APPENDIX A: Definitions of KEY TERMS

 

APPENDIX  A

Definitions of KEY TERMS 

& Acronyms

EXISTENTIAL:  Of, or relating to, your existence (life).

ONTOLOGY (noun):  The metaphysical nature of being.

ONTOLOGICAL (adjective):  Related to the metaphysical nature of being.  

EXISTENTIAL GROWTH:  The growth, progress, and maturation of your holistic potential as a human being.

LIFE  LEADERSHIP:  The process of thoughtfully and intentionally designing and constructing your life as part of a never-ending journey towards higher levels of Existential Growth and freedom. 

SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP  (SAL)  (Definition #1):  Taking complete personal responsibility for everything in your life. This includes your thoughts, speech, actions, attitudes, beliefs, and all consequences engendered thereby. 

SERENDIPITY:  The felicitous aid of unseen forces.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE:  The effective bridling and management of your own emotions,
and the ability to influence others to do likewise.

RIGHT:  Thoughts, speech, behavior, attitudes, and beliefs that result in positive, contributive, and constructive long-term consequences for self and others.

WRONG:  Thoughts, speech, behavior, attitudes, and beliefs that result in negative, detrimental, and destructive long-term consequences for self and others.

CULTURAL LITERACY:  Being educated, literate, and conversant in key knowledge points spanning a variety of different topics within a given culture or society.

PEDAGOGY OF PERSONAL LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT  (PPLCD):  Educational curricula that focuses a student's attention and efforts on taking individual responsibility and developing integrity-based character.

COURAGE:  Doing what is right when doing so is difficult, inconvenient, unpleasant, or unpopular. 

UNIVERSAL LAWS:  Natural laws that define reality and govern all naturally occurring forces throughout the Universe (physical laws), as well as all long-term consequences of individual and organizational decisions (metaphysical laws).   

TRUE  PRINCIPLES:  Fundamental truths that guide human beings to think, speak, and act in ways that lead to their long-term growth, happiness, success, fulfillment, and inner peace.  

NATURAL  LAWS  OF  ACQUISITION:  Prices set by Universal Laws that must be paid to acquire any physical or metaphysical accoutrement or accomplishment.  

MISTAKE:  An innocent error that accompanies a learning curve.

SIN:  A consciously committed error in violation of a known moral law.

THE PATRIOTISM PRINCIPLE:  Nations and other organizations and groups are more successful when individuals within an entity are patriotic members of that nation, organization, or group. 

LIBERTY: Your right to life and the pursuit of happiness, as well as the freedom to choose what you think about, say, and do—in conjunction with State-granted rights such as freedoms of speech, religion, assembly, the press, etc.

FREEDOM:  Personal liberties and opportunities earned as a result of expending effort over time in submission to True Principles rooted in Universal Laws.

 

POSTMODERNISM:  A philosophical ideology that denies and discredits the existence of moral absolutes.

PRESTRUCTURALISM:  A philosophical ideology that postures erroneous ideas as moral absolutes.

MORAL  STRUCTURALISM:  A balanced moral philosophy based on True Principles rooted in Universal Laws.

FORMAL  AUTHORITY:  Power derived from a title or position.

MORAL  AUTHORITY:  Power derived from one's personal influence.

EXISTENTIAL  DUTIES:  Responsibilities you have—by virtue of your existence—to contribute to the health, well-being, growth, and freedom of other human beings (including yourself), other life forms, and the planet-at-large. 

HUMILITY:  The ability to accurately see and graciously acknowledge the way things really are
based on physical and metaphysical realities rooted in Universal Law.

EXISTENTIAL WORTH:  The worth of someone's or something's existence as measured by his, her, or its potential for Existential Growth.

EXISTENTIAL POTENTIAL:  The potential for Existential Growth of any life form, and more especially human beings and organizational systems.

EXISTENTIAL  EQUALITY:  A paradigm that all human beings are equal in their potential to become

fully actualized human beings in pursuit of unlimited Existential Growth.

EXISTENTIAL  VALUE:  Positive and productive value added to the world and its people by virtue of

contributions made and Existential Growth achieved by a given human being (or beings).

SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY:  Principles, practices, and premises that promote taking complete personal responsibility for everything in your life that you can either control or influence.  

