HOUSTON, TX – After 35 years of watching high performers struggle with the same
challenge—knowing what to do but lacking time to implement breakthrough thinking—author
and leadership strategist Cleophus P. Franklin Jr. has engineered a solution.

The Breakthrough Collection: Straight Talk in Short Takes. 21 Lessons to Transform How You
Think, Decide, and Act delivers strategic microlearning designed for the reality that busy
executives face: Harvard research shows that top executives spend 72% of their working hours
in meetings, leaving minimal time for strategic development.

Each lesson takes as long as it takes coffee to cool. Each one transforms how executives think,
decide, and act.

Bridging the Knowing-Doing Gap

“I’ve spent 35 years in boardrooms watching brilliant leaders struggle with the same challenge,”
Franklin explains. “They know what needs to be done—the gap isn’t knowledge, it’s time. These
21 stories were designed for that reality: strategic growth that fits into the minutes you have, not
hours you don’t.”

Drawing from 31 years of executive leadership at John Deere, Case New Holland, and
Mahindra, Franklin delivers battle-tested wisdom on values-driven decision-making,
purpose-powered strategy, root-cause investigation, and story-driven communication. These
aren’t theoretical frameworks—they’re the operating systems that distinguish exceptional
leaders from everyone else.

The Franklin Strategic Solutions 3I Methodology™

Every lesson follows a proven three-step progression designed for immediate application:

● Information that Inspires – Insights that shift perspective on everyday challenges
● Inspiration that Informs – Real-world applications from decades of global business
strategy
● Implementation that Transforms – Actionable steps that produce measurable results

“While competitors analyze, you’ll decide. While others debate, you’ll implement,” Franklin
notes. “Each story delivers quotable wisdom you’ll remember, frameworks that become your
daily operating system, and actionable steps that transform both your career and your
relationships.”

A Distinguished Voice in Leadership

Franklin serves as Senior Corporate Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the University of
Houston-Downtown’s Marilyn Davies College of Business, where MBA students benefit from his
unique blend of corporate experience spanning agriculture, heavy equipment, and
entrepreneurship.

His literary portfolio spans multiple genres and audiences. His acclaimed Coffee with Cleo
leadership series and Lessons from Our Mothers and Fathers demonstrate his ability to make
complex ideas accessible. His Amazon bestseller More Words From My Heart (March 2025)
transforms intimate revelations into universal truths.

His poetry has earned consecutive recognition in the prestigious Texas Bard’s Poetry
Anthology—”Ink” in 2024 and “Fools Gold” in 2025—a rare distinction reflecting his gift for
distilling profound insights into memorable language.

From boardroom strategies to children’s literature (co-authoring What Do You See When You
Look at Me? with his son, Michael J. Franklin), Franklin’s versatile voice reflects his journey from
Chicago’s West Side through Muscatine Community College, Morningside University, and UNC
Kenan-Flagler.

Living the Leadership Commitment

As founder of Franklin Strategic Solutions and the Morningside University – Franklin Leadership
Foundation, Franklin doesn’t just write about leadership—he funds it. Every book purchase
directly supports scholarships for underprivileged students pursuing higher education.

“Authentic leadership begins with self-knowledge and expands through service to others,”
Franklin says. “When you read this collection, you’re not just investing in your own
breakthrough—you’re creating opportunities for young people who might otherwise miss their
chance at higher education. That’s leadership in action.”

Availability

The Breakthrough Collection: Straight Talk in Short Takes. 21 Lessons to Transform How You
Think, Decide, and Act is available now on Amazon. Signed copies can be ordered at
coffeewithcleo.com.

About Cleophus P. Franklin Jr.

Cleophus P. Franklin Jr. is an author, entrepreneur, Senior Corporate Fellow and Adjunct
Professor at the University of Houston-Downtown’s Marilyn Davies College of Business, and
leadership educator based in Houston, Texas. Through his writing and the Franklin Leadership
Foundation, he bridges the gap between knowing and doing while creating pathways for the
next generation of leaders.

Media Contact:
Cleophus P. Franklin Jr.
cleo@franklinss.com
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