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51 Secrets To Being
An Extraordinary
High School Leader

Aric Jackson

Ascending Phoenix Publishing Co.

Chicago - Atlanta

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Published by Ascending Phoenix Publishing, Co.

Copyright 2012 Aric Jackson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any
information storage and retrieval system without written
permission of the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief
quotations in a review.
Distributed in the United States of America

51 Secrets
To Being An Extraordinary High School Leader
By Aric Jackson
Warning Disclaimer
The purpose of this book is to educate and entertain. The author or
publisher does not guarantee that anyone following the techniques,
suggestions, tips, ideas, or strategies will become successful. The
author and publisher shall have neither liability or responsibility to
anyone with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be
caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.

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DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to those who have helped me take
my journey to the next level.
Anquinette (Mom) & Henry McGee (Pops)
Michael (Dad) & Tanya Pettis (Mom)
Jerod Times
Wil Burks The Game Changer
Grandma (Delores) & Grandpa (Colton)
Mommy Dee & Daddy Don
Sheryl Burke
The Illinois Leadership Seminar Family
Kristen Nickels & Hopper
Dimi Moore & Naomi Hill
Keith Donovan
Austin Walker
And to each student who has allowed me to say a few
words that would change their lives.
Each of you have directly impacted me during my journey
of being someone who was out to transform the world.
Please let this book be an eternal symbol of my gratitude
for your impact on me impacting the world.
I love you all!
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Have you booked one of

Americas Top Youth Speakers?

Aric Jackson
The Dream Achiever
Real. Empowering. Engaging.

In Your Face. High Energy.

for
Action Focused and Transformational
Student Programming

Visit

w w w.ari c s p e a k s. co m
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Introduction
If you are looking to juice up your leadership, you
have made the most important investment in your LIFE!
Bold claim? YES! And I will stand behind it 100%. A lot
of people have thought that I just sat down and wrote this
book out of the blue. As much as I would like to take
credit for that the opposite is true. This book has been in
the workings for years. From me being in High School, to
being a Manager at a Video Store, to working at a Radio
Station as a producer and voice talent, to being the 1 st
Assistant Business Manager at a Law Firm in the heart of
Chicago, I have taken all of the lessons Given and earned
over the years. After writing this book then reading it for
myself, I had to laugh and say, this book is small but it
packs a punch!
To me, that is how leadership should be.
Leadership should not be about the title or the packaging
of it all, however, it should really be about the results or
the Punch that you produce. So take this book on and
really apply even it is just one thing. My only request is
that you actually TAKE ACTION. Without it, you would
truly be in the same spot, same place, different time
wondering when you will make it.
ALRIGHT
ENOUGH CHIT CHATTING!
Let's get's these Secrets Out!

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Secret #1
Know You Are Worthy
When it comes to being a leader, we play one of the
largest roles in any group or organization, yet we will play
really small all because we feel Why Me? The real
question is why not you? The mere fact that you have
stepped in or are desiring to lead others shows that you are
courageous, bold and powerful. That alone demonstrates
that you and your group is worthy. So when the time
comes, dont be scared to make a BIG & BODACIOUS
request. You are worthy! When you get outside support
or help out of the blue know that YOU ARE WORTHY!
When the people you are leading say how much you have
changed their lives . . . take the compliment. Why?
SIMPLE.

BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTHY!!

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Secret #2
Get Out There!!!!
Where would we be if Christopher Columbus had not
charted the Oceans & Seas? Where would your group be
if you ARE NOT charting the Oceans & Seas? Being a
Leader, the shy role will grow old really quick. Get out
there and meet people. Tell others about your group &
upcoming events. Have people know who you are when
you walk down the hall! How is that going to happen?
You gotta put yourself out there! The #1 Reason a lot of
students may not support your group, is not because they
dont want to, but because they just dont know. So how
will they know who you and your group are and what you
are up to?
YOU GOTTA PUT YOUR BUTT OUT THERE!!!

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Secret #3
Be on the Lookout for Opportunity. . .
Not Failure.
Do you realize that we walk around with an invisible pair
of glasses on? Really we do. The only difference is the
lenses on the glasses are one of two. Either the Lenses are
Lenses of Failure or they are Lenses of Opportunity.
When you are a leader and something does not go right or
as planned, do you instantly see it as a failure?
Opportunity? Which one? I can guarantee you, that if
you choose to look at everything as an opportunity, people
will learn so much from your leadership. No matter
where, no matter when always be on the lookout for
opportunity. You never know, it just may be that
opportunity that you and your group have been waiting
for.

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Secret #4
Know That it is OK to Be Different
How much fun would life be if everyone we like you?
Not just like you, but looked like you, acted like you,
laughed like you, told the same jokes as you. . . Life
would get boring after about an hour. Being a leader in
High School, take the lead in being different. Everyone
may like jeans and a t-shirt and you may just want to rock
out in an Argyle Vest and Tie. Know that it is OK. Being
a leader, you have the power to say and show that
Different is OK. As a matter of fact, its not just OK, it
can be amazing. From the way people dress, music they
like, dancing they do, religious affiliation, preference of
friends, know that you can empower your group by
empowering their choice to be different. Know this. An
empowered group . . .
THERE IS NO STOPPING THEM!!