LEADERSHIP:  Thoughts, words, and actions intentionally undertaken to influence specific, correlated, and desired thoughts, speech, and actions in others.

FOLLOWERSHIP:  The consistent, devoted, and willing adherence to the directions, instructions, and tenets of a leader. 

SELF-LEADERSHIP (S-L):  Cognitive and behavioral strategies intentionally utilized to accomplish something. 

ACTION RESEARCH (AR):  A 4-step cyclical process of identifying problems and then seeking to strategically solve them. 

SELF-ACTION RESEARCH (SAR):  Action research applied by, to, and for the self to gain self-awareness, aid self-improvement, solve personal problems, and nurture one's growth and freedom.

EXISTENTIALISM:  A philosophical approach that values and consults human experience—in conjunction with scientific reasoning and rational thought—in the process of constructing meaning about reality. 

AUTOETHNOGRAPHY:  Scholarly research conducted on oneself and by oneself for the benefit and enlightenment of oneself and others.

SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP  (SAL)  (Definition #2):  Morally informed self-leadership that is action-oriented, focused on long-term results, and aimed at a continual rise in the Existential Growth of self and others. 

RIGHT Choices:  Thoughts, speech, and actions that result in positive and constructive long-term consequences for self and others.

WRONG Choices:  Thoughts, speech, and actions that result in negative and destructive long-term consequences for self and others.

CONSCIENCE:  An inner metaphysical light and compass that viscerally guides, directs, and prompts you to think about, say, and do what is right, good, and constructive while avoiding what is wrong, evil, and destructive.  

TRUTH:  The way things really were, are, and will be—as delineated by the continuous interplay of Universal Laws and natural consequences over time.

ERROR:  Anything that deviates in any way from the truth.  

EXISTENTIAL  INTELLIGENCE:  Holistic knowledge wisely and harmoniously applied across the eight (8) life arenas of Self-Action Leadership.

• Constitutional
• Spiritual
• Physical
• Mental
• Emotional
• Social
• Financial
• Moral

CONSTITUTIONAL  INTELLIGENCE:  The ability to identify, clarify, articulate, and then successfully pursue your life's vision, mission, values, standards, sociality, etc. 

SPIRITUAL  INTELLIGENCE:  The desire, willingness, and capacity to detect, interpret, and effectively utilize information and wisdom that is metaphysically accessed and/or viscerally received. 

PHYSICAL  INTELLIGENCE:  Acquiring and then acting on knowledge that leads to a fit, nourished,

balanced, and otherwise healthy and mobile physical existence. 

MENTAL  INTELLIGENCE:  The desire, willingness, and capacity to continually nurture one's mind and intellect in an upward spiral of acquired knowledge and applied wisdom. It is also the ability to gauge one's own mental health and hygiene and the humility and courage to seek out help when one's mental health needs addressing. 

EMOTIONAL  INTELLIGENCE:  The successful bridling and management of your own emotions, and the ability to influence others to do likewise.

SOCIAL  INTELLIGENCE: The ability to navigate a variety of human relationships and social dynamics by effectively reading, understanding, empathizing and communicating with, and being tolerant toward a wide spectrum of people and groups. 

FINANCIAL  INTELLIGENCE:  The ability to earn, budget, save, and invest money for purposes of personal stability, security, independence, freedom, influence, power, and philanthropy. 

MORAL  INTELLIGENCE:  Possessing a knowledge of right and wrong, a sharpened conscience that

readily discerns between good and evil, and the courage to act consistently in accordance with principles of goodness, rightness, and truth. 

EXISTENTIAL BALANCE:  A healthy state of equilibrium spanning the Eight (8) Life Arenas of Self-Action Leadership.

EXISTENTIAL OCTATHLETE:  A self-action leader who continually strives for Existential Balance and Intelligence by concurrently focusing on one's development and growth in all Eight (8) Life Arenas of Self-Action Leadership.

EXISTENTIAL OCTATHLON:  The lifelong pursuit of Existential Balance, Growth, and Freedom

across the Eight (8) Life Arenas of Self-Action Leadership.

SAL  LIFE  VARIABLES:  Variables of reality over which we have varying degrees of control and/or influence that, in-turn, influence the results we get in our lives.

