Art of Leadership

Is leadership an art or skill? Is leadership a purpose or a position of life… Why is leadership confusing or complicated as many have made it today? Whether you are a leader of a business, government, organization, team, or program.  Leadership is genuinely important for effective development. Some of those areas above have money, position, title, or other. Some people have all of these things and aren't leaders, while others have none of them and still lead beautifully. 

My perspective, a man’s wealth and happiness isn’t guaranteed from his earthly riches, but certainly determined by the relationship one has with God Almighty, family, country, and ones own desires, aspirations and strategies for life. If one desires to be wealthy study wealth. One will need to understand the strategies, skills, and methods. If one desires: peace, calmness, harmony, serenity, and tranquility. He is equally capable of being rich, but one must possess the knowledge and strategies. If one desires to be learnt he will indulge himself with those books that have applications to life. If face, one will use the strategies, methods, and practices to condition is on expectation for life. If one wishes or desires to be a great businessman, he will study business and the strategies therein. 

In my 44 years on this planet. I have witnessed the decay of man’s heart, mind, and soul in the last 20 of these years. I’ve come to the realization that leadership is an art and not just a set of skills. For it requires not only a different way of thinking, but an entirely different approach to life itself. It often lies on the hands of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and application. It is absorbed, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It is used in the process of life in which it elevates us, and prepares us for the battlefield of life and they accompanies us toward our destination. 

We often read books that divert us, and have a little relevance to our daily lives. We have lofty ideas, traditional values, or meaningful methods that we do not put into practice. We also have many rich experiences or educational lessons from great teachers, that we do not analyze enough, or do not inspire us, those lessons we ignore. The methods and strategies of old require a constant contact between the two realms. It is practical knowledge to the highest form. It is deep understanding to the highest form. This game of life that whispers or echoes throughout our lives is absolutely exciting — but the endeavors require deep and serious attention. This attention translates from the actions of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and tactical conditioning. We shouldn’t ever allow someone to rob us of this serious attention that we desperately need on this journey of life. 

I believe many made leadership complicated. It's become a checklist of traits that, in the long run, have little effect on your influence, strategies, or art of genuine leadership. These ten things may point to the possibility of leadership, but they make no promises. Some people have all of these things and aren't leaders, while others have none of them and still lead beautifully. 

1. Leadership Isn’t about charismatic actions. Your magnetism, dash, and style don't make you a leader. 

1. Leadership isn't about eloquence. Being able to express yourself is important, but it’s not everything. 

1. Leadership isn't about power. The title Chief Executive Officer isn’t what makes a person a leader. 

1. Leadership isn’t about seniority. Just because you’ve outlived everyone else doesn’t make or mean you’re a leader. 

1. Leadership isn't about popularity. You're not a leader just because everyone likes you or your social media posts. 

1. Leadership isn't about winning. If you think you have to beat your opponent to lead, think again. 

1. Leadership isn't about wealth. No one ever said a leader had to have money. 

1. Leadership isn't about education. You're not a leader just because you’re degreed-up, credentialed-up or certified-up. 

1. Leadership isn’t about being self-interest. No one ever enjoys following someone who doesn’t care for others first. 

1. Leadership isn’t making deals with the devil. You're not a leader just because you sell yourself short or prefer the short cuts.

There’s no short cuts to the top of leadership. There are only strategies, methods, practices, and long terms of conducting through discipline. 

1. Leadership is about: Build confidence and personal leadership competence in every aspect. 

1. Leadership is about: Strengthen skills, strategies and relating to others and build inclusivity in your organization, team, program, or community. 

1. Leadership is about: Enhance strategic skills to communicate logically, ethically, and concisely.

1. Leadership is about: Developing the art of leaders through the process of strategies and a kills to take charge, to inspire, to empower others, and motivate others toward application. 

1. Leadership is about: Powering yourself to control attitudes and reduce stress, anxiety, or feelings of guilt so you can be at your optimum best. 

We cannot control time. We cannot control change, but we can control what goes into our lives daily. Those methods, strategies, skills, or art must start by creating the high performers in all aspects of our society and at every level of age. The methodology of the extraordinary leaders have provide each of us with the mindset, skillset, and art to achieve better and different results — If we so desire!! 