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Secret #5
Look at other Leaders and Find Out
What About Them Inspires You
As a leader in high school, know that YOU DO NOT
HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL! Yeah its that
simple. There are so many leaders who have either been a
leader at your school, in your community or even country
that have caught your eye because of their leadership
style. You may have seen a leader and said Man, he is
smooth, and everyone likes working with him. Or She
is no joke, she gets the job done. I want to be like her.
Either way it goes, there is a sea of examples of leaders
who you can choose to take after. The key with this
though is that their leadership style INSPIRES you. Not
just one time, but all the time. Find out what it is that
inspires you, then bring it to your leadership style and I
guarantee, people will find you to be an inspiration sooner
than you know.

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Secret #6
Make Discipline Fun!
When we even hear the word Discipline we instantly
think of some Drill Sergeant standing in front of your face
screaming YOU HEAR ME SOLDIER and you scream
back YES DRILL SERGEANT!!! This is not the
world I am talking about. Lets be real, discipline is a
very real part of our lives whether we like it or not. Face
it. If you want to be successful, discipline is required. If
you want to get and A on the exam, you have to have
discipline to study. If you are looking to get a full ride on
a football scholarship, then you have to have the discipline
to practice during season and condition during off season.
Some of you may see Discipline as this tough thing to do
in order have XY or Z. I beg to differ. Did you know you
can make it fun? How? Easy, once you have set your
goal for what it is that you want to accomplish, look at the
Discipline as the Challenge Round on the dance game on
your Wii.

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Secret #7
Get Use To the Support
of Your Community
As a leader one of the key things you must learn almost
immediately is that there is a difference between being
Co-Dependent on others and working in a community.
Being Co-Dependent means that you operate in such a
way that you are demanding everyone does something for
you AND if they dont do it, your progress on whatever
you are working on or need is stopped. However, being in
a community, the entire group takes on something and
there is a synergistic effort to do so. If for some reason
one person stops the progress, the community regroups
and fills in the missing pieces. The community is all
about working together to achieve a common goal. With
that being said, do you have the support of your
community? Your community is not only the people in
your group, but the people supporting it as well. One
thing that should be determined immediately from a
leadership stand point is if your group is co-dependent or
community.
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Secret #8
Dont Be a Know It All
One of the biggest myths as a Leader is that you are
supposed to know it all!!! WRONG ANSWER!! What
you will notice in High School and even throughout your
life, there are too many people trying to be a Jack of ALL
Trades and a Master at none. One thing you should be
very clear about, as a leader is people are going to expect
you to figure it all out. Well, you wanna know how some
of the greatest leaders do that? They surround themselves
with people who can help solve the problem or get an
answer the Leader does not have it. Being an
Entrepreneur, I know that I dont know it all, and I love
it! The joy of not knowing it all is that you get to seek out
those who may have or have access to what you are
looking for. With this territory comes one of the greatest
dynamics know to this world. Group & Team Effort! So
next time you dont know the answer . . . work with
someone who does. I promise, it will take your leadership
to EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP!

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Secret #9
Honor Your Word at All Times
This is one of the Golden Rules you must live by if you
choose to be an extraordinary leader. When I say talk
about honoring your word, when you say it . . . just do it.
One of the biggest downfalls of Leaders is that they say
they are going to do something then they dont do it.
What do you think that does to the trust of the ones who
are under their leadership?
When it all boils down to it. All you have as a leader is
your word. People are trusting that you will stick by your
word. Now if you dont stick by your word, be real and
own up to it. There is nothing worse than not honoring
your word or doing what you say you will do and try to
pretend like it never happened. Are there going to be
times where you have every intention of honoring your
word, but you dont? Yep. Will people get ticked off at
you when you dont honor your word and there will be
consequences for it? Of course. So the real deal is. Dont
make promises you cant keep. AND to sum it up in one
word INTEGRITY. Without it, your world will always
seem out of control.
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Secret #10
Write It Down
Now that you know as a Leader it pays to honor your
word one of the ways that you can assure that you do that
is by writing it down. As a leader, you will have great
intentions or doing certain things, but you are what we call
a Human Being. I said that to say we forget things. Even
with the best intentions. How often have you said to
someone Ill text you later tonight. Then it is a few
days later that same person walks up to you and says hey
you never text me, whats up with that.

Being a leader you will be bombarded by things to do,

people to see, meetings to attend, and appearances to
make. This does not even include your homework
assignments, tests and special projects that you have to do
while you are in school. The best way to keep track of
your Extraordinary Life? Write it down. It is the best way
to keep up with all of it. This will make a major
difference in your having a successful life both in and out
of school.
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Secret #11
Separate Yourself from Failure
Just because you fail at something does not make you a
failure. Leaders can be the worst enemies we will ever
meet. Why? Because to put the world on our shoulders
and if a project or event that we are working fails, we
automatically tell ourselves that we are failures. This
could not be further from the truth. You failed at a project,
it doesnt make you a failure. As a matter of fact it when
you fail and you move on knowing that the project or
event was a failure and you are not . . . that is when
success shows up on your front door. So stop it. You are
not a failure. You are just and Extraordinary Leader who
had a project that failed. At the end of the day, you are
still successful.

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Secret #12
Have Fun!
People who are in your group will often do this thing
called follow the leader. Now here is something you
should know. It is not always about following the leaders
marching orders. It is more about following the leaders
attitude. Leadership is not about doing things and giving
marching orders. Leadership is very much about setting
the tone. How do you set the tone? With your attitude. If
you have a nasty attitude, then your group will follow
suit. If you have an attitude of being overwhelmed by it
all, guess what, your group will be overwhelmed. So,
why not have the attitude of FUN! If you are having fun,
they will have fun. Heres a secret if you ever see your
group getting frustrated or upset, change your attitude
gauge to having fun. You become their cheerleader and
start having fun and encouraging to have fun as well. You
will be amazed at how much you making it a point to have
fun will affect the rest of your group and they will start
having fun as well. So go get your clown nose and bring
the fun on.