SAL Life Variables

1. Forces of Nature
2. Congenital Physical Variables
3. Congenital Family Environment
4. Congenital Social Environment
5. Congenital Intelligence & Talent
6. Initial Opportunities for Education
7. Good and Bad Luck
8. Genetic and Mimetic Inclinations
9. Choices of Others
10. Time
11. Structural Inequality
12. Geopolitics and Macroeconomics
13. Suprarational Intervention  (aka SERENDIPITY)
14. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
15. Desire
16. Developed Intelligence & Talent
17. Will Power

SAL VARIABLES' QUOTIENT:  A person's unique blend of genetic and mimetic benefits and limitations.

POSTULATE:  Noun:  A principle that is put forth and assumed to be true.  

                           Verb:   To put forth a principle that is assumed to be true. 

LAW:  A generalization based on a fact or event perceived to be recurrent.  —New Oxford American Dictionary

COROLLARY:  A proposition that follows from, and is often appended to, one already proved.  —New Oxford American Dictionary

SELF-ACTION  LEADERSHIP  THEORY:  A comprehensive academic theory of self-leadership and character development rooted in atmospheric and astronomical science and metaphor. 

EXISTENTIAL  ATROPHY:  The deterioration and regression of one's holistic growth and moral progress. 

SAL  COMMAND  CENTER:  A four-part, metaphysical decision-making aid and tool.  

EXISTENTIAL  GRAVITY (XGrav):  Addictions, bad habits, negative peer pressure, temptations, weaknesses, and any other force or inertia that inhibits Existential Growth or influences the onset of existential atrophy.

EXISTENTIAL  CRABS:  People and organizations that act to undermine your progress and inhibit your Existential Growth.

CRAB  EFFECT:  A phenomenon whereby a single crab may free itself from the confines of a bucket, but a group of crabs will prevent each other from similarly escaping by pulling each other down.

SAL HIERARCHY:  NINE (9) different and progressive levels (or stages) of Existential Growth.

Earth's Atmospheric Layers and Nine (9) Progressive Levels of the SAL Hierarchy. (2)

LAYER 1. Earth's Surface                                      LEVEL 1. Education Stage

LAYER 2. Troposphere                                          LEVEL 2. Beginner's Stage

LAYER 3. Stratosphere                                          LEVEL 3. Practitioner's Stage

LAYER 4. Mesosphere                                           LEVEL 4. Refining Stage

LAYER 5. Ionosphere                                            LEVEL 5. Polishing Stage

LAYER 6. Thermosphere                                       LEVEL 6. SAL-Actualization Stage

LAYER 7. Exosphere                                             LEVEL 7. Leadership Stage

LAYER 8. Outer Space                                           LEVEL 8. Self-Transcendence

LAYER 9. Astronomical Bodies Beyond               LEVEL 9. Creation Stage

EXISTENTIAL STANDING:  The level of Existential Growth you inhabit at any given point in your existence. 

PRACTITIONER'S  PLATEAU:  A perceived comfort zone existing in the Practitioner's Stage where a self-action leader opts to stop striving for higher levels of Existential Growth.

EXISTENTIAL  VACUUM:  A soul-deep, life-numbing existential ennui and paralysis akin to depression. 

COMPETITION  PARADIGM:  A desire to obtain Existential Growth to surpass others. 

LOVE  PARADIGM:  A desire to help others obtain Existential Growth.

EXISTENTIAL  REGRESSION:  The regression from a higher to a lower stage of Existential Growth. 

dark shadow:  Metaphysical darkness that corrodes and corrupts your mind, heart, and soul, leading you to think, say, and do that which is wrong, evil, negative, and destructive while eschewing what is right, good, positive, and constructive.  

Five D's of the dark shadow

1. Deception
2. Discouragement
3. Debasement
4. Damage
5. Destruction

Nine Regressive Levels of the SAL lowerarchy

LEVEL -1.  Deception and Debasement Stage

LEVEL -2.  Deconstruction Stage

LEVEL -3.  Mischief Stage

LEVEL -4.  Violence and Damage Stage

LEVEL -5.  Corruption and Perversion Stage

LEVEL -6.  Propaganda Stage

LEVEL -7.  Pied Piper Stage

LEVEL -8.  Self-Descendence

LEVEL -9.  Destruction Stage

SAR Project: A self-led research experiment or project aimed at increasing self-awareness, aiding

self-improvement, solving personal problems, and bolstering Existential Growth.

