Modulated Will, Clear Mind, and AI Strategy
“Leaders don’t dominate. They direct. And the difference is the space where people either grow or crumble.”
I hit the gym this morning. Not to bulk up. Not for the aesthetic. I ran two miles because I needed to clear my head. Get air in my lungs. Reclaim some control over the one thing I can fully own, my body.
While I ran, I listened to Jocko Willink talk about leadership and control. He said something that stuck with me:
“You don’t impose your will. You modulate it.”
That’s it.
In the military. In education. In life. Real leaders learn to modulate their will, not force it.
Will Without Wisdom is Just Pressure
In schools, we often confuse urgency with aggression.
We bark deadlines.
We escalate when people hesitate.
We force compliance and call it alignment.
But real transformation doesn’t come from pushing harder.
It comes from controlling the pressure with precision.
Because when people feel your will, unmodulated — they resist.
But when they feel your direction with clarity and intention — they respond.
AI Is Coming… But So Is the Need for Restraint
As I cooled down, my thoughts drifted — as they often do — to AI.
To the strategy I’m building.
To the implementation team I want for the next school year.
It would be easy to roll out tools.
To push platforms.
To make a big announcement about “AI in every classroom.”
But that would be force.
What I’m after is adoption. Ownership. Literacy.
That requires modeling, coaching, and modulated leadership.
So here’s the plan I’m meditating on:
Build a cross-functional AI implementation team of teachers, coaches, and students
Pilot with precision: Start with a small number of use cases and build confidence
Train up, not down: Equip early adopters to become in-house experts
Keep it human-centered: Frame AI not as a savior, but as a support
Reflection Prompt for Leaders:
“Where am I forcing outcomes when I should be shaping direction?”
I left the gym feeling more than refreshed — I felt anchored.
Because leadership isn’t about dominating the system.
It’s about mastering yourself… and guiding others with restraint, clarity, and purpose.
The future is coming fast.
But if we lead with modulation — not mania — we might just help our people catch up in time.
— Uche