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Secret #13
Show Off Your Swagger!
In the Hip-Hop & Urban Culture you will hear the word
Swagger. Defined, swagger is how one presents him or
herself to the world. Oftentimes, some people see it being
an air. So how does this pertain leadership? Thanks for
asking, Ill tell you. I start off by asking you this
question. How do you present yourself and yourself as a
leader to the world? When people see you do they really
see confidence? Someone who is on the move and
making things happen? Or do they see someone TRYING
to be all that? Pretending to be someone they are not
with the idea of trying to impress? When it comes to you
showing off your swagger, it is nothing more than you just
showing the world that you are confident. This is key
when you are a leader. For the record, swagger is not just
confidence. It confidence, excitement, joy, fun, laughter,
willingness, persistence, and then some. People are more
apt to listen to those who show off their true swagger
versus following one someone who is trying to pretend.

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Secret #14
Your Leadership Needs Your Style
If all Leaders were the same . . . LIFE WOULD SUCK!!!
Point blank, that is as straightforward as I can put it. We
can go to school and learn every leadership skill, attend
conferences and learn every leadership secret but there
will always be one thing missing . . . Your Style. One of
the earliest choices made when stepping into leadership is
what style of leadership they will take on. Will they
choose to be aristocratic? Fun with a slight edge of
straightforwardness? There are so many different styles of
leadership that you can take on, however, the one thing
that will make your leadership complete is your style. In
leadership you become very attentive to what works and
what doesnt work for you. You begin to see how you
influence people or need work in that area. You stumble
upon certain ways that you choose to problem solve. You
will be in constant discovery of yourself. My suggestion
is that you take what works and bring it to your
leadership. What doesnt work take it out! This is all
your style.
What will allow your leadership to really incorporate your
style in leadership is really bringing who you are to the
table.
You be You!

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Secret #15
Laugh! PLEASE LAUGH!!!
Who wants to be around anyone who is serious all the
time? LAUGH!! Yes, I know you are a leader, and you
have deadlines to meet, meetings to go to, papers to do,
practices to make, but as a leader you cannot always be in
a Im the leader mode. Do you know that you laughing
and making that a habit, you will have your team or group
come together and always focus on the positive instead
of the negative things. Can you imagine how much you
could get done as a group if that was available? So
please. Train yourself to laugh, make a funny joke, do
something out of the blue. How about conducting a
meeting in a funny wig or something when the group is
having a tough time. Please Laugh! When you do, know
that you are training your group to do the same. Even
when they are not laughing you can always stop and
scream Laugh! PLEASE LAUGH!

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Secret #16
Thank You Goes on a Lifetime
Being a leader we get wrapped into focusing on getting
from Point A to Point B all the time. Nothing is wrong
with that. In fact I want to say if you dont have goals you
are setting yourself up. So my question is, how are you
going to assure that you reach those goals? By saying two
words that are not used nearly as much as they should
thank you. These two words hold so much weight and
can spring a group into action. As a leader make it a
common practice to thank people for the little things.
Thank them for showing up to a meeting or practice.
Thank them for a great attitude. Thank them for just being
a part. Sure there are going to be times when you will
thank them for completing a project or playing
exceptionally well. What will make a world of difference
is just thanking them for trusting you enough to be a part
of your organization. Do you realize how many people
dont get thanked for being a part? And we wonder why
so many people feel unappreciated. Take a stand today
and thank everyone! Thank them a whole and thank them
individually. The more you practice this, the more it will
become a joy to do. Take time to say two words thank can
literally change a life . . . Thank You.

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Secret #17
Know the Difference Between
Power & Force
I HAVE THE POWER!!! That is a common line you will
hear in a cartoon or even see on a movie with some evil
villain plotting to take over the world. Because of this, we
collapse Power and Force. Some think that power is
force. I beg to differ. As a matter of fact, they are two
very distinct things and can almost be defined in a way
that they contradict. Being a leader, you must realize that
force is the very thing that will run people away. When
people choose to be under your leadership, they are
trusting that you are going to be careful, caring,
understanding and powerful to LEAD them in the right
direction, not FORCE them in the right direction. When
powerful leadership is around, there is never a feeling of
being forced. As a matter of fact you are inspired to take
action. That my friend is Power. So here is how you can
distinguish Power versus Force. With power, you are
straight-forward, open and a source of inspiration for your
team so that they are inspired into action. With force you
are hiding something, pretending you are all of that, acting
as if you are the only one with the answers and often kill
inspiration. Action does not happen and as a result more
FORCE is used. So which one do you choose? The Force
that forces or the Power that inspires?
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Secret #18
Study to Show Thyself Approved
You thought being a leader was going to have you get
away from doing studying? PLEASE!!! As a matter of
fact you will be doing almost twice the studying. Being a
leader, your studying becomes your Genie in a Bottle.
How so? When you study up on leadership, you get to
seek out people who you like, admire and just downright
love and see study them. Prime example, one of the
people I have studied was Michael Jordan. I have read his
books and have been able to apply some of the things he
learned about his game and life and apply to my game and
life. Believe it or not, it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed
digging into his life. I know what it was that had him and
the Chicago Bulls win their 6 championships and believe
it or not it was through what Michael Jordan learned as a
Leader that had it happen. Studying leadership, you
choose what and who you study. My only suggestion that
I have for you around this is jump into it with fun and
expectation. Lets say you want to know more about Sean
P. Diddy Combs (the next person I will be studying.)
Conduct your study as a game. What would it take for
you to get to know so much about him that you feel
comfortable enough to invite him to a Starbucks for a
Latte because you have studied him just that much. Your
studying will be what you make it. So make it fun and
make it serve you.
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Secret #19
Expose Yourself To Different Types of
Foods, Music and Styles
One secret to assuring that your leadership never gets
boring is just putting yourself out there and experiencing
the world. How can you experience the world without
traveling during the school year? If you are in a diverse
community and you have people in your group who have a
different background, ask them about it. Ask them about
different customs or even favorite dishes that they have.
What type of music do they like? Do they listen to the
same music? Just begin to expose yourself to different
cultures. You will be amazed how exposing yourself to
new cultures and backgrounds will have a profound effect
on your leadership and leadership style. If you do not
have access to the diversity of people or communities, that
is not an excuse. The Internet and Cable Television has
made it so easy for us to tap in. Check out and see how
other leadership styles differ from culture to culture.
From country to country. From sea to shining sea! Trust
me, your leadership will be taken to a whole new level. I
dont know maybe . . . World Class Leader!