SAL Project: A self-led personal initiative aimed at achieving long-term objectives in the domain of Existential Growth for self and others.

SAL Model: A comprehensive academic model of Self-Action Leadership and character development

rooted in action research theory and construction science and metaphor.

FIVE (5) Levels of Relationships

LEVEL 1: Relationship with your Source......................................your Creator and/or Conscience

LEVEL 2: Relationship with your Companion/Partner.................the One

LEVEL 3: Relationship with your Inner Circle.............................the Few

LEVEL 4: Relationship with your Outer Circle.............................the Many

LEVEL 5: Relationship with Everyone Else..................................the All

EXISTENTIAL  BALANCE:  A healthy state of equilibrium spanning the Eight (8) Life Arenas of Self-Action Leadership.

SELF-ONENESS:  An elusive state of existential contentment and inner peace resulting from a satisfying and fulfilling sense of personal completeness or wholeness of body, mind, and spirit.

PERSONAL  CREED:  An individual's attitudes, beliefs, and aims which guide one's thoughts, speech, and behavior.  

INSANITY  TEST:  A process of evaluating and then changing your approach to a goal until you have achieved your objective.

S.M.A.R.T.I.E.S — or just SMARTIES — GOALS are:

Specific

Measurable

Attainability & Accountability

Relevant

Time-bound 

Intrapersonally competitive

Engaging

Sane

CHASTITY:  Abstinence from sexual activity before marriage and complete fidelity to one's spouse after marriage.

FASTING:  Abstaining from food and/or water and other beverages for a period of time.

SELF-REWARD: Something concrete and tangible you give to yourself as a reward for making good decisions, remaining on task, staying focused, and working hard.

NATURAL  REWARD:  Intangible reward that come as a by-product of engaging in activities and tasks from which you naturally derive joy, pleasure, and satisfaction.

SELF-OBSERVATION:  Taking thoughtful notice of your thoughts, speech, actions, attitudes, and beliefs.

SELF-ANALYSIS:  The thoughtful examination of your thoughts, speech, actions, attitudes, and beliefs to check for their alignment (or lack thereof) with your vision, mission, values, standards, and goals.

SELF-RENEWAL:  Rest, recovery, relaxation, restoration, and rejuvenation activities and efforts aimed at continually maintaining holistic health and life balance.

ReVISIONING:  The process of clarifying, expanding, and perfecting your SAL Blueprints over time.

PURPOSE EXAMINATION:  The ongoing evaluation of—and adjustments to—your life purpose.

SAL ~ Serendipity BALANCE:  Accessing the paradoxical equilibrium—or sweet spot—between chasing after your dreams and patiently allowing them to chase after you.

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 519th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 302nd consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 518 FF Blog Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

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

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

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JJ's Journal: 1987

        From the Personal Journals of My Father

Rex Buckley Jensen 

1987

Monday, January 21, 1979

Got

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 543rd Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 326th consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 542 FF Blog Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

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

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

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APPENDICES Table of Contents

 APPENDICES

Table of Contents

APPENDIX A:  Definition of KEY TERMS  

APPENDIX  B:  Self-Action Leadership (SAL) Theory in Brief

APPENDIX  C:  Self-Action Leadership (SAL) Model in Brief

APPENDIX  D:  SAL Master Challenge REQUIREMENTS

APPENDIX  E:  SAL Task Tracker Templates

APPENDIX  F:  Intended Audiences

APPENDIX  G:  SAL Library / Bibliography of Recommended Reading

APPENDIX  H:  SAL  Mantras

APPENDIX  I:  SAL  Quotes

APPENDIX  J:  SAL  Poems

APPENDIX  K:  SAL  Essays

APPENDIX  L:  SAL  Speeches

APPENDIX  M:  Freedom Focused Corporate Declaration of Independence

APPENDIX  N:  Freedom Focused Corporate Constitution

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 518th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 301st consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 517 FF Blog Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

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

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

If you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to bookmark this blog to access a new FREE article every Wednesday.

