It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since SPARK: Five Essentials to Ignite the Greatness Within first launched into the world. Since then, thousands of leaders have used its message to light the fire of purpose, passion, and persistence in themselves and others.
Now, I’m thrilled to announce the next chapter in the SPARK legacy:
🔥 SPARK for Emerging Leaders, co-written with my brilliant friend Arthur Woods and
🔥 a companion Parent’s Guide to SPARK, designed to help grown-ups guide the young leaders in their lives.
These books are based on one simple truth: leadership starts early—much earlier than most people realize.
🧠 The Science Behind It: ILT and Early Leadership Models
There’s a field of research called Implicit Leadership Theory (ILT) that has always fascinated me. ILT tells us that by the time a child is just three or four years old, they’ve already started forming mental models of what a leader looks like, sounds like, and acts like. These models are shaped by what they see—at home, at school, on screens, in stories.
If all they see are angry parents, dishonest influencers, or power-hungry celebrities, guess what their leadership model becomes?
👉 Trash in, trash out.
🙏 A Tremendous Moment That Marked Me
That phrase isn’t just academic for me—it’s personal.
I remember meeting Clebe McClary, a decorated Marine veteran, incredible Christian leader, and one of my father’s speaking colleagues. I was just a teenager at the time, chattering about some ridiculous TV show I’d been watching.
Clebe didn’t scold or shame me. He just looked at me with quiet intensity and said:
“Tracey, trash in, trash out.”
That moment seared into my spirit. It was one of those divine pivots when I realized that what you feed your mind determines what flows from your life.
💡 Why We’re Writing SPARK for Teens (and Their Parents)
Arthur and I believe the next generation of leaders needs more than rules—they need examples, encouragement, and advocates who understand their world and are willing to walk alongside them.
They also need boundaries, courage, and faith. That’s why we’re building a set of tools that will help parents, mentors, and teachers disciple their teens into servant-hearted, Spirit-filled leaders.
SPARK for Emerging Leaders will be full of stories, practical tools, and soul-shaping lessons. The Parent’s Guide will mirror each of the five essentials, giving adults the language, wisdom, and spiritual insight to spark conversations that matter.
🔥 What’s Next
We’ll share more soon, including sneak peeks, sample chapters, and ways to get involved in the SPARK movement. But for now, I want to encourage you:
✅ Pay attention to the leadership models your kids and students are absorbing.
✅ Be bold about setting a godly example—imperfect but real.
✅ And remember: trash in, trash out… but spark in, spark out, too. ✨
Let’s raise a generation of leaders who burn bright with truth, love, and purpose.
