Saturday, January 31, 2026

Invitation (for paid subscribers): 'The Pursuit of Happiness - From Dante and Erasmus to Leibniz and Ben Franklin …

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Invitation (for paid subscribers): 'The Pursuit of Happiness - From Dante and Erasmus to Leibniz and Ben Franklin featuring Uwe Alschner

Live Seminar on Sunday Feb. 1 at 2pm ET

Rising Tide Foundation

Jan 31

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Preview

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This Sunday February 1 at 2pm Eastern Time, I am happy to announce that Uwe Alschner (author at The Benefit of the Other) will present the Rising Tide Foundation lecture of the week followed by a robust Q and A session with everyone in the live audience.

What are the principled ideas that have positively shaped the long arc of human history and liberated humanity from the shackles of oligarchism?

Uwe will provide a guided tour of universal history in his Rising Tide Foundation lecture ‘The Pursuit of Happiness - From Dante and Erasmus to Leibniz and Ben Franklin’.

The live event is open to all paid subscribers of this substack. Click on the zoom link below to participate:...

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Restack

Only 3 seats remain.

I had a realization during this past week's gathering of The Round Table:

We are just about at full capacity.

Within the past week, we've admitted new members from London, Sydney, and were re-joined by a previous seat-holder in New York City.

With these three new additions plus the already robust council, I realized that if we grow much larger, it'll be increasingly more difficult for each person to fully contribute to, or pull value from the conversations.

For that reason, we're offering just three more seats before we close the doors.

What is The Round Table?

A private, global leadership council comprised of insightful deep thinkers who have a track record of high achievement in the real world.
Each week, we gather (on Zoom) and discuss mindset, success, philosophy, family, legacy, and/or any quandaries a member may have.
A fully sealed community, trust and discretion is absolutely paramount. What is said in the room, stays in the room.
The goal is to elevate each individual and the group as a whole. All members agree to come to the table with the willingness to both give and receive. To share knowledge, and absorb it. To provide advice, and to immerse themselves in it. This is the core ethos of the group.

Who is admitted?

Membership is by application only, highly vetted, and limited in order to maintain the integrity of the group.
Members are CEOs, physicians, attorneys, and high-level leaders, but they are not admitted because of what they do. They are admitted because of who they are.
Those who are ready and willing to be a fully open and participating member of a private peer council.
Those who are deep thinkers, open-minded, and curious about the world.
Those who have a history of not just talking the talk…but walking the walk.

How do I apply?

Fill out our questionnaire by clicking here. All applications are reviewed within 24 hours.

Are there membership dues?

All members are enrolled in either a monthly membership, or a reduced-rate annual membership. Details follow after acceptance.

Do you ever meet in person?

Our first annual black-tie gala will be in Fall 2026 on the east coast of the United States.

What if I want private 1-1 advisory, not a group setting?

You can schedule a private no-cost consultation with me directly by clicking here.

I look forward to seeing you at the table.

-James Michael Sama, Founder/Member

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228 Park Ave S, #29976, New York, New York 10003, United States

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Your Presence Should Speak Before You Do

Before you open your mouth, people have already made a decision about you.

Not consciously…instinctively.

Presence is the first message you ever deliver.

Tone, posture, pace, stillness, eye contact, breathing… all of it communicates long before your language does.

Most people rely on words to make an impression.

But the strongest individuals rely on presence.

Because presence is harder to fake, and impossible to ignore.

Your presence tells people whether you can be trusted, whether you're grounded, whether you're in control of yourself, and whether you belong in the space you occupy.

This is why two people can say the same sentence with completely different impact.

One is heard. One is felt.

Presence makes the difference.

Presence isn't about intimidation.

It isn't about posturing, appearing stiff, or "acting powerful."

True presence comes from one source: self-command.

When you command yourself (your energy, your emotions, your attention) everything about you communicates quiet authority.

Your movements slow.

Your shoulders relax.

Your voice steadies.

Your breathing deepens.

Your gaze becomes intentional, not searching.

People trust those who trust themselves.

And presence is self-trust expressed physically.

To sharpen your presence, practice three things:

1. Control your pace.
- Rushed people look uncertain.
- Measured people look certain.
- Even two seconds of stillness before you speak changes everything.

2. Carry your body, don't collapse into it.
- Stand tall, open your chest, align your posture.
- You signal strength without aggression and confidence without arrogance.

3. Enter rooms with awareness, not performance.
- Observe before contributing.
- Listen before speaking.
- Ground yourself before engaging.

It's remarkable how much respect a calm entry generates.

When you develop presence, you no longer have to convince anyone of anything.

People take you seriously because your energy tells them to.

Words become secondary…an emphasis, not a foundation.

And when you finally do speak, people lean in.

Your presence prepares the space.

Your words only need to complete what your energy already established.

Move through the world as someone anchored, not reactive. Someone who doesn't need to announce themselves because their presence already has.

Let who you are be felt before it is heard.

Your coach,

-James Michael Sama

P.S.: If you're looking for a private advisor to help you develop these qualities, let's talk.

Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here

228 Park Ave S, #29976, New York, New York 10003, United States

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Saturday, January 31, 2026