Cambridge Business Association
Self Less
Book

Self Less

Lessons Learned from A Life Devoted to Servant Leadership, in Five Acts

Len Jessup
ForbesBooks, 2024
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Concrete Examples
  • For Beginners

Recommendation

Len Jessup, former president of Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California, shares his experiences, insights, and advice on how to take positive action. He stresses the importance of resilience and empathy, which he defines as having a mindset that is both “selfless” — putting others first — and “self-less” – acting to benefit others. While Jessup focuses mostly on his own story, he writes persuasively about the need to put others first at work and at home. He relies on “the five-act structure” used in ancient playwriting to give shape to his narrative and to pass along his leadership lessons.

Summary

Great leaders are “selfless” and “self less.”

Good leaders work to become attuned to the important needs of the people they lead and dwell less on their own concerns. Being a leader requires becoming selfless.

Len Jessup learned about the importance of selflessness after his divorce when he first began bringing his two small children to his home in northern Idaho for a few days of quality dad time. This involved picking up the kids, driving them to his house, preparing their dinner, reading bedtime stories, and tucking them into bed. 

One night, after settling his children, Jessup poured himself a glass of Cabernet, and stared out at the scenic beauty around his house. Initially, he felt despair and loneliness and a strong hunger for adult companionship. It didn’t help that while he sat there, crying and feeling sorry for himself, he could hear Coldplay’s lyrics in the background, “The tears come streaming down your face when you lose something you can’t replace. When you love someone, but it goes to waste.”

At the same time, Jessup also felt a degree of happiness. He was pleased to have his children with him...

About the Author

In 2024, management information systems expert Len Jessup, PhD, stepped down as president of Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, CA. Today, he is a speaker, coach, and consultant to organizations and individuals.

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