SAL Book: The Foreword & Afterward

Self-Action Leadership:

The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom

Foreword

By: Christopher P. Neck, Ph.D.

University Master Teacher, Arizona State University

David McCullough – that famous historian and author of our time – once remarked: “The only way to teach history, to write history, to bring people into the magic of transforming yourself into other times, is through the vehicle of the story. It isn't just a chronology. It’s about people. History is human.” With these words in mind, Jordan Jensen’s comprehensive work on self-leadership, built on the foundation of his own, unique self-leadership history, is truly an exceptional work for two distinct reasons.

First, Self-Action Leadership applies the method of teaching outlined by McCullough. There are many good definitions and explanations of self-leadership out there, but Jordan’s work stands apart because he teaches us the concept through the vehicle of storytelling. And the wonderment of the story is that it is his own. In the pages that follow, Jensen articulately chronicles his own self-leadership successes. In doing so, he does not withhold the painful details surrounding the many struggles and failures preceding those successes. With unusual honesty and courageous self-disclosure, he opens our eyes to our own imperfect, yet determined, humanity by providing a fascinating look into his own. In the process, he inspires us to transcend whatever adversity comes our way to eventually realize the full extent of our life’s potential. But he does not stop at sharing his story. He goes on to utilize his narrative as a foundation for expanding self-leadership theory by introducing his own, original theory and model— the Self-Action Leadership Theory & Model.

Second, 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, athletes, 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. As an author myself, I am amazed at Jordan’s achievement in writing one book that carries the potential to reach such a wide variety of people—and that is the beauty of it.

This book will do much more than just teach you about Self-Action Leadership. It will cause you to think deeply about how you are currently living your own life, and how you could better lead yourself to achieve the results you most desire in the long-run. More importantly, Jensen’s compelling story and courageous personal example, combined with his percipient ability to effectively teach the corresponding self-leadership principles, will inspire and motivate you to actually do something about what you will learn. 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.

About Dr. Chris Neck

Christopher P. Neck, Ph.D. is one of the world’s most prestigious and prolific scholars in the self-leadership field. He is a lead co-author (with Dr. Charles C. Manz) of Mastering Self-Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence (2nd-6th Editions) – the textbook on self-leadership used at colleges and universities throughout the nation.

Dr. Neck earned a Bachelor’s degree and MBA from Louisiana State University and a Ph.D. in Management from Arizona State University, where he is currently an Associate Professor of Management. At ASU, he also holds the distinctive and singular title of University Master Teacher.

Before ASU, Neck taught at Virginia Polytechnic University (Virginia Tech), where he was awarded the prestigious Students’ Choice Teacher of the Year Award NINE TIMES between 1996 and 2008 (This award is a student-voted accolade honoring the best teacher of the year within the entire University).

Dr. Neck has published nearly 100 scholarly works in the form of books, textbooks, book chapters, and peer reviewed articles. His research specialties include: leadership, self-leadership, employee/executive fitness, self-managing teams, and group decision making processes.

Dr. Neck has done training for the U.S. Army as well as major corporations such as GE/Toshiba, America West Airlines, Dillard’s, Prudential Life Insurance, Busch Gardens, Clark Construction, Crestar, American Family Insurance, Sales and Marketing Executives International, American Electric Power, and W.L. Gore and Associates. His writing has been cited in major news publications including: The Houston Chronicle, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal.

In addition to Mastering Self-Leadership, Neck is the lead co-author of Management—a seminal textbook for introductory classes in Management (Neck, Lattimer, & Houghton; Wiley, 2014) and Entrepreneuring—a seminal textbook for introductory classes in Entrepreneurism (Neck, Neck, & Murray; SAGE, 2015). He is also the author or co-author of Fit to Lead: The Proven 8-Week Solution for Shaping up Your Body, Your Mind, and Your Career (2004), Mastering Self-Leadership (2012, 2010, 2007, 2004, 1999), The Wisdom of Solomon at Work (2001), For Team Members Only: Making Your Workplace Team Productive and Hassle-Free (1997), and Medicine for The Mind: Healing Words to Help You Soar (2007).