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Secret #20
Build Partnerships
You will not be able to do it on your own. Not only that,
you group will not be able to do it on their own. So when
you and your group cant do it all on your own, get in
partnership with others. Being in High School, there are
so many sources that you can tap into as far as teachers,
guidance counselors, deans, principals and even other
student leaders. There is this misconception that you do
not need anyone else. Contrary to popular belief you do
and you will. Lets say your group is throwing a big
dance. There are only 10 people in your group. If you are
not in partnership with other groups you may have 20
people at your dance. How much fun is that? It is when
you build partnerships that you can create alliances with
other groups and or teachers who will have your dance be
packed out. This is with any group. If you are in
partnership with others, you not only increase your
exposure and, people who would not have known your
group and what your group represents gets exposed to
you. Partnerships create a winning solution every time.

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Secret #21
Show Your Appreciation
Your group does a lot of work. They give their time, their
effort and their energy. Truth be told, without them, you
would not have the opportunity to be the leader that you
are today. Because this group of people following you
trust you enough to lead them, my recommendation is that
you show your appreciation. There are so many ways that
you can show your appreciation. Why not have a member
appreciation day. Sponsor a picnic, meet out for bowling
one night, or even just take one day of meeting time, get
someone to bake some cookies and other goodies and put
a big ole Thank You Sign on the table with the cookies. It
is never too late to appreciate.

When should you appreciate? Whenever. We show

appreciation after a big win of a game or even a big
victory. How about you appreciate them when the is at
one of the lowest or when they feel their work is not
enough. Your appreciation will be the very thing that will
take your group to the next level and adopt the Yes We
Can and Yes We Will state of mind. No matter when you
do, just knowing that it is never too late to appreciate.

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Secret #22
Get A Grip
Stop Freaking Out! Get A Grip! Crap happens. Plans get
derailed, people act crazy, groups will freak. It is in these
moments where you have to take everything in you and
grab a hold of your sanity. Being a leader there will be
problems that you see that the group doesnt even see.
When that happens Get A Grip! There will be times
where an issue shows up that no one was even expecting.
When that happens Get A Grip! When it seems like
everyone is against you in your group Get A Grip! When
you choose to take control of your thoughts alone and not
allow some craziness to jump off, you will be able to
operate and make wise decisions from a clear mind. So
when you see that freak out moment show up . . .

Get A Grip!

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Secret #23
Be Real With Everyone
(Especially Yourself)
There is no room for phony people in leadership. One
thing I love about high school leaders is the fact that they
will be real. They will tell you when your clothes dont
match and tell you when your breathe is hotter than fire.
So when you are a leader know that your group will
appreciate being real. Now you are who you are. But
have you ever noticed that we put on this faade to make
ourselves look more important or even act like we are
invincible. That type of leader will not earn a great trust
from their group. Who they will trust is someone who
they can relate to and know that no matter what, they will
never feel belittled next to your presence. Be real with
everyone especially yourself. Be real with yourself
because being an Extraordinary Leader will requires you
to be just that. The great surprise shows up when you are
real about your good, bad and ugly, your group will feel
safe enough to be their real self. What an honor it would
be the leader of a group that feels free enough to be
themselves in a world where many times we are portrayed
not to be good enough.

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Secret #24
Listen More Than You Speak
You want to know when your leadership sucks? When
you hear yourself talking all the dang on time. Leadership
is not about you and your ideas. It is about the ideas of
the group you are leading. Extraordinary Leadership
shows that there is a leader who is willing to just sit and
listen to any and everything that their group members
have to say. Now do not get this confused with when they
say things to you, you always have to give an answer. So
not true. Sometimes, people just want to be heard. Can
you provide that for you group? Can you provide a safe
space for them to say anything they need say and feel
respected enough that you wont always put your two
cents in? When you create this foundation in your group
through your leadership, you are going to see people grow
and blossom like never before. You would amazed at how
many people do not feel listened to. So what would your
group become under your leadership if you made that a
rule that they have the freedom to communicate at
anytime either with or without your commentary.
Essentially, you would become the person in their life
where actually feel heard. In some cases it may be the
first time with you. Now that is Extraordinary Leadership.

