The SAL Textbooks: A Book Review from a Wise Senior

Since I was just a little boy, I have always been drawn to Seniors and appreciated the insights and wisdom their life experiences bring to bear—something they are usually willing to share if we seek for and then draw it out through sincere relationship building.

Gardening with my Grandmother
Ruth Pingree Smith (1907-1992)
Centerville, Utah, circa 1985

I suppose my adoration of Seniors began with the quality relationships I shared with my two grandmothers, born in 1907 (maternal) and 1919 (paternal). I credit my maternal Grandmother Smith for instilling within me a love of books and great literature as I spent countless hours in her home library, which was endowed with many thousands of volumes—enough to fill an entire room on every side from floor to ceiling. She also taught me about a great many other things, including gardening, as the accompanying picture illustrates.

I acknowledge my paternal Grandmother Jensen for loving me, spoiling me (in all the best ways), and helping me learn and appreciate the art of good conversation, as over the years I enjoyed many lovely tête-à-tête's in her neat, tidy, and comfortable, yet humble home. I will never forget one conversation in particular when she shared memories of making homemade soap with her mother—as well as her experience watching the first airplane fly over our hometown in rural Utah back in the mid-1920s. The unprecedented event cleared out the entire elementary school as scores of children and their teachers and administrators ran the four miles to where they saw the plane land. It still amazes me to reflect upon the dramatic changes that have occurred in the world in just the past few generations, as evinced by the remarkable differences between my life and the lives of my grandparents. 

As a teenager, I enjoyed the friendship of Hortense Rice, a widow in her upper 80s who lived in my hometown. Hortense was a member of my local church congregation but was too old and frail to attend services regularly. I would often visit her on Sunday afternoons after church. In return, she would shower me with sugary treats; if she was trying to keep me coming back, it worked! We would visit about all sorts of things, including how much the world had changed over the course of her life. Sometimes her grandson, Mike, would join us and play the piano while the two of us would sing hymns to Hortense—something she loved very much.  

Dorothy Rasmussen Adams
1910-1998

I have written in the past about my dear Aunt Dorothy (pictured left), including my adventures working on her ranch and how she taught me the power that picturesque natural vistas possess to "restore our souls." To this day, Dorothy Rasmussen Adams (1910-1998) remains one of the loveliest and most inspiring human beings with whom I have ever had the pleasure and privilege of associating.

Later on in college, my sister and a group of friends and I would often visit a convalescence home filled with lonely Seniors. Our hearts would routinely fill with satisfaction and joy as we brought smiles to the faces of those aged citizens facing a variety of challenges and discomforts in the twilight of their mortal lives.  

Since then, I've moved several times around the North American Continent, and everywhere I've gone I've had the opportunity and privilege of meeting and associating with wonderful Seniors. Indeed, I cannot think of a time or place where I've lived or worked where I haven't made the acquaintance and/or friendship of some wonderful aged friends.

From "Dotty Mama"—a 90-something piano playing prodigy in Georgia—to our upstairs neighbors in Newfoundland whose snow I would help shovel; and from a sweet German immigrant woman in Texas— who had grown up during the dark days of the Third Reich—to one of our children's kind Sunday school teachers in New Mexico—everywhere I've been I've collected wonderful friends whose hair was gray, silver, white, or gone!   

My time in Florida has been no different. Florida, in fact, has brought me an added abundance of opportunities to associate with Seniors because Florida is such a popular destination for retirees. We actually live in a neighborhood consisting mostly of retired Seniors, and that is one of the reasons I love it... and feel right at home! 

An extra special senior friend of mine writes for our neighborhood newspaper—a monthly publication for which she serves as a columnist. Several months ago, I picked up the paper and began thumbing through it for the first time... and that was my first introduction to Ms. Marie Pinschmidt and her inspiring column, entitled: "Let Me Tell You..."

In the parlance of the famous 1990s film, Jerry McGuire, you might say that Marie "had me at" Winston Churchill because that was the subject of her article that first month I came across her work; and anyone who knows me well knows of the high regard in which I hold Britain's famous war-time hero.  