In his personal life, Chris is a husband and proud father of a son and daughter. An avid runner, he has also completed 12 marathons including the New York, San Diego, and elite Boston. To-date, his longest continuous run is 40 miles.

For more information about Dr. Neck and his work and consulting services, or to contact him personally, please visit his website at www.chrisneck.com

Afterword

Dr. David G. Anthony, CEO of Raise Your Hand Texas

By: David G. Anthony, Ed.D.CEO, Raise Your Hand Texas

When Jordan originally invited me to review an 802-page manuscript of this book, I balked a bit, wondering when I would possibly have time to review such a tome. It is interesting to note how some of life’s most important, rewarding, and ultimately enjoyable tasks initially appear so uninviting. In the end, I opted to set myself to the task, and I am so glad that I did.

As I poured through the pages, my mind soon became flooded with memories, thoughts and experiences from my four-plus decade career as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and now CEO. From then on, there was no way to put the work aside. As I reflected further on Jordan’s “Pedagogy of Personal Leadership,” I found myself wishing I had enjoyed access to the book when I was a 21-year-old teacher working with high school seniors, and when I was a 25-year-old principal working with teachers and students.

As I continued to read, cliché’s like, “Leaders are born, not made” were removed from my gray matter and discarded. Instead, I thought of Shakespeare: “To thine own self be true,” and “Discretion is the greater part of valor.” Shakespeare got it. Furthermore, my mother’s admonition of, “How do you ever expect to be loved by others if you don’t love yourself,” could just have easily been, “How can you expect to lead others, if you can’t even lead yourself?” In short, Jordan has eloquently articulated the need for, and importance of, leadership, character, and life-skill education in American businesses, schools, and homes. More importantly, he has outlined an explicit theory, model, and pedagogy to provide leaders, educators, parents, and individuals with a tangible toolbox and roadmap for immediate application.

As I delved deeper into Jordan’s book, the passages called up a memory of an interview where I was asked, “What are the most important things you hope your students learn?” I was principal of a school at the time, and I said, “My hope is that all of our students are highly literate and numerate and understand the importance of self discipline, responsibilities, and consequences. Then, no matter what goals they set, they will have the recipe for success.” I was under thirty years of age and my comments were crude compared to Jordan Jensen’s polished presentation, but not considerably off target.

If Jordan’s career had preceded mine and I could have used his book as a teacher, principal and superintendent, I would have positively impacted more students and teachers during my 37-year career by providing them with a key to potential success and significance. It is highly encouraging to see that this book has now been written for a new generation of leaders, educators, professionals, and students to use as a guide to their personal development. It is even more encouraging to know that its author exemplifies the principles he promotes.

I thank Jordan for inviting me to read this work. He has earned my endorsement. 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.

About Dr. David Anthony

Dr. Anthony grew up in rural Louisiana (Florien). He graduated from high school in 1970 prior to attending Panola College in Carthage, Texas, where he played on the basketball team. He later completed a Bachelors degree in English and history at East Texas Baptist College in Marshall Texas. In 1977, he earned a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

From there, he served as Principal of a K-12 school in Converse, Louisiana, where he began a 9-year journey that included leading his school from “Worst to First.” Along the way, Anthony earned his Doctorate in Education Administration from Northwestern State University in 1986, and became a Superintendent. He served as Superintendent in High Island, Texas, Mount Pleasant, Texas, and Texas City, Texas, before taking over in McKinney, Texas where he oversaw growth from 9,800 students to 18,000 students during his tenure of five and one-half years.

Anthony’s successes in rural Texas and suburban Dallas (McKinney) caught the attention of Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, where he was hired as Superintendent in 2004. With over 112,000 students, Cy-Fair ISD is the third largest School District in the State of Texas and among the 25 largest Districts in the entire United States.

Anthony served at the helm of Cy-Fair ISD for seven years before accepting a position as CEO at Raise Your Hand Texas, a non-profit education advocacy organization that works to strengthen public education in the State of Texas by training public school leaders to lead transformational change at the campus level. Raise Your Hand Texas also advocates for public policies aimed at improving the education of all Texas students.

