asian; he was Native American. This remarkable young student was small of stature and shy of disposition. For the first several weeks of the school year, I hardly even noticed him. But all that changed once I started to notice how hard he worked, and how diligently he completed his assignments.

Due to his proactive completion of extra credit assignments, this young man consistently scored above 100% on his report card, and ended up walking home with the overall champion’s trophy I gave out to the #1 performing student for all of my classes for the entire school year. In his English journal, this student once wrote the following. With his permission, I share it here today:

“English is my worst subject, has been throughout all these nine years, but now I feel like it’s all about to change, and Mr. Jensen has helped in this realization. …

"He teaches English unlike any of my previous English teachers. And I like it. It’s a shame not many of my colleagues notice how good they have it, they don’t even try. I try and well my grades from last semester proved it. I was the greatest achiver [sic] by having the greatest average in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd six weeks. I also had the highest semester grade, just sayin.’ It’s something to be proud of, and I am, I am just surprised. English is my weakest subject!

"And by accomplishing this achievement, I was baffled. Sure intellect played a role, but I believe effort dominated the outcome of my grade. And Mr. Jensen helped me make an effort. One time Mr. Jensen talked to the class and basically said “If you want to pass my class, make an effort.” Now do you see how lucky we are?”

This student in my ninth grade English class went on to graduate in 2013 and then to attend the University of Texas-Austin—one of the most prestigious public universities in the Great State of Texas.

EXAMPLE 3:

My last story comes from an experience I had substitute teaching at Campbell High School in Smyrna, Georgia. Campbell is one of the most diverse campuses in the Cobb County School District in suburban Atlanta, with students hailing from over 40 different countries!

One day, while substitute teaching for a weight lifting class, I met a talented young African American student I’ll never forget. Because of the subject matter of the class I was teaching, I was quite bored, and most of the students were bored too.

As I anxiously “babysat” a mostly idle group, I took notice of a young Black man who was busy at work on an art project. The piece he was working on was an artistically romantic rendition of the name of another student and his girlfriend.

Impressed by his work, and recognizing there was still a lot of time left before the bell would ring, I praised the young man for his skill & effort, and asked him if he would make a similar piece for me with my name and the name of my girlfriend at the time, who now happens to be my wife.

Obviously flattered—and perhaps even a bit surprised—by my effusive praise, the young man beamed, and eagerly acquiesced to my request.

I still have his work today. It sits framed in my home office to remind me not only of the love I hold for my dear Lina, but of the remarkable potential that lies inside the minds and hearts of inner-city youth that are so often neglected.

I’d like you show you this young man’s work today…

 

If you are a professional artist, this may seem like a simple, relatively meaningless act by an amateur. But for me—a bumbling idiot when it comes to drawing anything, and as an educator who desperately desires to see the full-flowering of every student’s potential– this small act of service, and the quality of its creation, left a deep impression on me.

Keep in mind that this student completed this entire piece in about half of one class period. And notice the creativity & detail with which he added his own, unique signature in the bottom corner. Talk about a budding entrepreneur as well as an emerging artist.

Here is a young man with everything he needs to succeed; I often wonder if his parents, educators, mentors, and leaders saw the same light I saw—and were as quick to praise and encourage him. I hope they were, but if he was like so many other young people in underprivileged communities, he may not have.

It has been nearly six years since that young man kindly created this cherished piece of artwork for me. Who knows where Levarr Welch is today. Perhaps he is a college graduate; maybe he is even a successful professional artist. I don’t know for sure.

What I do know is that he—like every student of every race and gender—has limitless potential. What a tragedy it is when parents, teachers, and leaders choose to focus on limitations rather than potential.

An Era Shifting Speech on Education

This Saturday, February 21, 2015, Dr. Jordan R. Jensen, will be delivering a groundbreaking educational speech at Lone Star College in The Woodlands, Texas (Houston). The next several blog posts contain this address.

Part 1: Self-Action Leadership:

A Self-Help "Theory of Everything"

In the words of my favorite television op-ed news personality, I am a simple man, and I am here today to present a simple educational plan – a self-help “theory of everything” – that provides solutions to all of the preventable human problems we face in the United States of America and around the world.

From the boardroom, workshop, & classroom to the homes & minds of individual Americans, there is a dramatic dearth of character, integrity, authenticity & education in true principles. Freedom Focused is the only secular organization currently developing a comprehensive educational program on a universal scale to address the problem.

My name is Dr. Jordan Jensen, the CEO of Freedom Focused. In 2005, I founded Freedom Focused with the overarching aim to expand the personal & professional freedoms of individuals everywhere.

After 10 years of diligent working, I am pleased to announce the official launch of a groundbreaking new theory & model that will guide the delivery of all Freedom Focused content for decades to come. More importantly, this cutting edge material will assist in putting an end to postmodernism as it ushers in an entirely new age: The AGE of AUTHENTICISM.

