The Breakthrough Collection

Straight talk in short takes, 21 stories to transform your thinking

BY Cleophus P. Franklin Jr

About the Author

Cleophus P. Franklin Jr

Author, global executive, and educator Cleophus P. Franklin Jr. transforms 35+ years of international leadership experience into stories that connect, inspire, and guide. When you open one of his books, you’re not just reading—you’re engaging with hard-earned wisdom from board rooms to classrooms across five continents.

TRANSFORM KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION

Helping Organizations Make The Right Move…With Confidence

The lessons in my books come from real boardrooms, real challenges, and real transformations across five continents. Now, through Franklin Strategic Solutions™, I bring that same strategic expertise directly to your organization.

For over 35 years, I’ve led billion-dollar operations at John Deere, Case New Holland, and Mahindra, learning that most companies don’t struggle from lack of knowledge—they struggle with execution. My proprietary 3I Methodology™ (Insight, Impact, Implementation) bridges that gap, transforming operational challenges into competitive advantages.

Whether you’re a startup founder or a Fortune 500 executive, if you’re facing organizational efficiency challenges, leadership development needs, or strategic transformation initiatives, I partner with you to deliver measurable results: our clients average 3X revenue growth, 25% cost reduction, and 40% increases in customer satisfaction.

The wisdom you read in these books can transform your organization.

The Franklin Leadership Foundation

Opening Doors Through Education

The Story:
“A scholarship didn’t just pay for my education—it paid for my future. Now it’s my turn to do the same for others.”

I still remember opening that scholarship letter as a young man. Someone took a chance on me and my potential and decided to invest in it, even when financial barriers said my dreams might need to wait. That moment changed everything.

What It Is:
The Franklin Leadership Foundation at Morningside University is a social non-profit platform focused on student career and leadership development. We partner with businesses, entrepreneurs, and leaders to develop the next generation through scholarships, mentorships, internships, and externships.

Why It Matters:
Not everyone has equal access to higher education. A student’s financial situation shouldn’t determine whether they get to pursue their dreams or build the future they’re capable of creating. Since inception, we’ve provided scholarships to over 30 underprivileged and financially challenged students—opening doors that might have otherwise remained closed.

Each scholarship is more than financial assistance. It’s a message: “We see you. We believe in you. Your circumstances don’t define your ceiling.”

How It Works:
Your book purchases proceeds directly fund these scholarships and leadership development programs. It’s my way of paying forward what was given to me.

So when you buy a book, it goes beyond that and supports the Franklin Leadership Foundation – providing scholarships to students in need.

CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN KNOWING AND DOING

You’ve read the books. You understand the frameworks. You know what great leadership looks like.

So why doesn’t your organization operate that way?

Because knowing isn’t the same as doing.

For 35 years, I led global operations at John Deere, Case New Holland, and Mahindra—transforming strategy into execution across five continents. At Mahindra, we drove market share from #6 to #3 in North America, not because we had better ideas than our competitors, but because we executed better.

That’s the foundation of Franklin Strategic Solutions™: turning insight into impact through our proprietary 3I Methodology™.

Insight – Diagnose root causes, not symptoms
Impact – Design solutions that move metrics that matter
Implementation – Embed change so it sticks beyond our engagement

The principles you read in my books—trust, alignment, purpose-driven execution—aren’t just theory. They’re battle-tested frameworks I’ve deployed from Fortune 500 boardrooms to emerging startups. Now I partner with leaders who are tired of the gap between their strategic plan and their daily reality.

Our clients achieve 3X revenue growth, 25% cost reduction, and 40% increases in customer satisfaction. Not because they didn’t know what to do, but because we helped them actually do it.

Ready to close the gap in your organization?

Partner With Franklin Strategic Solutions at Franklin Strategic Solutions – Make The Right Move

The Breakthrough Collection

Straight talk in short takes, 21 stories to transform your thinking

The Breakthrough Collection brings together twenty-one concise leadership lessons from Cleophus P. Franklin Jr., who spent 31 years in Fortune 500 executive leadership and now serves as Senior Corporate Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston-Downtown’s Marilyn Davies College of Business.

Each chapter delivers one powerful insight, one clear framework, and real examples you can implement immediately. Inside you’ll find The Trust Code, The $2.3 Million Question, Direction Over Precision, and The 90-Second Leadership Edge—teaching you how to build trust, make faster strategic choices, and design cultures that drive results.

Amazon Best Seller

Another cup with Cleo

Another cup with

Cleo

Stories of Wisdom In Every Cup

In “Another Cup with Cleo,” Cleophus “Cleo” Franklin Jr. invites readers to pull up a chair for a soul-nourishing conversation that transcends the traditional leadership narrative. This powerful collection of stories serves as both a compass and companion for navigating life’s ever-changing currents, offering wisdom that transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary lessons.