Anthony is a graduate of the Aspen Institute and Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. A husband, father, and grandfather, Anthony resides in Houston, Texas.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Today, I am honored and grateful to share some special tributes to THREE authors and thinkers whose work proved FOUNDATIONAL to the 13-year development of the Self-Action Leadership Theory & Model.

John Donne

The English poet John Donne (1572-1631) once wrote, "No man is an island, entire of itself, every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main."

So it is with you, and so it has been with me. No one is an island. Despite any talents or abilities I may possess, the development of the SAL Theory & Model would have been impossible without the aid of countless other men and women who have profoundly influenced my personal journey. From Shakespeare & Chaucer to Abraham Lincoln & Martin Luther King, Jr.; from Emerson & Longfellow to C.S. Lewis & M. Scott Peck; from Abigail Adams & Florence Nightingale to Confucius & Jesus Christ; from brothers, sisters, and parents to uncles, aunts, cousins, and ancestors, my journey has been touched on every side by men, women, and Divine Beings, whose examples became a "lamp unto my feet." (Psalm 119:105).

Sir Isaac Newton

One of the first things I share in my book, Self-Action Leadership, are three tributes to individuals whose life's journey and work has been particularly important and foundational to mine. These individuals are: Hyrum W. Smith, Stephen R. Covey, and Charles C. Manz.

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

– Isaac Newton

Tribute #1

Hyrum W. Smith

Co-Founder of FranklinCovey Company & Author of: What Matters Most

Hyrum W. Smith is a Co-Founder of FranklinCovey Company and an originator of the world famous Franklin Day Planning System. Brilliant in business, sales, and public speaking, Smith is one of the World’s premier authorities on time management and personal development.

If it weren’t for Hyrum Smith, I may not be here today – literally. To explain why, let’s turn back the clock more than a half-century.

In 1962, Smith crossed the Atlantic to serve a two-year, full-time, voluntary mission in the British Isles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. About a year later, my Father, unknown to Smith at the time, traveled to England for the same purpose. During their concurrent service in England, Hyrum Wayne Smith and Rex Buckley Jensen served together as missionary companions on three different occasions in three different locations during three different calendar years. Meant to be? Coincidence? Either way, when my father returned home to attend Brigham Young University in 1965, Hyrum introduced him to his little sister, Pauline. The two were married in 1966. Fourteen years later, I was born – the sixth of seven children.

I was eight years old when I first attended one of “Uncle Wayne’s” time management seminars and obtained my first Franklin Planner. It was a pivotal event in my young life, and planted early seeds that would eventually spring forth into my choice of profession.

Hyrum is a magnanimous man whose personal generosity has reached down to bless my life on many occasions. He also has a good sense of when to say no. For example, he wisely declined my request for financial backing when I first incorporated my company over a decade ago. Knowing his own achievements were earned through self-reliance and successfully passing through the “School of hard knocks,” he knew giving me money would do more harm than good in the long run. How right he was!

It was a bitter pill to swallow at a time in my life when I was being rejected at every turn and everything seemed to be going wrong. This was good, too, because Life prescribes a brimming bottle of “Bitter pills” to everyone, and those who seek to grow must choose to humbly consume, dutifully digest, and honorably transcend each one. It does no good to kick against the pricks.

Hyrum’s discretion, borne of experience-based wisdom, trumped my well intentioned, but ultimately naïve zealotry borne of youthful inexperience. And now I am glad of it. In the words of Garth Brooks: “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”

Instead of money, Hyrum gave me endorsement quotes and good advice. He even invited me down to his Ranch for a weekend so I could pick his brain. He gave me everything I really needed while wisely withholding what he knew would provide only short-term benefits—and might even harm me in the long run.

Hyrum’s decision provided a golden opportunity to further apply the very principles and practices I ardently yearned to share with the world. Rather than retard my long-term progress, his wise declination actually accelerated it by lending greater credibility to the message of Self-Action Leadership, and bolstering my ethos as its messenger. Looking back, I am grateful for his judicious response to my shortsighted request. It was a key “course” I had to take and pass in my own education in Self-Action Leadership and adversity. I am a better man for having taken that course, and am grateful to my professor for loving me enough to hurt me in the short run in order to help me in the long run.