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks

Celebrating Consecutive Blog Article #300

 

300 Weekly Blog Articles...

without a miss!

The FIRST Freedom Focused SAL blog article was published on October 8, 2013—over a dozen years ago.

Publishing was robust and regular at given intervals along the way, but overall it proved intermittent and sporadic over the first seven (7) years. That all changed on August 31, 2020, when I determined it was time to make the blog more CONSISTENT and predictable moving forward.  

From that day onward until TODAY, I have not missed a week—for 300 consecutive weeks—a practice that has helped to further define Freedom Focused as an organization by clarifying its features and sharpening its focus as we march onward confidently and courageously into the future.

Beginning in late 2008, I began taking interest in—and rooting for—Roger Federer, one of professional tennis's all-time great champions and sportsmen. 

It was an ironic point in time to begin cheering for Federer, because many of his greatest achievements were already behind him. Nevertheless, the "Swiss Maestro" still had many highlights to come and trophies to raise in his storied tennis career, which would last for another decade-and-a-half until his retirement in 2022. 

Roger Federer has many gaudy statistics and achievements to his name, including 103 professional tour-level tournament victories and 20 Grand Slam titles. Among these and other remarkable achievements as a professional tennis player stands a record that rises far-and-away above everyone else, including the other two members of the "BIG 3"—Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal—his greatest opponents who are widely considered to be, along with Federer, the best men's players in tennis history.

Indeed, it is a record that may never be broken in the future.

Federer was a grass court specialist, but
he had to be elite on hard courts and
clay courts to achieve his untouchable
feat of 237 consecutive weeks as world #1.

The record I speak of is the number of CONSECUTIVE weeks ranked #1 in the world. Federer holds this record at 237 consecutive weeks. He set this record between February 2, 2004 and August 17, 2008. This means that for four (4) years and six-and-a-half months, Roger Federer was ranked #1 in the world and no one was able to dethrone him. 

Second place to Federer in this nonpareil record is Jimmy Connors at only 160 weeks—not even close!  

I have always been inspired by this unique record of both consistency and dominance—and have striven diligently to emulate this same kind of elite performance in my own life and career. 

Unlike the mighty Roger Federer, I have no world championships to my name. However, it feels good—and is good for my self-worth—to practice and then achieve milestones of consistency in my life and work.  

In all, Roger Federer spent 310 weeks as the number ONE (#1) tennis player in the world, good for second place all-time to Novak Djokovic's otherworldy 428 weeks. However, despite Novak's overall dominance as world #1, Djokovic's best streak of consistency atop the world standings was only 122—not even close to Federer's extraordinary 237. 

So while Novak Djokovic rightly deserves the title of professional tennis "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) for his overall achievements, which include 24 Grand Slam titles and 428 weeks as world #1, there is at least ONE area of measurable excellence where Roger Federer clearly surpassed him—and all other tennis players throughout history—and by a large margin.  

As a forever Federer fan, I take great pride in this unsurpassed achievement of his!  

No matter what activities or endeavors I have attempted and pursued throughout my life and career, I—like Roger Federer—have learned through experience the incredible importance and value of a simple consistency. 

Truly, CONSISTENCY is KEY to my mastery and success as a writer, speaker, organizer, and leader—just like consistency was key to Roger Federer's mastery and success on the tennis court. 

SAL Mantra

CONSISTENCY is KEY

 

This simple mantra is true of virtually everything in life for YOU and everyone else, including:

Academics and learning,

    Artistic, athletic, musical, and other performances,

        Financial interest and prosperity,

            Habit formation and breaking,

        Health, wellness, fitness, weight loss, and maintenance,

    Relationship building, cultivation, nurturance, and troubleshooting, and

Skill development of all kinds.  

Jim Rohn—that famous business philosopher of the 20th century—once noted the following about SUCCESS and failure...

"Success is a few simple disciplines practiced every day." 

—Jim Rohn

"Failure is a few simple disciplines neglected every day."  

            

Once you have developed a habit, consistency gets easier. The hard part is usually developing a good habit—or breaking a bad habit—in the first place. 

That's HARD WORK and can be temporarily discouraging!  

