This month’s spotlight is on Leadernomics by Seung Paik—a thoughtful, disciplined exploration of leadership through the lens of economics, decision-making, and human behavior. Paik challenges readers to think beyond titles and intentions and instead examine how leaders allocate their most finite resources: time, attention, energy, and trust.

Drawing from military service, executive leadership, and advisory work across complex organizations, Paik frames leadership as a system of choices with real costs and consequences. Leadernomics makes a compelling case that leadership decisions function much like economic ones—trade-offs are unavoidable, incentives matter, and short-term wins can undermine long-term trust if values are misaligned. This perspective forces leaders to confront not just what they decide, but why, and at whose expense.

What sets this book apart is its analytical clarity paired with moral weight. Paik doesn’t reduce leadership to formulas or metrics. Instead, he uses them as tools to sharpen judgment. Concepts like opportunity cost, return on leadership, and second-order effects help leaders slow down, think strategically, and recognize that every decision sends a signal—intentionally or not—about priorities and principles.

At its core, Leadernomics reinforces a demanding truth: leadership is stewardship. Every choice either compounds trust or erodes it. Whether you’re leading teams, organizations, or families, this book serves as a practical compass—reminding leaders that sustainable influence comes from disciplined thinking, ethical consistency, and a willingness to absorb the cost of doing what’s right.

This isn’t a book for leaders looking for shortcuts. It’s for those who understand that leadership is a series of investments made over time, often without immediate payoff. Paik makes it clear that good leadership isn’t free—and the bill always comes due.

About the Author:
Seung Paik is a leadership advisor, author, and former military officer with extensive experience guiding leaders through complex, high-stakes environments. Known for his ability to blend strategic rigor with human-centered leadership, Paik focuses on decision-making, ethics, and long-term organizational health. Through Leadernomics, he equips leaders to think more clearly, choose more deliberately, and lead with an awareness of both cost and consequence.