Hyrum’s life has blessed and inspired my own journey in countless ways. From my earliest memories of him, I always had a deep sense that he was a great man; and indeed he is. Thank you, Uncle Hyrum, for everything you have given and taught me—knowingly or unknowingly. Your life’s example has helped to shape my life’s story.

I am grateful for an uncle and father – whose friendship was a seedling of my mortal existence – who chose to teach me correct principles and then let me govern myself. Such liberty and opportunity, empowered by the lessons gleaned from their respective precepts and examples, is something I will always cherish. It is, for me, a proof of the purview of Providence upon this project from inception to completion.

Tribute #2

Stephen R. Covey

Co-Founder of FranklinCovey Company & Author of the World-Famous: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

While Hyrum and I share a blood relation, I may actually have more in common with FranklinCovey’s other Co-Founder—Dr. Stephen R. Covey. This is because my native skill set – like Covey’s – is rooted more in philosophy, pedagogy, administration, and composition, than in sales, marketing, business, or profit. While I begrudgingly accept my duties in the latter, I welcome and embrace my opportunities in the former. In my heart of hearts, I am – and always will be – a pedagogue, philosopher, and poet before I am a businessman or entrepreneur.

Many capable self-help authorities helped to pioneer the modern self-help movement (i.e. Dale Carnegie, Norman Vincent Peale, Napoleon Hill, et al.). What will Covey’s place be in the pantheon of self-help gurus? The answer is subject to history and opinion. In my view, Carnegie is its father, and Covey its more recent godfather.

I first read, listened to, and studied Dr. Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in 2001 as a college freshman. I read the book to fulfill a requirement in a summer leadership course at Brigham Young University. It profoundly impacted my life.

The lesser-known subtitle of Covey’s classic is: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. As I hungrily consumed the 7 Habits material, a growing realization of the personal power I possessed to change, as well as to consciously design and direct my own life, resonated deeply in my mind, heart, and spirit. I took particular interest in Habits One, Two, and Three, which focus on personal leadership, at a time in my life when I desperately needed to lead myself through a series of deep and difficult personal obstacles involving romantic relationships and mental illness.

Covey’s words opened my mind to my own personal deficiencies and inadequacies while simultaneously illuminating my potential and enlivening my desire to overcome them, and then teach others to do the same. Quite simply, his work changed my life, and led directly to the writing of this book. Before I had even finished the book, I began sensing that one of my life’s primary callings was to write a comprehensive analogue to the 7 Habits that could serve future generations as ably as Covey’s work had served previous ones.

It was an audacious ambition, and an incredibly rewarding goal. Once my mind and heart had been touched by the power and profundity of the principles Covey organized, and his unique capacity to articulate them, I became completely consumed with the meaningfulness and importance of promoting a Pedagogy of Personal Leadership throughout the world. There was no going back. I have been on an almost obsessive mission ever since (OCD has not been all bad for me).

Aided by Covey’s words, the Inspiration of the Ages, and the driving, and sometimes naïve, ambitions of youth, I zealously went to work. Though fraught with disappointment, failure, rejection, financial duress, and disillusionment all along the way, this difficult journey – now in its 13th year – has simultaneously produced countless blessings, insights, moments of euphoria, and extraordinary personal growth.

This 13-year effort is now finished – or perhaps begun, depending how you look at it. Were Stephen alive to review this present manuscript, I hope he would find it to his satisfaction, and choose to endorse it this time around.

After more than a decade of putting Stephen’s teachings to work in my life on a daily basis, I continue to vouch unequivocally for their clarity, concision, cogency, and veracity. As I have worked with thousands of business professionals in hundreds of audiences throughout the English Speaking World, I have quoted him and taught his material more than any other author or teacher. My seminar attendees rarely leave one of my seminars, regardless of the topic, without a clear understanding of my passion for the work of Stephen R. Covey, and a growing understanding of his work.

Dr. Covey passed away in 2012. In the years since I first studied the 7 Habits, I have sometimes wished I could have spent more time with him personally. Despite two chance meetings – neither of which he would likely recall – and a generous phone call on Christmas Eve, 2003, in response to a letter I had written to my hero desiring to meet him, I did not know him personally beyond second-degree familial connections. Nevertheless, the ripples of his work have penetrated—and continue to reverberate powerfully throughout—the depths of my mind, heart, and soul in ways that proved providentially foundational to this work.