With gratitude,

Coach Frank Sagasta 

(c) Coach Frank Sagasta 2023 

The Great Society

  Did you know that America has changed in the field of leadership, values, morals, education, and attention.  We often think of America as The Greatest Nation on Earth or The Great Society, but what about America the Wonderful Nonsense Nation… 

  Many of Americans recently watched the presidential campaign which is rapid growing in popularity within America.  For we the people are looking for the next president (leader) of the free world.  It is always a beautiful privilege to observe the political process and debates in America.  I have always found them entertaining, informative, and intriguing.  But for sake of time and human thought.  I will not waste too much of your precious time on the subject.  I will not in anyway waste your precious energy in trying to persuade or influence you into a political party.  This isn’t the intent for this short blog.  

The purpose for this blog is for readers to see my perspective on the subject.  What a great nation America used to be based on the spirit of America.  What does the spirit mean… I’ll share more details shortly.  But in short — it is about the leadership we desperately need as a society.  It is about spirit, unity, progress, and prosperity of a nations people. 

  This last week America observed the first Republican debate.  The debate began slow in my perspective, but it turned into heated moments of indifferences based on age, experience, and political affiliations.  Rather than major topics or how each individual will systematically address those key issues that are relevant for America.  The audience experienced the blame game.  They experienced the publishing of words.  At the end each candidate was asked to inspire us — the American people.  The audience and the listeners.  In my experience they failed.  However, Vivek G. Ramaswamy almost got the hairs on my aims to stand, but almost only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades.  Above all the candidates didn’t get the opportunity to elaborate their view of a great society. 

Lyndon Johnson wasn’t my favorite candidate or president, but he was a good listener and learner who one said: “Your imagination, your initiative, and your indignation will determine whether we build a society where progress is the servant of our needs, or a society were old are use and new visions are buried under unbridled growth. For in your time we have the opportunity to move not only forward the rich society, and the powerful society, but upward to the great society. The great society, rest on abundance and liberty for all. It demands an end to poverty and racial injustice, to which we are totally committed at our time. But that is just the beginning. The great society is a place where every child can find knowledge to enrich his mind and to enlarge his talent. It is a place where leisure is a welcome chance to build, and reflect, not a fear cause of boredom and restlessness. It is a place where the city of man serves not only the needs of the body and the demands of community, but the desire for beauty and the hunger for community. It is a place where men can renew connections with nature. It is a place which honor for its own sake, and for what it adds to the understanding of the race. It is a place where men are more concerned with the quality of their goals, than the quantity of their goods. But most of all, the great society is not a safe harbor, a resting place, a final objective, a finished work. It is a challenge, constantly renewed, beckoning us toward a destiny. What is the meaning of our lives matches the marvelous products of our labor.”  Former President Johnson expressed the words of prosperity, liberty, and opportunity. 

That opportunity comes from making extraordinary sacrifices and decisions toward achieving more for our countrymen.  It is displaying the true meaning of liberty and prosperity through our desired goals and actions.  There isn’t a great society or group of citizens without knowledge.  The knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to enrich themselves in mind, heart, and love.  If we happen to lose sight of those essential qualities, values or principles.  We lose the confidence of a future generation in America. 

  

  Equally important, I have come to genuinely believe we are living in the era of WONDERFUL NONSENSE.  Wonderful Nonsense which is weary of war, learned hopelessness, broken systems of government, political corruption and agendas.  Wonderful Nonsense is where humans can’t decipher their own gender, where crime or violence is justified.  Wonderful Nonsense is where things are immoral, dangerous, and emotionally draining.  Americans have traded their lives toward materials and have threw themselves into fads and crazes rather the connection of building a great society. 

The 2000’s, the decades following 9/11, 2008 Recession, Maui Fire, Covid-19 Lockdowns, inflation, or TikTok brains.  I call this the era of Wonderful Nonsense or Learned Hopelessness. Selected politicians connected by tel-e-vision, social media platforms, radio, calls, and emails, and with more money on their hands than ever before.  Much of the masses have participated in this process toward ignorance which has become the primary distraction of American culture today. 

So, what is to blame… not WHO, but what? 

  In my professional view, we should look more closely at personal and professional relationships.  Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”  Above the words of ‘Aristotle’ who, implied the importance of education with values.  The objective of education is enlightenment or empowerment.  These areas can be achieved only by educating both the mind as well as the heart.  According to Aristotle, Plato, Marcus Aurelius, and more., educating humans goes much beyond the cognitive aspect of learning.  In order to ensure complete and holistic development, our education should be backed by values or principles.  Such as logic, ethics, love; empathy, compassion, rationality, etc. Values such as humanity, accountability, Integrity, confidence, courage must be imparted as a part of education.  Unfortunately, our society has been destroyed by dishonesty, distractions, and corruption of the mind.  