The message I share today has the potential to empower individuals everywhere with the freedom to become happy, successful, fully-actualized human beings.

In addition, it has the power to aid struggling sectors of our society, reanimate the American Dream for a whole new generation of our citizens, and restore American Greatness & leadership on the world stage.

My plan is called, Self-Action Leadership, or, just SAL for short.

...............

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SAL Book: Freedom Focused

This book seeks to ignite the cultural championing of personal freedom. The freedom I speak of is not freedom from hardship and responsibility—the freedom to do as you please—but the freedom to become all you are capable of becoming as a fully actualized human being. I speak of the freedom to move forward in your life, to conquer your flaws, and to become successful, prosperous, and happy.

Many people view freedom as a means of escaping duty and responsibility—the so-called right to do whatever you want. In truth, you are free to think, say, and do what you want. The trouble is you are not free from the consequences of your choices. Because you cannot control consequences, doing whatever you please may bring short-term pleasure, but often ends in long-term pain, failure, misery, and poverty of all kinds. Everyone has the right to make poor choices. But no one has the power to evade the accompanying negative and painful consequences that inevitably result from so doing.

Truly, what goes around does indeed come around. True freedom, therefore, must always be earned; and its attainment can only be secured by paying the price set by True Principles.

Oftentimes, people seek freedom from toil, trouble, challenges, and self-reliance. Individuals interested in Existential Growth, however, must seek freedom to. Freedom to what? Freedom to pursue education and other opportunities; freedom to transcend personal obstacles and weakness; and freedom to become self-reliant. What kind of freedom do you seek? Freedom from or freedom to? [1] How you answer this question throughout your life will largely determine the extent of your personal freedom and Existential Growth.

My invitation to you, therefore, is to become FREEDOM FOCUSED. But remember that both liberty and freedom come with a price—and often a heavy one.

THE PRICE OF LIBERTY

I have had the privilege of walking peacefully among the legions of graves in some of our Nation’s largest military cemeteries. From Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas, to Marietta National Cemetery in Georgia and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, I have reverently and thoughtfully meandered passed tens of thousands of headstones marking the final resting places of those who gave their lives that this nation might live. [2] When I consider the heavy price in blood and treasure expended to maintain our nation’s liberty and safety over the past 250 years, my soul is subdued, and my heart swells with thanksgiving. Liberty is not free. It comes with a price—usually a high price that in some instances prove fatal.

Arlington National Cemetery ~ Arlington, VA

USS Arizona Memorial & gravesite of 1,102 Sailors and Marines ~ Pearl Harbor; Honolulu, HI

With World War II Combat veteran Robert Wai (aged 95) of Honolulu, Hawaii, at his home in 2014. Wai served in the U.S. Army and helped liberate the Philippines. On the wall is a picture of his brother Francis Wai, a posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor recipient during the Clinton administration. Francis died fighting in the Pacific in 1944. (Photo included with permission of Wai).

I honor and venerate the men and women who were willing to pay whatever price liberty demanded throughout our history. As their courageous lives—and sometimes deaths—illustrate, the price of liberty is high and hard to pay, yet securing it for oneself and one’s family and fellow citizens is priceless.

It is because of these brave men and women that I feel so authentically proud of my Country. I am also proud of my native State—Utah—and my adopted state—Texas. I cherish the history of my Nation and States. Utah’s history of pilgrimage and pioneers and Texas’ history of revolution and independence are microcosms of America’s story. The challenges the Utah pioneers faced in overcoming prejudice and persecution and then taming a wilderness to settle a new land in the mid-nineteenth century paralleled the experiences of European settlers who immigrated to the Eastern Seaboard in the early-mid seventeenth century. Likewise, Texans dealt with Mexican tyranny and brutality in ways that mirrored the U.S.’s clashes with Great Britain a half-century earlier. Both eventually declared their independence from foreign foes in official, signed Declarations of Independence, and both eventually drafted their own constitution that wisely gave power to the people. Texas was, in fact, an independent republic for nine years prior to joining the U.S. as the 28th State in 1845. Both Colonists and Texans spilt priceless blood on the battlefield en route to gaining their independence.

Each year in April, I participate in the reenactment of the Battle of San Jacinto, which is the battle whereby Texans revenged their bloody losses at the Alamo and elsewhere to win their independence from Mexico in 1836. My good friend, Frank McLane, Jr., and I are part of the Texas Army. Frank plays an especially prominent role--that of James Sylvester, the flag bearer. The flag carried into that historically pivotal battle displays the image of a bare-breasted “Lady Liberty.” Hardly a display of nineteenth century pornography, this image was intended to illustrate and personify the vulnerability of liberty. The idea was to remind Texas citizens that they must be vigilant in protecting their personal liberties, lest they be ravished by a foreign or domestic foe. During the Texas Revolution of 1835-1836, the Mexican dictator and self-proclaimed Napoleon of the West—Antonio López de Santa Ana—attempted to ravish the liberty of Texans with his well-equipped and well-trained Mexican Army. Though ultimately victorious, the Texans lost many lives fighting to protect their own liberty, which had grown vulnerable under the tyrannical reign of Santa Ana.