Another vital professor in my existential education, Stephen—like Hyrum—also taught me some invaluable, albeit just as painful, life lessons by saying “No.” I share the experience of one such rejection in this book. Like the lessons Hyrum taught me, I would not, in hindsight, change anything even if I had the power to do so. I am even more thankful for what Hyrum and Stephen didn’t give me as I am for what they did give me.

Such experiences taught me that many of life’s greatest blessings arise not from tangible assistance, but from intangible inspiration derived from the simple, but powerful, moral force of one’s example, teachings, and legacy. Instead of giving me a few fish I would have quickly consumed, Hyrum and Stephen both – and mostly without knowing it – taught me how to fish. This book displays the results of my “catches” thus far. Whatever its weaknesses, I am proud of the harvest, and grateful to my teachers. I hope they will be proud of it also.

I am, and always will be, profoundly grateful to Stephen for providing a vital substructure (theoretically and culturally speaking) to the SAL theory and model. I publicly acknowledge the impact of his life’s example on mine as well as the profundity of his life’s work – a work I believe he continues in another realm. It is my explicit intention for Self-Action Leadership to serve the World in coming decades as capably as the 7 Habits did throughout the turn of the last century.

Tribute #3

Charles C. Manz

Father of the Self-Leadership field in the Academe, and Professor at the University of Massachusetts

Dr. Charles C. Manz is the Father of the self-leadership field in the Academe. His pioneering academic publications on the subject date back to 1983, when I was just 4-years old.

It is interesting to me that it took until the mid 1980s for universities to begin addressing this vital subject as a topic of legitimate scholarly inquiry. The credit for this worthy legitimization – as well as for much of its subsequent proliferation – goes to Dr. Manz.

Addressing self-leadership at the doctoral level would have been much more difficult without the pioneering efforts of “Chuck” and his capable colleagues around the country (i.e. Chris Neck, Arizona State University, Hank Sims, Jr., University of Maryland, and Jeff Houghton, West Virginia University).

The work of these scholars has provided a vital academic foundation to the superstructure of new ideas I put forth with the SAL Theory & Model. Charles Manz is a highly accomplished, distinguished, and capable scholar and educator. He is also a man of integrity and a generous human being. I will forever be indebted to him for his foundational academic work in the field of self-leadership. I appreciate so very much all he has accomplished, and am deeply honored he chose to endorse this work.

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.

The Blog Post I Hoped I Wouldn't Have to Write

Last Saturday, in St. George, Utah, I ran my 13^thmarathon in yet another attempt to achieve my frustratingly elusive goal to qualify for the Boston Marathon. 

I failed—again. 

Now it is time to write the blog post I hoped I wouldn’t have to write.  Here goes…

Strange as it might sound, my lucky number is actually 13.  So many things leading up to the race had portended a positive result.  I felt it was my time.  After all the work and waiting and adjustment and gained experience, I felt I had earned it.  I had convinced myself that the 13^th time would be the charm in my nearly 4-year long quest to qualify for the marathon. 

It WASN’T. 

I didn’t even come close.  A faster than usual course turned out to be deceivingly hilly, and my questionable training amidst a hectic work travel schedule and plenty of parental responsibilities turned out to be insufficient.  I crossed the finish line in 3 hours and 35 minutes, missing my goal by 25 minutes—almost one minute per mile too slow to qualify for Boston. 

I’m not going to sugarcoat the fact that I was disappointed, if not devastated, at this painful failure.  Saturday was one of the more miserable days I have experienced in recent memory.  Despite being mentally and emotionally racked by the disappointment and disillusionment of failing once again at a goal I have invested so much time and effort in, I was physically sore and sick – more so than I had been at the conclusion of any of my previous marathons or half marathons.  It took me nearly six hours after the race before I had regained my appetite to eat or drink anything.  To make matters worse, my family and I had to catch not one, but two plane rides back to Houston after the race was over.  We didn’t get home until nearly 11:00 p.m. 

So how am I—the Self-Action Leadership guy—going to put a positive, self-leadership spin on my disappointing performance and failure to achieve my goal after trying 13 times and making numerous adjustments to my training?