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Secret #25
Think, Act and Evaluate
DO NOT
Act, Think, Evaluate, Think Again and
Then Act
When it comes to projects know that you are either in
action or you are not. When your group takes on projects
instill in them the value of Think, Then Act and Then
Evaluate. Lets say the group has come up with an idea
for a project, that is the thinking stage. The next thing
that should happen is the group takes immediate action.
After taking action the group can stop to evaluate if the
action being taken is effective. If it is, continue to act and
if not, the group can go through the process of Think Act
and Evaluate again. Where many groups mess up is they
think then they evaluate what they were thinking.
Listen, how can a group effectively evaluate anything is
no action has been taken? They get tricked into thinking
that evaluating thinking is going to have the action be
great? Just the opposite. As a leader my request of you is
that you keep your groups in the process. Think Act and
Evaluate. I promise you, your group will see some
immediate and tangible results.

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Secret #26
Either Let Go of Your Past or
There is No New Future
As a leader, you will come to the table with a past. As a
matter of fact, everyone will. Now my question is what
can you do with your past? Really? You cannot change
it. You cannot fix it. You cannot revisit. Given that, if
everyone shows up to the table with their past, will there
ever be a new future. Lets take an example. There are 10
people in your group and you will be meeting at a round
table. The table is clean and clear. The table represents
the future. These 10 people including yourself will show
up with books, book bags, IPods and the like. Lets say all
of this represents the past that each of you are carrying.
When you show up for the round table meeting everyone
puts the things (past) on top of the table (the future). Once
you begin the meeting you realize you want to create or
build something new, but you cannot because there is no
room on the table (your future) because it is cluttered with
your past. Let the past be the past. When you really start
looking at that and having your group do the same. What
would you and your group be able to create if you showed
up to a table empty just waiting on you to create the new
future?

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Secret #27
Give Your Team a Chance to Run
Things
The group you oversee will be flowing with ideas often.
If you desire to take your group to the next level, allow
them to start fulfilling on those ideas with your support. I
know sounds scary, but give your group the chance to
initiate and run ideas and projects that they bring to the
table. When they bring up the ideas, ask them would they
be willing to lead the project. If they say yes, let them
know that they are the leader of this project and you will
serve as an advisor. When you allow your team to run
things, you build this self sufficient community of people
who become this machine of major accomplishment. Yes,
your group could all focus on one project or event. What
would be like for your group if there were two projects
going on and both of them were excellent? Know that the
power you will instill in your group will be the greatest
investment in grooming, growing and taking your group to
a whole new plain of accomplishment. It takes and
extraordinary leader to stand back and let the group do it.

- 33 -

Secret #28
Party With Your Team! Celebrate!
Get into the habit of celebrating with your team. We all
like a party, a good party. Now the trick here is celebrate
your great moments and also celebrate the moments that
you fail as a group. You failing as a group is not a bad
thing at all. What does it mean when you fail as group? It
means you were in action around making something
happen and it just didnt quite work out. I would rather be
able to celebrate accomplishments and failures with a
team of people who are in action versus celebrating when
we only rarely win. So get the balloons and go party!

- 34 -

Secret #29
Take on Your Physical Health
One of the challenges of being a leader is it can actually
stress you out physically. Consider that you are going to
be doing a lot thinking, a lot of pondering and even a lot
of running around. With that, when your body becomes
overstressed, it begins to show physically. You will seem
sleepy and tired often, irritated, even feel down on some
days. To counter act that is to really take on your physical
health. Get out and go dancing, play volleyball, lift
weights, run whatever it is you like to do get into the habit
of it because being active will introduce endorphins into
your system which is the natural stimulant to have you be
engaged with your group on a long term basis. Who
wants to be lead by someone who is sleepy, tired, and
irritable?

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Secret #30
Build New Habits
Destroy Habits That Suck!
There are habits currently that will not allow you to be an
extraordinary leader. Playing video games for 4 hours on
a school night when you know you have homework and
some work to do for you group, its not gonna work.
Period. This is a habit that needs to be destroyed. How
would your life, not just school life, but your life take
shape if you were intentional about creating habits that
supported your success? Instead of playing video games
for 4 maybe say, you will only spend 1 hour from 6 -7 pm
playing, 7 8:30 pm, you will homework and 8:30 to 9:30
pm you spend on getting ready for your next meeting.
Want to change an old habit? Do this. Recognize the bad
habit, set up a structure for the new habit like I just did
and commit 20 days to it. If you stick to this, the old habit
is done and now have a habit that will support your
extraordinary leadership. The great thing about that is you
can use this for any area of your life.

- 36 -

Secret #31
Dress Up Every Once in a While
Isnt it amazing how great you feel when you dress up for
Homecoming or Prom? It seems like your spirits are
lifted out of the blue. Do that every once and a while
around your group. Im not saying you need to put on
your tux or prom dress, but do a little extra and go above
the average dress code every now and then. As a Leader,
your group will always be keeping their eyes on you.
Following your lead, some may dress up every once in a
while. Make dressing up occasionally a group effort.
What if your group chose a day a semester to just dress up
and walk the halls as if each own the school. I say thats
great. What about you? So when you are going to pull
out that tie? What about the high heels?