Lina and I with Marie Pinschmidt
and one of her paintings we purchased

In ensuing weeks and months, I have gotten to know this remarkable Lady who is now my dear friend. And although I'm not Catholic, I have taken the liberty to adopt her as my unofficial Florida Godmother... and am honored that she likewise considers me something akin to her godson. This new and sweet connection reminds me of my Texas Mom and Dad (Frank and Candy McLane) another Senior Couple who were like parents to me when I lived in the Lone Star State—far away from my own parents.  

Marie Pinschmidt recently turned 94. She is only a couple of years younger than Queen Elizabeth II, who recently passed away to great worldwide fame and fanfare. Avid readers of my blog are well aware of my feelings for her Majesty, the late Queen. Click HERE to read my recent tribute upon her passing.  

Like the Queen, Pinschmidt is an incredibly refined, polished, intelligent, and articulate Lady and human being. Her home is elegant and immaculate—so much so, in fact, that I feel as though I am stepping into a palace or temple whenever I visit her. As a musician, professional artist, and published author, Ms. Marie is also a very talented, driven, focused, and accomplished individual.

Next week's blog post will further highlight Ms. Marie's incredible life story and the remarkable body of artistic and literary work she has produced over the years—and mostly after the age of 70, proving that the greatest souls among us never really retire or die; they continue to work, teach, and serve until their passing day—and then their memory and legacy lives on forever in the lives of those they taught and touched.    

Volume 1 of the Self-Action Leadership Textbooks

Despite her many remarkable accomplishments, perhaps Ms. Marie's greatest achievement of all is that she actually read the entire Self-Action Leadership textbook—both volumes—over a thousand pages of personal leadership literature!

I say this, of course, with my tongue-in-cheek, but the fact is that it has been very difficult to get others to read through, much less pay attention to, my work. The reason for this is simple: the SAL texts are not quick or easy reads, and unfortunately, we live in a world where people are not only very busy with their own lives and careers, but are also quite distracted by a deluge of information and a tempting array of sensory stimuli parading all around them on social media and their cell phones. Simply stated, it's easier and more convenient to spend one's times popping in and out of a potpourri of click-bait traps than it is to undertake a serious study of anything meaningful or substantive. 

Consequently, most people don't do much of anything that is difficult or outside their comfort zones unless they are faced with some kind of external deadline or pressure to do so (e.g. a formal school or work assignment). Thus, incredibly important—but not urgent—tasks like reading and studying to develop one's own personal leadership capacity tends to fall by the wayside for all but the most proactive among us (1).

David G. Anthony, Ed.D.
Former Superintendent of Cy-Fair Independent School District
and former CEO of Raise Your Hand Texas,
outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin. 

The irony of this SAL textbook conundrum is that those rare few who actually do read the complete work have all responded in the same way: they are glad they did it, they enjoyed the texts immensely—one reviewer even compared the autobiographical sections to a "page-turner novel"—and are eager to share what they discovered and learned with others. 

In the words of Dr. David G. Anthony, a career educator and former Superintendent of one of the largest public school districts in the United States, who wrote the Afterword to the SAL Textbooks:

"When Jordan originally invited me to review an 802-page manuscript of a previous version of this two-volume set, 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 I did."

Like Anthony, Pinschmidt was kind enough to write up a book review for me that she plans to publish in our neighborhood's newspaper next month. She has also given me permission to further publish her words on the Freedom Focused blog today.

I have reprinted it below for your enjoyment and edification...

Marie Pinschmidt is the author of SIX (6)
books and numerous articles.

Hope for the Future through Self-Action Leadership

One of the many pleasures I have enjoyed while living in PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the past 25 years is meeting interesting and often fascinating neighbors. One of these accomplished and productive persons is JORDAN R. JENSEN, who, with his delightful wife and three young children, recently moved into a home just a few miles from my condominium. I am a columnist for our neighborhood's monthly newspaper and I met Jordan and his family through my work as a writer. 