The post I wanted to write would have exultantly shared the news of an impressive victory.  I then would have seasoned it with a few clever clichés to corroborate everything I had written about leading up to the race … you know: think big, work hard, be smart, pay the price, and then collect your pot of gold at the end of Boston’s bright rainbow.  It would have essentially been a PARTY in words, and that would have been okay, because that is the expected response when you win.   

But what happens when you lose?  Tony Robbins once said, “When you succeed, you tend to party; but when you fail, you tend to ponder.” 

I was not able to have the party I had anticipated having on Saturday.  Instead, since mile 17 of the St. George Marathon—when I knew my body lacked what it needed to run a sub 3:10 marathon—I have been doing a lot of painful pondering. 

Blessedly, the more I ponder, the more grateful I am that I didn’t qualify?  Why?  Because pondering has produced more seedlings of long-term success as a runner and a human being than partying could have ever hoped to do.  As a result, I believe I am ultimately farther ahead in my existential journey than I would have been had I qualified.  Moreover, I believe this post will be more meaningful to YOU – the Reader – than if I had written the post I wanted to write.

The other day, I was reading Dr. Suess’s book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go to my little son, Tucker.  Listen to the words of Suess’s masterpiece: 

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.

You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.     

Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.

Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so

but, sadly, it’s true

that Bang-ups

and hang-ups

can happen to you.

You can get all hung up

in a prickle-ly perch.

And your gang will fly on.

You’ll be left in a Lurch. 

For the first seven miles of Saturday’s marathon, I was running not at sub 3:10 marathon pace, but at sub 3:00 pace, and was maintaining it fairly conservatively.  Everything was going as I had envisioned it.  Then, at mile seven, a series of hills came that lasted the better part of the next FIVE miles. 

I live in southeast Texas.  To my knowledge, there is not a single substantive hill in all of metro Houston.  With very few exceptions, I did no hill training.  By mile 17, despite the welcomed downhill that finally came, I was in a lurch, and knew it.  While I gave it my best shot from miles 18-26, my last eight miles saw my gang (hundreds of other runners) fly by me in embarrassing fashion.  Deflated, but determined to finish, I kept going, finished, collected my medal, and then collapsed in a heap of hurt (physically & mentally) in some unoccupied corner of Worthen Park in downtown St. George.

Thus began my treasure hunt for whatever life lessons I could glean from the experience.  I share the finds of my hunt below. 

Life Lesson #1: By shooting for the stars, you’re liable to end up reaching the moon. 

Qualifying for the Boston Marathon was my way of shooting for the stars as a runner.  I didn’t make it, but I DID complete 13 marathons, which is no small feat.  Of those 13 marathons, Saturday’s was the second fastest of the five marathons I ran in 2014.  It was also my fifth fastest time overall since I began running marathons in 2011.  So while I didn’t achieve my ultimate goal, I achieved a lot of other objectives in the process. 

My Marathon & Half-Marathon Medals (4 marathons run in practice)

Life Lesson #2: The importance of clarifying your life’s priorities. 

As I remarked in a previous blog post, I could easily qualify for the Boston Marathon if I dedicated my life to it.  Other people and things, however, are more important to me than qualifying for the Boston Marathon.  I have chosen to retire from the distance not because I am a quitter, but because my wife, son, and career are more important to me than qualifying for the Boston Marathon.  When the time comes that I have enough time to fully train for this event, I will likely choose to try again.  Knowing the extent of my aversion to failure, I don’t see how I cannot try again at some future date.  In the meantime, I choose to put marathoning in the back seat of my life.    

Life Lesson #3: The importance of recognizing and acknowledging your natural talent, and lack thereof, in different life undertakings.    