- 37 -

Secret #32
Invest in Yourself
When we look at the word invest many immediately see
that as investing in the stock market. Thats not where Im
going at all. When I say invest in yourself, invest in your
knowledge as a leader. Being school I know you have a
lot to do and a lot of reading to do, so the last thing on
your mind will be to pick up a book on leadership. I
challenge to do so. Even if you read for 20 minutes a day,
you reading beyond what is required will give you the
edge of being an Extraordinary Leader. Investing in
yourself is so underrated that I almost find fault in it. You
will not be able to lead effectively if you are not
constantly expanding yourself. Yes, life will teach you
some hard knock lessons. That does not mean you have to
learn the hard way all the time. Trust me, there is
someone who has done what you are trying to do. So why
not invest in yourself, by attending a workshop, leadership
conference or even reading a book that will have you learn
without the agony of the experience. Take this on and
know that the more you expand by investing in yourself,
the more your group will expand.
- 38 -

Secret #33

Make Time for You!

You deserve a break! Being in leadership can get
mentally taxing at times. So, I suggest that you make time
for you. I recommend no less than 3 hours a week that
you just totally have for yourself. In this time you can do
anything. Kick it with your boys, hang out with your
girls, take yourself to a movie, veg out on the couch while
munching down your favorite meal. Make it a habit of
doing this. The three hours do not necessarily have to be
all together, but if you want to replenish yourself, really
consider the 3 hours will benefit you.

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Secret #34
Be Oblivious to Nothing!
Becoming a leader, your sense of awareness begins to
increase. You start seeing things that you havent noticed
before. You witness first hand some things that you
werent even expecting. The downfall of this is when it
comes to our groups we will see but not say anything. We
will purposely turn the cheek to it so we dont have to deal
with it. You may see that there is tension between two of
your group member and you stand back and not say
anything. Being a leader being oblivious is an option.
Being and extraordinary leader, being oblivious is not
tolerated. When you see things address them. If you
dont know how to address the entire situation, this is
when your partnerships and community outside the group
can give you feedback and strategies to have this handled.
Address it sooner rather than later so it will not affect your
groups performance.

- 40 -

Secret #35
Obey the Law!
Stay Out of Trouble!
Stay Out of Jail!
An Extraordinary Leader cannot be so Extraordinary if
behind bars, Duh!

- 41 -

Secret #36
Find a Mentor
In your structure of partnerships, it is great to have a
Mentor in your corner. A mentor will be able to serve as a
coach who can give you pointers on how to be effective.
It will be a relationship that would support you in
overcoming those moments where you are stopped. A
mentor can also be a sounding board for new ideas or
challenges that you are having. You cannot do it alone.
Your mentor can be a teacher, a business owner, a leader
of another team or even one of your parents. Ultimately
you get to choose they are for you.

- 42 -

Secret #37
Evaluate Your Friends
Every 6 Months to a Year
Once becoming a leader, you become this immediate
magnet to people. So many people will be blown away by
the fact that you are the leader of the group that they will
just seem to attach themselves to you out of nowhere.
They will start showing up at your lunch table. They may
even start showing up your locker. In some cases you
acquaint yourself with new people and before we know it
these people are our friends. While I think that is
great, I caution you to evaluate your new found and even
current friends. Just because people like to be around you
does not necessarily mean they would be great to be in a
friendship with. So some of the things you must start
asking yourself is why are they my friends? Do they
just enjoy being around me just because? Do I enjoy
hanging out with them? Are they negative or give
negative feedback? These are just a few questions you
should ask. If you find that you are not liking the answers
to some of these people, choose to not be their friend. No
hard feelings. When it all boils down to it, just know that
it is up to you and it is your choice who you choose to
have around.

- 43 -

Secret #38
Stay Away From Toxic People
If They are Negative . . . Stay Away From Them
If They always Have Attitude . . . Stay Away From Them
If They know it all but no results to show it . . . Stay Away
From Them
If They find every thing wrong with the world . . . Stay
Away From Them
If They are a Hater . . . Stay Away From Them

Being an Extraordinary Leader, there is no room for crap!

So Stay Away From Toxic People

- 44 -

Secret #39
Shake Things Up!
Groups get into the habit of doing the same thing over and
over and over and over again. The same events, the same
fundraisers, the same the same the same. Being an
extraordinary leader you are in the place to challenge your
group to try out new things. Lets say youve done a bake
sale every year. Great! Wonderful! How about trying
putting on a dance or even a dance competition that will
have the different dance crews at your school compete for
a prize. Guess what. That bake sale . . . can be done at
the event. Get use to shaking things up with your group.
When you do this, your team not only gets complacent
with what they do, but they also begin to grow in new
ways and with that, the group goes to new heights.

- 45 -

Secret #40
Live With Fear and Not IN Fear
Contrary to popular belief Fear will always be in your
life. However, there are two ways you can deal with Fear:

Option A
You can Live IN Fear which means that you have given
Fear the keys to your car and you are riding in the
passengers seat screaming the whole time because fear is
behind the wheel driving your life.

Or

Option B
You can Live WITH Fear which means that although Fear
may always be there, you are behind the wheel in the
control driving your own life despite the fact that Fear is
going along for the ride.

Your Call . . . Your Extraordinary Leadership . . . Your

Life
- 46 -

Secret #41
Do Group Evaluation After Every Event
Debriefing is a very powerful tool in leadership. A debrief
is just a meeting with everyone after the event and you sit
down and discuss the event. I suggest that you pose the
following questions: What worked? What didnt
Work? and How was the overall project for you?
These questions you pose to the entire. The gold found in
doing this is you get a chance to really get a read of where
your group is. You get to know about some things that
took place behind the scenes that had the event be either
success or not as successful. Also, your group will feel
heard. This is a major component of taking on the next
project with a clean slate and new ideas. Make this a
practice and this practice will prove fruitful for years to
come even after you have passed on your leadership.