Habit formation (or breaking) really can be difficult. It takes a lot of up-front effort, energy, focus, will power, and accountability. But, if you are willing to push through these challenges, you will be rewarded with good, strong, and helpful habits that will bring you proficiency and success in whatever you set out to do.  

It feels really good to have exercised the discipline to have achieved the consistency of 300 consecutive weekly published articles on the SAL blog. At Freedom Focus this is definitely an achievement worth celebrating!

What is something in YOUR life or career that you would like to accomplish or achieve? 

What "simple (or not so simple) disciplines" will YOU need to "practice every day" and what new habits will you need to develop in order to realize your vision, accomplish your mission, or achieve your goal?  

We encourage you to begin doing whatever it takes to develop this habit, beginning TODAY!

To help inspire you in your efforts, consider the words of a famous poem entitled, HABIT...

HABIT

I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do might well be turned over to me,

And I will do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.
Show me exactly how you want something done,
And after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great people,
And alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, although I work with all the precision of a machine,
Plus the intelligence of a person.

You may run me for profit or run me for ruin,
It makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, and be firm with me
And I will place the world at your feet.

Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

I am HABIT!

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 517th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 300th consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 516 FF Blog Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

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

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

If you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to bookmark this blog to access a new FREE article every Wednesday.

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks

About Freedom Focused

About Freedom Focused

Freedom Focused was founded in 2002 and incorporated in 2005 by Dr. Jordan R. Jensen. 

It is an educational, training, and promotional organization dedicated to championing and proliferating the principles and practices of the Self-Action Leadership philosophy, theory, and model as contained in the SAL Life Leadership textbook, entitled—Self-Action Leadership: A Textbook and Journal for Life. 

Freedom Focused exists to transform Western Culture and beyond by influencing its citizens to more fully embrace personal responsibility and character development. It accomplishes this broad and general aim through continual education and training initiatives rooted in Self-Action Leadership, Existential Growth, and FREEDOM.  

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 516th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 299th consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 515 FF Blog Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

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

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

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TWENTY (20) Year Anniversary of the SAL Textbook

FIRST Edition of the SAL Textbook
Published by Booksurge 
2006

TODAY marks a very special anniversary in my professional career, and in the storied history of the SAL Life Leadership textbook.  

Twenty (20) years ago to the day—April 6, 2006—the first shipment of the FIRST Edition of this work arrived at my residence in Woodstock, Georgia (metro Atlanta) where I was living at the time. 

There were 565 copies of that original work, packaged neatly and tightly into 12 heavy boxes. Robbie Noble, my roommate at the time, kindly helped me heft the dozen boxes up the three (3) flights of stairs to our apartment. 

That obscure event marked a very different place and time in my life and career than where I currently find myself. For example, I was still several months away from meeting—much less dating or marrying—my amazing wife and saving grace, Lina. 

Approximately 100 days previously, I had taken a bold leap of faith by moving back to Atlanta, Georgia from Utah for the second time to continue building my fledgling business as an intrepid (albeit sometimes foolish) entrepreneur. I was quickly running out of money and had few promising prospects on the horizon as either an entrepreneur or employee. It was a perplexing and embarrassing, yet concurrently adventurous and exhilarating period of my life.

I was certainly elated the day I received that first shipment of my first book.

A great deal has happened in the intervening 20 years, including the creation and/or publication of FIVE (5) more editions of the SAL Life Leadership textbook. The SAL Textbook—and my life—looks very different in 2026 than it did back in 2006. I now have a wife of 18 years and three (3) beautiful children. All of the awful debt I had incurred in the early days of Freedom Focused was paid off by 2012, and Lina and I have been diligently saving for our future ever since.

Suffice it to say, I no longer worry about being evicted from my housing, having my car repossessed, or being able to buy food. Indeed, after 20 years of studying and practicing SAL in conjunction with enjoying the rich and ongoing blessings of Serendipity, the portrait of my life looks very different now than it did back then—thus evincing the tangible and terrific life benefits obtainable through the focused study and diligent application of SAL principles and practices over time.

I am now several weeks removed from submitting the manuscript for the landmark SEVENTH Edition of the SAL Life Leadership textbook to its publisher, and the publication process has commenced with an anticipated release date coinciding with the 250th Anniversary of America's birthday—July 4, 1776.