I have never been particularly talented at running long distances fast.  I was a cross-country State Champion in high school, but that was only for 3 miles.  I can run fast for 3 miles.  In college, I was an All-American in track and field, but that was in a relay where I ran only half a mile.  I can run really fast for 800 meters.  My true talent as a runner has always been in middle distances more than in long distances or sprinting.  No matter how hard I try, I simply do not have the natural talent to be as good at sprints or long distances as I do middle distances.  For example, one of my All-American teammates in college—who I ran within a second of in the 800—ran 70 minutes faster than I did on Saturday in the marathon.  One of the race’s elite runners, Mike finished in 7^th place.  I love to run, and look forward to returning to shorter races in which I have more natural talent.  In fact, I’ve already signed up for a half marathon set for the middle of November.  I can’t wait to run a shorter race where I know I’ll do better and enjoy the process more.  And I look forward to continuing the habit of running regularly for the sake of physical health and appearance as well as mental, emotional, and spiritual hygiene. 

Life Lesson #4: You aren’t going to accomplish everything you set out to accomplish.

As human beings, we possess finite strength, capacity, energy, and talent.  We simply aren’t going to accomplish everything we set out to do, and that is okay.  The important thing is that we stay focused on what really matters most, and then ensure we are successful with those relationships and things.  Fortunately, qualifying for the Boston Marathon is not one of those things for me.  Thus, life goes on, I’ve learned what I can, and I can now turn my attention more fully to other objectives, while still remaining a runner and racer of shorter distances.   

Life Lesson #5: Experiencing pain, disappointment, discouragement, & rejection provides vital contrasts to positive emotions, thereby allowing us to more fully comprehend pleasure, success, fulfillment, and acceptance.   

Anyone familiar with my life’s story knows that I am no stranger to pain, disappointment, discouragement, and rejection.  I feel blessed to have experienced so much trial, illness, and struggle in my life from the simple standpoint that it makes the good times even better.  You cannot experience joy if you have never known sadness.  You cannot know victory if you have never experienced defeat.  You cannot truly appreciate success if you have not felt failure and chosen to learn there from.  In the insightful words of one of my athletic heroes, Michael Jordan:

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career.  I’ve lost almost 300 games.  26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.  I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life.  And that is why I succeed.”

On a lighter note, I also learned that when you fail to qualify for the Boston Marathon, you don’t have to run the Boston Marathon!  I’m kind of sick of running marathons, so in one sense, it is actually kind of nice to know that I definitely won’t be running another marathon in April 2016.  Good riddance 26.2… for now at least. 

- Maquillage pour Née Jolie -

Dans l'article précédent je vous parle de mes produits reçu en partenariat avec Née Jolie
Et j'ai évidemment fait un petit makeup vite fait pour l'occasion. ^^

J'ai utilisé ma fameuse palette crème de couture de Sigma. J'en suis toujours aussi amoureuse !

J'ai mis les fards "Apricot Flowers" mixer avec une touche de "Redberry Rose" au centre de ma paupière et "Elderberry" au coin interne/externe et sous les cils inférieurs.
Un peu de crayon blanc dans la muqueuse, un discret trait de liner noir sur la paupière revenu en pointe au coin interne et pour finir mon mascara.

Pour les lèvres j'ai fais un petit ombré lips avec mon "Fuchsia Flash" de maybelline.

C'est très simple mais ça fait ressortir à merveille les yeux clairs ^^

- Partenariat avec NEEJOLIE.FR -

Coucou les filles !

J'ai le plaisir de vous annoncer que j'ai été contactée par neejolie.fr pour un partenariat ^^
Ils m'ont proposé de choisir des produits, de les tester et de vous dire ce que j'en pense.
Vous pouvez trouver de tout sur le site: des pinceaux, des vernis, des soins, des coques, des lentilles... bref un tas de choses très sympas ^^
Ils livrent dans le monde entier et les frais de port sont gratuits !!
De quoi se faire plaisir croyez-moi !!


J'ai choisi une palette de correcteurs/contouring et des petits noeuds blancs à coller sur les ongles, le tout pour un peu moins de 9€

 Vue d'ensemble

En ce qui concerne les noeuds 3D, il suffit de mettre un point de colle ou de les incruster dans le vernis pas encore sec. Ca donne un effet au top, très kawaii  (^.^)

Venons-en à la palette...j'en voulais une comme ça depuis un moment donc autant le dire clairement, j'ai sauté sur l'occasion !!
C'est surtout là dessus que je vais vraiment pouvoir vous donner mon avis.