- 47 -

Secret #42
Quote Somebody
History has graced us with some of the greatest leaders
and pioneers. More than we may ever have time to get to
know. One thing that will keep your team inspired and in
action is if you quote a great leader or pioneer for your
group. There are so many accomplished people who have
left such great quotes that a sentence or two can literally
inspire you to greatness.
One of my favorite quotes right now is:

Success means we got to sleep at night knowing that our

talents and abilities were used in a way that served others.
- Marianne Williamson

- 48 -

Secret #43
Start at Home
Want to get practice in leadership? Start at home. Better
yet start with yourself. It amazes me how many leaders I
have seen leading by the principal do as I say not as I
do? What the heck! Are you serious? So being a leader
means that you are going to have to take a close look at
whats going on in your own backyard. That means that
you are going to have to start being on time for your life,
doing what you said you would, being great with people
everywhere and even just keeping your room clean at
home. When you start practicing leadership and choice
making in your own life, it becomes easier when you are
with your group. Leadership is not an over the night
thing. It is very much like a muscle. If you want it to get
bigger, you have to work it out. So if you are really
looking to buff up your leadership . . . start by using your
leadership at home.

- 49 -

Secret #44
Its Not All About You
Your leadership will never be about you. For those of you
reading this thinking that leadership is about the spotlight
and the glitz and glamour of it all. Thats great, but you
are in the wrong field. It is not all about you boo. Who is
about? Its about those people who are a part of your
group. They are involved in a group that is allowing them
the space to be greater than they have ever know
themselves to be. Its about the people who your group
helps. No matter how you help them whether it be on the
Pep Squad making people laugh, shout and cheer, or a part
of Snowball, a group who really builds self-esteem like
nobodys business. This is why you are a leader. The true
joy of being a leader is not being out in front. If you take
that route you will cheat yourself of one of the greatest
gifts. That gift is having someone under your leadership
really walk away being a greater, stronger and more
dynamic than before they joined.
That my friend is worth living for.

- 50 -

Secret #45
Know that Success Will Be
Sprinkled with Failures
News Flash! You are going to fail! That thought sucks
doesnt it? I know, I even had a hard time writing this
because who really wants to fail? Absolutely no one. So,
here is the secret. Your success is only going to be
generated by being in action. Being in action is going to
cause to do things that do not work out. You will fail
often times. The joy of knowing that your failed attempt
at something is putting you a step closer to your success,
you have given yourself a freedom that many Leaders do
not have. Typical leaders try to do things that will not
have them fail or even do not take action in order to avoid
failure. The Extraordinary Leader will take the action
being clear that a failed attempt is bound to happen.
When it happens, they say it was a failed attempt and try
again. This will lead extraordinary leaders to have way
more successes than the typical leader who is afraid to
fail. So hurry up! Fail fast! It puts you closer to your
success.

- 51 -

Secret #46
Learning is Priority
If you suspect that you will need to be a progressive
learner in order to become an extraordinary leader, you are
right. However, I caution and how you learn. If you
expect your learning to be like your course to learning
basic math, to algebra to trigonometry, you are setting
yourself up to fail. Extraordinary Leaders are clear that
they are learning all the time. In order to do that, one has
to realize that the lessons are not going to be typical. The
lessons will not always be in order. The lessons will spike
learning curve. If you are a leader who is always looking
for a lesson in something or just even being inquisitive
about something all the time, you are well on your way to
setting yourself apart from typical leaders.

- 52 -

Secret #47
Be Wiling to Take Risks
You play small, you win small. You play big you win big.
Take little risks, expect menial rewards, take big risks,
know that the rewards are great. If you are a leader, know
that taking risks is something you should become a Master
at. This does not mean that some of you risks will prove
worthy all the time, but I really want you to know that it is
in your risk taking that you discover some great things
about yourself, about your group and overall just about
life. When you become a Master Risk Taker, you are
equipping yourself with one of the greatest tools you
could ever have in being an Extraordinary Leader.

- 53 -

Secret #48
Connect & Partner With Other Leaders
Take Impossible out of your dictionary and vocabulary
If you have a dictionary I want you to go to it right now.
Take a pair of scissors with you and look up the word
impossible. When you find it, I want you to cut it out of
your dictionary. Heres why. There is no such thing as
impossible. If you are reading this book and you look at
the cars on the street, do you know that you years ago,
When Henry Ford had an idea of a car, people thought he
was idiotic and this contraption would never come to
because it was impossible. Do you realize that if you
have ridden in an airplane, some time ago, that was
considered impossible. What about cell phones. People
at one point thought that being able to call another friend
across the country not being connect physically to a
landline . . . yep they thought it was impossible. This is
what I want you to consider. In your leadership, there are
going to be tasks that seem impossible. The moment that
comes up in your mind, start looking around and realize
that you are surrounded by things that were at one point in
life considered impossible. So it thats the case, what
makes you think that your leadership will not lead to the
impossible becoming possible? Think about it.
- 54 -

Secret #49
Burn The Ships!
There is a story of a General who was overseeing an
army. They were getting ready to go into battle on an
island with another army that outnumbered their own by a
large amount. The General told them, they were going to
this island to WIN this war. In assuring that they won, he
commanded that the boats they traveled on to the island be
burned upon arrival. In doing so he told the army, we are
not leaving until we win! Talk about commitment.
Though this story may seem absurd to some, my question
is, how many times as a leader have you looked at a task
or project and instantly gave up on the battle before you
even started. What separates extraordinary leaders from
plain same ole same ole leaders, is the Extraordinary
Leader will demand that they are not leaving until they
win! So when it comes to projects, events, and certain
task, you must go in with no other plan than to win!