Jordan is the Founder, CEO, and Master Facilitator of Freedom Focused LLC, The Center for Self-Action Leadership, a professional leadership training organization. He is the author of several books and hundreds of articles that have appeared in a variety of different newspapers and periodicals, including multiple academic journals. A skilled writer and educator, he has facilitated training events throughout the English-speaking world. He holds a bachelor's degree in English as well as a doctorate in Education. I have just finished reading Jordan's "Magnum Opus," which includes Volume 1: SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP—A Theoretical Framework for Existential Growth, and Volume 2: SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP—An Action Research-Based Character Development Model.

A talented musician, Ms. Marie sits
at her piano in her elegant living room.

At age 94, I am long past the stage of life for collegiate course study. Despite this fact, my friendship with Jordan motivated me to give his textbooks a shot. Somewhat to my surprise, I found the books to be fascinating from page one-on. Like many other reviewers, I find his writing masterful, even poetic. And speaking of poetry, you lovers of verse may be interested in knowing that he has also published an anthology of his own, original poems in Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection, published by authorHouse and available for sale at Amazon.com, or by clicking HERE. 

Dr. Jensen's leadership books are anchored in true principles of philosophy and human behavior. They contain not only the requirements to lead in the professional world, but also how to live successfully with dignity and honor in one's personal life. As we all know, in modern society we often find leaders who excel in their endeavors but fall short in the categories of honor and integrity. 

These books helped me revisit my long life with renewed interest and to evaluate why I succeeded in certain areas and failed in others. I'm sure most of us have those moments of introspection. I wish his teachings had been available when I was just starting out in my adult life. In these two volumes Jordan has gifted his readers with his personal and candid history of survival during many trying times, including chronic mental illness (OCD and depression), to evolve as a great educator and courageous human being.

An accomplished professional artist,
Pinschmidt is pictured here in her home studio.

His books are a combination of textbook, autobiography, memoir, and inspirational survival story, and should be in the permanent collection of every library, high school, and every other institution of learning, business, etc. Our young people would need no greater comprehensive training in their business, professional, or personal future than to read, study, and internalize the SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP textbooks. 

For those of you who have "been there and done that," you will enjoy the exceptional writing, poetry, and quotes from inspirational people throughout history who have lived exemplary lives of leadership.  

Jordan has published six books and hundreds of news and other articles and blogs. He has also worked with thousands of people in hundreds of audiences throughout the U.S., Canada, and the UK. A husband and father of three, he is also a triathlete, having completed 13 marathons and one 70.3 Ironman triathlon.

To learn more about his textbooks and professional work, visit www.freedomfocused.com. If you would like to receive his FREE weekly blog articles every Wednesday, just email him at freedomfocused@gmail.com. Lastly, if you are interested in buying his comprehensive Life Leadership textbooks yourself, you can do so by visiting www.cambridgescholars.com and searching for the words: "SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP," or by clicking HERE.  

One of Marie Pinschmidt's many masterpieces
on canvas, created entirely from her
rich and vivid imagination.

Once again, the Holidays are knocking at our doors and the above-mentioned books could be a life-changing gift, especially for the young adults on your list. Keep in mind that I have touched only briefly on the insightful lessons to be learned from Jordan's books, and the hours of joy his writing has given me.

I cordially wish all of Dr. Jensen's readers Peace and Goodwill now and throughout the New Year. Thank you, Jordan, for the opportunity to read your books and contribute this review.  

—Marie Pinschmidt
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
November 14, 2022

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

Remember to tune in to next week's blog to learn more about the remarkable life story of Ms. Marie Pinschmidt.

If you would like to peruse her website in the meantime, you can access it by clicking HERE.  

—Dr. JJ

November 16, 2022

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 292nd Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 121st consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 291 FF Blog Articles.  

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

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

And if you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to sign up to receive future articles for FREE every Wednesday.

To sign up, please email freedomfocused@gmail.com and say SUBSCRIBE, or just YES, and we will ensure you receive a link to each new blog article every Wednesday.  

Click HERE to learn more about Freedom Focused

Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Jordan Jensen

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks

Notes:

1. See Stephen R. Covey's books: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and First Things First.