One of my favorite examples of Self-Action Leadership in American historical literature is a letter written by Sullivan Ballou, a Major in the Union Army (2nd Rhode Island Volunteers) at the outset of the Civil War. An educated man, Ballou was a successful, 32-year old lawyer in Providence when war broke out between North and South. Responding to President Abraham Lincoln’s call for volunteers, Ballou enlisted, was elected an officer, and led his troops into battle against the Confederate Army at the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), where he was shot and killed.

Before the battle, however, Ballou laid bare the tremendous love he had for both his family and country in an eloquent letter. This letter, one of the most famous in the history of American warfare, eloquently highlights that some things really are worth dying for. It also provides a unique portrait of SAL in action.

Headquarters, Camp Clark
Washington, D.C., July 15, 1861 

My Very Dear Wife: 

Indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps to-morrow. Lest I should not be able to write you gain, I feel impelled to write a few lines, that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. … If it is necessary that I should fall on the battle-field for [my] country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution, and I am willing, perfectly willing to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt. …

I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death, and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country and thee.

I have sought most closely and diligently … for a wrong motive in this hazarding the happiness of those I loved, and I could not find one. A pure love of my country, and of the principles I have often advocated before the people, and “the name of honor, that I love more than I fear death” have called upon me, and I have obeyed.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless. It seems to bind me with mighty cables, that nothing but Omnipotence can break; and yet, my love of country comes over me like a strong wind, and bears me irresistibly on with all those chains, to the battlefield. The memories of all the blissful moments I have spent with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up, and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our boys grow up to honorable manhood around us.

… If I do not [return], my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, nor that, when my last breath escapes me on the battle-field, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears, every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot, I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth, and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you in the garish day, and the darkest night amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours always, always, and, if the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air cools your throbbing temples, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dear; think I am gone, and wait for me, for we shall meet again. …
– Sullivan [3]

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Freedom, like liberty, also comes with a heavy price. Its price tags include heavy investments of time, effort, diligence, work, sacrifice, determination, persistence, consistence, and patience. Meeting its exacting demands can sometimes seem overwhelming. But if you are willing to pay the price of freedom, you will, in due time, be compensated many-fold for your desires and diligence. Being Freedom Focused pays big time. While you may not receive your “Paychecks” as soon or as often as you would like, they always come eventually if you are willing to pay the prices to earn it. And in many cases, the compensation exceeds the price many fold.

Like liberty, personal freedom is also susceptible to invasions and attacks from forces both internal and external. Like your virtue, it must be willingly upheld, dutifully defended, and vigilantly protected, or you will most assuredly lose it.

At Freedom Focused, nothing in the world except life itself compares to the value and importance of personal freedom. And as Victor Frankl and American POWs so compellingly illustrated in transcending the horrors of Auschwitz and the Hanoi Hilton, freedom is even more vital than liberty.

I seek after and cherish freedom beyond more than anything else in my life, including liberty. Freedom is virtually everything to me. It is my life’s most salient, single focus. It is also my greatest personal quest. It is the reason I named my company Freedom Focused.

Freedom Focused

I am Freedom Focused.
Focused, that is, on Freedom.

Freedom from tyrants,
And evil and terror,

Freedom from bias,
Injustice, and error,

But most of all . . .

Freedom from myself,
And the devil within.

A fiend far more fearsome
Than the author of sin.

Freedom in all its glorious majesty,
And liberating bliss,
Will be mine forever
If I’ll remember this:
True Principles exist and govern
Outside of all human opinion,
And Serendipity
Has my back and yours
As long as we do our part,

Therefore:
I truly
Am
Sovereign,
And by extension

I am also FREE
To be
The kind of Man
I want to be
In this life,
And throughout
All eternity.

I am, therefore, Freedom Focused
Focused, that is, on
Freedom,
Now,
&
Forever.

“In the long run [you] hit only what [you] aim at.”
– Henry David Thoreau(1817-1862)

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Next Blog Post: Monday, December 1, 2014 ~ Chapter 9: Ask Not

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[1] I first learned this concept from Felicia Cockrell, who was introduced to it by a friend.  Others have also written on the subject, as illustrated by related quotes in BOOK THE SECOND, Chapter 13, where Felicia’s remarkable SAL story is highlighted.

[2] Phrase from the Gettysburg Address.

[3] The full transcript of Sullivan Ballou’s famous letter can be found at the National Park Service website at URL: http://www.nps.gov/resources/story.htm?id=253