If we truly want to see a genuine Society.  If we want to feel the American Spirit again, it must be manifested in our country’s history.  Not by hate, anger, frustration, or negativity.  But motivating us collectively, and as individuals toward unity.  We don’t have to look back too far—to 9/11, when America was subject to a sneak kamikaze attack on the World Trade Center.  We all remember the shock, the fear, the anger, the overwhelming, and the negativity.  We don’t have to look back too far—to Pearl Harbor.  A common sense of the American Spirit brought us together against a new enemy that attacked us with the intent of undermining our system of faith, our values, our culture; and our way of life.

Historical leaders and evidence suggests we must rise above negativity.  We mustn’t allow the waiving events of history to define our commonality or our love for a beautiful future.  We should learn more from history on ways to redefine our relationship with one another.  We should learn more from our experiences and historical mistakes.  We should unlearn to relearn the unique qualities of unity, compassion, empathy, and faith.  Negativity will always be around like ignorance, but when a people push for empowerment or enlightenment they rise and stand before the rest of time.  That is what defines a Great Society!! 

With gratitude, 

Coach Frank Sagasta 

Powerful Life Lessons

Throughout history, every single civilization have debated about why some achieve much greater success than others. And these arguments can be widely believed theories: Hard work, perseverance, discipline, risk taking, and superior individual habits are the essentials for great success. Everyone is capable of great success. Everyone is capable of happiness. Everyone is capable of freedom. You just have to find a way to get beyond your fears to discover and liberate the creativity within you. 

Lessons and experiences have been taught to people to assist them in maximizing themselves through this journey of life. 

THE POWERFUL LIFE LESSONS

I read a lot of books about general psychology, positive psychology, individual psychology, communication, leadership, philosophy, and anything else in this intriguing web of subjects. I read, reflect, and write about them on blogs, notebooks, or express them via social media platforms. It is always nice to see other’s perspectives and experiences. Now… why am I telling you this? Here’s why: because there is such an extreme consensus that people refuse to believe they can continue to learn or change their circumstances. This is a cognitive distortion or disturbance. And it bought to us from external factors, but mostly by distractions. I am absolutely sure each of us have a great idea of what those are today. 

With all that being said; what I would like to do, is share my 44 most powerful lessons from my experience that you can all learn. I know that would take too long to read, so, I won’t do that to you. For sake of time. I will however — share my top three favorites with each of you today. BUT… I have to ask you a question: what building-blocks are you missing today? Or what ingredients are you missing today to make your life a success? 

One of the most important parts of learning, growing, and progress is taking the time to reflect. Even though I am going to be 44 years old, I want to share three of my favorite lessons in the 44 years. 

I am excited to celebrate my first and last birthday with each of you! I am thrilled because I was going through some old photos and old journals. As I looked back on those moments and the learning process. I began thinking of a way to share some lessons with people in my community. All the lessons have impacted my life, and thousands of other students that sat through my classes. I have promised the creators to maximum their value and to help individuals reach their full-potential.

In fact, one of my favorite teachers, Marcus Aurelius once said: “ most will go through life with zero control, lives like a feather in the mind going, wherever the wind blows. I’m happy to sad from motivated to unmotivated. One must

regain control over their mind and make things different. Tell your mind what do you think how to feel and see if things change.”

THE POWERFUL LIFE LESSONS

1. This was the first lesson: Life is exceptionally hard for people that lose their values and aspirations. Amidst the chaos or havoc of today’s civilization — true power comes from waking up and conquering yourself daily.

2. The second lesson: Life is filled with lessons, experiences, and challenges. Stop listening to the cliché surrounding education because education is never complete. If you want to live beyond the academic average. Then determine to live fully and continually learning. Prepare for what life has to teach by being open minded to the lessons in everything you go through and those experience. Listen to those people that have value not excuses or opinions. 

3. The third lesson: Life is about principles, values, and expectations. Always remember that reputation is more valuable than money. Your reputation is built on the foundation of your character; which something we learn at home (honesty, loyalty, integrity, and more). It entails the words you speak and the actions you take. Take care of your character above all other things in life and your reputation will take care of itself. My teachers Dr. Eric Thomas once said: “Don’t let your character take you where your character cannot keep you.”  

How each of us approach life says a lot about who we are on this planet. Maybe not the next, but on this one. In my experience and observations. It is clear that there are some who are content to passively coast through this life, hoping they land where they need to be — shooting aimlessly in the darkness of life and there are others that know what to do when the time comes early. 

I genuinely hope this short blog connects or resonates with someone today. And until the next time… have a more productive and positive rest of your day and make everyday a wonderful masterpiece. 

With gratitude,

Coach Frank Sagasta