- 55 -

Secret #50
Be a Leader Who Builds Leaders
One of the unknown secrets of being the greatest leaders is
by training, building and inspiring new leaders. One of
the traps of poor leadership is by being a leader who does
not share what they have learned with others. Being a
leader who holds everything to themselves will set your
group up for failure. It is also one of the quickest ways to
bring a Dictatorship like style to the group. What cutting
edge leaders are learning today is that they cannot do it all
by themselves. There needs to be collaborations between
those who are currently leading and those who desire to be
leading. If you nurture an environment of being a leader
who is constantly on the lookout for leaders, discovering
those who dont even know they have that in them, and
begin training those people, your experience as a leader
will be so Off The Chain! By training others, you deepen
your knowledge of what you are training them in. Leader
build leaders by doing just that. Constantly giving to
others what they have learned. In doing so, their
leadership expands beyond recognition.
- 56 -

Secret #51
Honor Your Humanity
One thing that is rarely talked about as a leader is that no
matter what type of leader you are, you will always be
human. For some there is this funny notion that when you
become a leader all of a sudden you are not a HumanBeing anymore. Wrong answer. When you become a
leader, it does not mean you have these new super powers
all of a sudden. You will always be human. You are going
to be great some days. Then there are going to be some
times where you make mistakes, not in the best mood or
just not feeling it. That is ok. When you have those
moments take a second and realize that you are human.
This is not the time invalidate yourself or your leadership.
Honor the joy of being a Human Being and instill that in
your group.

- 57 -

Conclusion
Just so you know, I made this book an easy read.
Trust me, if you are a leader, considering being a leader,
thought about being a leader, more than likely, you have a
lot on your plate already. Consider this book a resource
tool. I don't expect you to read this book and all of a
sudden start taking on all 51 of the Secrets. As a matter of
fact, ideally it would work if you took on each leadership
secret, one per week, therefore, you get to use and practice
it without climbing the walls. Look, I even gave you a
week off (if I didn't it would be 52 secrets).
My commitment to you is that you experience your
leadership and yourself as someone that you didn't even
consider would produce the results that you would.
Again, this book is designed for you to come back to
every once in a while. If you find your leadership or even
just everyday life just becoming one big ole stress ball, I
promise, just one of these secrets will have a huge impact
on you and your leadership. How do I know? Trust me,
I'm not only the Author, I also use this book as my
resource!
To your greatness,
A'ric Jackson
The Dream Achiever

- 58 -

Aric Jackson The Dream Achiever

Did you like this book?

Check out Aric Jacksons other books!

5 Things Your Guidance Counselor Didnt Tell You

Dont Be Scurred

Fearless: The 7 Steps To Becoming An Extraordinary

Leader In the World

www.aricspeaks.com
- 59 -

Aric Jackson
Author, Speaker . . .
DREAM ACHIEVER!

For the last eight years, people have allowed themselves to

be inspired and motivated by the words of Aric Jackson. His
mission is to T.I.E. - Teach, Inspire and Encourage all those
who hear him, and to take the challenge of helping
others pursue their goals and dreams.
What began as passionate poetry designed to uplift the
spirit has turned into the pursuit of affecting attitudes and
changing conventional thought. A charismatic and genuinely
heartfelt facilitator, Aric knows that his passion and desire
for his audience allow him to connect with them while he is
speaking.

- 60 -

After realizing how affected his audiences were by the

poetry he would share, Aric began to feel the tug of moving
to the next level with his words. Selected as Best New
Speaker in 2000 by the Chicago Chapter of the
International Speech Organization, Toastmasters, this
recognition made him realize how much he wanted to
pursue this and how much a void needed to be filled with
more strong teens and youth across America.
Watching him speak on stage helps you realize why he is
such a unique and gifted orator. For it takes a genuine
speaker to present information with shared experience,
passion to research a topic much deeper, and to share that
information with the audience using skills that will make it a
memorable and exciting experience for all.
One of his greatest endeavors to date is his new book "5
Things Your Guidance Counselor Didn't Tell You!" The book
is a down to earth, insightful and often humorous look at
the colorful spectrum of the NOW generations journey to
becoming a Certified Dream Achiever. The book was
released Summer of 2008! Since that time he has released
51 Secrets to Being An Extraordinary High School Leader
Dont Be Scurrred and Fearless: The 7 Steps To Becoming
An Extraordinary Leader In The World He is preparing to
release his latest book with focuses Bullying. I love living
my dream everyday and that dream is to transform the lives
of teens across the world!
Whether it is through his speaking or writing A'ric is
interested in reaching the NOW generation and letting
them know that there is someone who is willing to take a
chance on them, encourage their hopes, and give them the

- 61 -

tools needed to making their dreams a reality.

Arics motto is You must first learn to love yourself, then,
allow others to follow, and he believes that whenever
someone takes time out of their life to hear what he has to
say, and acts upon what he says, that makes him eternally
grateful.

- 62 -