I will continue to send out additional details in preparation for this exciting event. In the meantime, I invite you to join me on a journey down memory lane, as I showcase the SIX (6) succeeding editions of the SAL Textbook that have since grown out of that seminal work published 20 years ago, today.   

FIRST Edition of the SAL Textbook
Published by Booksurge 
302 pages

2006

SECOND Edition of the SAL Textbook
Unpublished Manuscript 
268 pages

2007

(Publisher dishonestly reneged on signed contract, leaving me in a lurch)

THIRD Edition of the SAL Textbook
JJ's Doctoral Dissertation

Fielding Graduate University

4-volume ~ 1,149 pages 
2013

FOURTH Edition of the SAL Textbook
Published by authorHouse 
800 pages
2013

FIFTH Edition of the SAL Textbook
Published by authorHouse 
740 pages
2015

SIXTH Edition of the SAL Textbook
Published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing 
2 Volumes  ~  1,295 pages
2019



Self-Action Leadership: A Textbook and Journal for Life

SEVENTH Edition of the SAL Textbook
Published by Palmetto
Currently in the publication process
Single TEXTBOOK-sized volume
1,680 pages (unpublished)
800 pages (published)
2026




PRAISE for the SAL Textbook...

Colonel Lee Ellis
U.S. Air Force, Retired
Business Owner and Leadership Expert

"In the SAL Textbook, Dr. Jordan Jensen has assembled a leadership masterpiece anchored steadfastly in true principles of philosophy and human behavior.

"In wonderfully written prose, Jordan reminds us of who we are and what it takes to live and lead with honor. Moreover, he challenges us to live up to the high calling of being human beings with a special mission on this Earth. To accomplish our mission, we must do two major things: grow in our sense of personal responsibility, and in turn, care for others and help them to do the same.

"I grappled with these two areas in a primal way during more than five years as a POW in Vietnam. Now I'm thrilled to see how Dr. Jensen has laid out SAL by using the vehicle of story to illuminate his own unique journey of transcending adversity. In so doing, he has inspired us all to become who we are capable of becoming. 

"Bravo!"

— Colonel Lee Ellis
U.S. Air Force (retired)
Founder & President of Leading with Honor, 

Leadership Freedom LLC, and FreedomStar Media.
Author of Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton

"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 comprehensive work."

— Charles C. Manz, Ph.D.
Nirenberg Chaired Professor of Business Leadership, University of Massachusetts
Father of the self-leadership field in academe
Co-author of Self-Leadership: The Definitive Guide to Personal Excellence

Dr. Chris Neck

"Jordan 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, administrators, business professionals and workers of all kinds, educators, students, parents, and students—in short, to everyone. Indeed, I do believe that virtually anyone who reads this text will be able to take something away from it that will improve his or her life in a significant way."

— Christopher P. Neck, Ph.D.
Professor of Management, Arizona State University
Co-author of Self-Leadership: The Definitive Guide to Personal Excellence

David G. Anthony, Ed.D.

"Reading this book may be the most valuable thing you do this year. I hope the message of SAL 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 nation and world."

— David G. Anthony, Ed.D.
Former CEO, Raise Your Hand Texas
Former Superintendent, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (Houston, TX)

Elizabeth & Bradley Chappell

"Jordan Jensen's empowering book shares candid personal insights into the challenges of living with OCD and the broadly applicable process he has been using to continually overcome it. We have read about several different mental health challenges, but never as a first-hand account written in such a detailed and self-disclosing fashion. The compelling narrative chapters make this self-help guide read like a page-turner novel that is coupled with a powerful process of improving one's ability to self-lead. Jordan's explanation of Self-Action Leadership is applicable to all. 

"Thanks, Jordan!" 

— Brad and Elizabeth Chappell
Husband, Father, Award-Winning Financial Advisor, and Business Owner (Brad) and Wife, Mother, Writer, and Entrepreneur (Elizabeth); Spring, Texas, USA

Dr. Bruce Jackson
Business Owner & Flow Expert

"Most of us have challenges that we seek to explain through our genetic predispositions. It is the select few who consider their internal resources and make the choice to master those challenges. Dr. Jensen, through his own experiences and research, has taken the latter path—The Road Less Traveled. Anyone who seeks greater insight into their inner struggles, and desires the tools to overcome those struggles—to master self—will find this work a must read!"  