Comment se présente la palette

Le boitier est en plastique noir, très soft, simple et efficace.

Mon test

Avant

Pendant ahah

Après

Mon avis
J'ai choisi cette palette surtout pour faire du contouring et je suis vraiment très satisfaite, elle remplis parfaitement son rôle.
Les couleurs sont suffisamment pigmentés, faciles à appliquer et faciles à fondre entre elles, que se soit à l'éponge ou au pinceau. C'est parfait en tant que concealer aussi si vous avez des cernes très marqué ((ou pas d'ailleurs))
Évidemment il faut poudrer par dessus pour éviter de briller et que ça file dans les ridules, mais c'est normal ce sont des crèmes. Et puis pour finir, ça tient très bien le long de la journée, je vous recommande vraiment cette petite palette.




Bonus pour terminer cet article sur une très bonne note, sachez que si vous souhaitez commander sur leurs site, vous pouvez bénéficier de -10% sur tous les articles ((hors articles déjà soldés)) avec le code FXX10.
J'ai reçu ma commande en 2 semaines pile, le tout très bien emballé et bien protégé.

Si vous commandez, j'espère voir vos colis reçus sur ma page ;D
Et en ce qui concerne mon maquillage des yeux je vous retrouve sur cet article 

Récap produits:
- 10pièces noeuds 3D blanc n°12  ici
- palette contouring ici

If at First You Don't Succeed...

In January 2011, I set a goal to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  Since then, I have failed 12 times to achieve my goal.  It has been said: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again."  I hate that saying.

I don't hate it because I disparage the virtues of persistence or determination -- such characteristics are vital in achieving any meaningful goal in life -- and I obviously have demonstrated a willingness to vigorously pursue these traits.  I dislike it because it omits some KEY ingredients in any formula of true success.

Here's the way the saying should go: "If at first you don't succeed, do your homework to figure out why, make a better plan moving forward, and then try again."

In the last three years, I have gone from missing my goal by 69 minutes, to missing my goal by only 9 minutes.  Such improvement did not occur from merely trying again.  It came mostly from making targeted adjustments based on research and due diligence regarding why I was not succeeding, and then implementing those adjustments into my training and races moving forward.

Next Saturday, October 4th, in St. George, Utah, I will run my 13th marathon.  I have promised my wife I will retire from the marathon distance (a time-consuming hobby) after this final attempt to achieve this frustratingly slippery objective.

As a lifelong runner with natural talent in the sport, I could easily qualify for the Boston Marathon if I dedicated my life to the pursuit.  There are, however, a lot of things in life that are a lot more important to me than qualifying for the Boston Marathon.  A mentor of mine helped me refocus on this great truth following a disappointing marathon finish earlier this year.  With Dr. Chris P. Neck's sound and inspirational counsel guiding me ever since (see blog entry below), I have continued, amidst a hectic travel schedule and plenty of family and other obligations, to do whatever I realistically could to stay in shape and prepare for my final attempt.  The result?  I am reasonably -- perhaps even sufficiently -- albeit not amply prepared to succeed in the undertaking.

The St. George Marathon is an unusually fast course.  In light of coming within 9 minutes of qualifying on a much harder Jackson, Mississippi course in January, I am optimistic about my chances, but cognizant of the year's training limitations, and ever aware of the unpredictability of the unique interplay of a complex set of variables that always exist on race day.

In two weeks from now, I hope to be composing a blog post that celebrates having finally achieved this elusive goal begun nearly 4 years ago.  But even if I'm not, I am grateful I will be able to write about the achievements that have been made by researching, adapting, re-strategizing, and trying again 12 times in a good-faith effort to chase an important athletic goal without impinging on the values and relationships I hold even dearer than the Boston Marathon.

The experience of pursuing this unique goal has taught me that actually achieving an ambitious goal is often not what matters most.  What really matters in the end is what you learn and become in the process of pursuit.  My combined experiences gained in chasing my marathoning goal, combined with the counsel of my wise mentor, have taught me much, and helped me become more than I was in January 2011.  As such, as long as I do my best, whatever happens next Saturday will only propel me further along the pathway of my own personal growth, which, in the final analysis, was a primary reason for my pursuit of the goal in the first place.