— Bruce H. Jackson, Ph.D., MBA, MPA, Ed.M., MA 
Founder & CEO of the Attentional Leadership Institute
Author of Finding Your Flow

"Since I was crowned Miss America in 1984, I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world to meet with countless leaders, educators, and families. In doing so, I have noticed that the attributes that factor most greatly in the long-term success of individuals and groups—like personal character and the ability to lead and influence others in positive and productive ways—are not taught in homes to the same degree that they were when I was growing up.

 
"If students don't learn these things in their homes, schools become the "Next Defense" and maybe even their "Last Best Hope" to obtain them before entering the professional workforce. Unfortunately, schools these days often shirk their duty in this regard as well. As such, I am thrilled to see that Jordan has dedicated his career to bridging this glaring pedagogical gap and meeting this much-needed character component in schools, universities, and organizations. I heartily endorse Dr. Jensen's work and encourage leaders, administrators, and educators everywhere to embrace Self-Action Leadership in their states, districts, schools, and organizations."

— Sharlene Wells Hawkes

Business Executive, Community Leader, and former Miss America (1985)

SAL has never been short of PRAISE
from EXPERTS and others
who have read the work.

"While a number of books and articles have been written on the topic of self-leadership, Jordan Jensen's Self-Action Leadership textbook goes deep below the surface of basic self-leading strategies and their accompanying examples. It provides 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, SAL 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. 
Associate Professor of Management, West Virginia University and leading self-leadership scholar in academe

"Jordan Jensen has written a thorough, intense, and illuminating autobiographical volume about how to lead oneself. 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 and who they want to be—at least once before they die—a journey well worth the effort." 

— James G.S. Clawson, Ph.D. 
Emeritus Professor of Management, Darden Graduate School of Business at The University of Virginia
Author of Level 3 Leadership: Getting Below the Surface

 

Dr. JJ's Bachelor's Degree in English from UVU
signed by President Matthew S. Holland

"The model of SAL is a thought-provoking read of a topic vital for our day. While Dr. Jensen draws upon multiple disciplines, he manages to produce a broadly accessible book that shows how this type of leadership is attainable for anyone willing to accept responsibility and work at it."

— Matthew S. Holland, Ph.D.
Former President, Utah Valley University 

"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. As an educator, it is encouraging to know that 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.

"Thank you, Jordan!" 

— Shannon Lindholm
High School Teacher, Texas, USA

Josh Rohatinsky
Healthcare Administrator
and Champion Distance Runner

"Dr. Jensen shares insightful stories and powerful principles to create an incredibly solid foundation of self-leadership knowledge, but he doesn't stop there. The reader is also guided through the same process of self-discovery Dr. Jensen himself went through to become an effective self-action leader. The combination of sound philosophy and guided self-exploration make this work a truly unique and powerful tool in creating principle-centered self-leaders." 

— Josh Rohatinsky, MPA 
Administrative Director, Utah Valley Hospital
NCAA Division-1 men's cross-country champion (2006)
Former professional runner (Nike)

"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 outside of prescribed curriculum through an understanding of Self-Action Leadership." 

— James Fraser
High School Teacher and Coach, Texas, USA

"If you find yourself in Hell, you might be lucky enough to come across this book. Psychotherapists like myself can show you a pathway to healing, but Jordan outlines individual footsteps you can follow to personal freedom.

"Jordan approached his OCD and depression with unusual determination and proactivity. His story offers an inspiring model of a patient's full acceptance of responsibility for one's own condition and treatment, which is paramount to a successful outcome.

"His Self-Action Leadership Theory and Model—the result of keen self-awareness, reflection, and study—offer hope for those who struggle with mental illness and other life challenges. He has demonstrated the courage to take the first steps, as well as the commitment to keep going." 

— Irene Tobis, Ph.D. 
Retired Professional Counselor and former President of OCD Texas, an affiliate of the International Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCDF)

—Dr. JJ

Monday, April 6, 2026

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 515th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 299th consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 514 FF Blog Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

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Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

If you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to bookmark this blog to access a new FREE article every Wednesday.

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks