| As a youth, Aldric Marshall was labeled a "slow | | | | realized that school work and all it was to offer |
| learner." That was just the beginning. After | | | | was not clicking for me. What he did was tap into |
| wrestling with the unexpected and a confounding | | | | my strengths. He showed me how to work with |
| series of setbacks, including rejection and growing | | | | my hands. There are many more individuals who |
| up in an intensely violent home, Aldric redefined | | | | greatly influenced my life. There are just too |
| his life. In doing so, a confident, prolific, ambitious | | | | many to mention. |
| leader and author emerged. Today his messages | | | | F. B. What are the visions you concoct in your |
| include an ensemble of motivational teachings rich | | | | mind which drive your desire to inspire? |
| enough to evoke and inspire all of humanity. With | | | | A.M.I remember reading something. It said, 'To the |
| an arc of revolutionary fervor and zeal, Marshall | | | | the world you're just one person, but to one |
| transforms the way - and what - disenfranchised | | | | person, you may be the world.' The hands-off |
| people see. With astonishing candor, the first-time | | | | approach that people have toward our youth in |
| author recounts his poignant true-life story of | | | | our communities has resulted in our kids losing |
| overcoming a multitude of challenges. He has | | | | their smiles, their glow, and their hope for a |
| created the life of his dreams as an entrepreneur, | | | | future. My inspiration is when I see a lost smile, a |
| educator, and motivational speaker. Recently, I | | | | glow and a hope for the future. That's what, |
| sat down with him. We discussed his childhood, his | | | | drives me. |
| love for inspiring others, and of course, his | | | | F. B. Aldric, in your book you mention that you |
| freshman book, "Success Behind the Scars." | | | | went from working in a scrap yard, to managing |
| Fran Briggs: Good morning, Aldric. Thank you for | | | | a multi-billion dollar company. Can you tell the |
| making the time to meet with us today. | | | | readers how you did that? |
| Aldric Marshall: It is my pleasure to be with you, | | | | A.M. I did it with perseverance and persistence. I |
| I've heard so much about you and the wonderful | | | | wanted to create a better life for me and my |
| things you are doing. Thank you for having me. | | | | family and show other young men that whatever |
| F. B. You are welcome. Aldric, could you share | | | | you set your mind to, you can achieve. |
| with us a little more about your background? | | | | F. B. Currently, you are a Project Coordinator for |
| A.M. Growing up as a youth and then as a young | | | | Florida Resource Center For Women And Children. |
| man, I was unable to read. Still, I graduated from | | | | Would you describe your role for us? |
| high school with a 2.0 GPA. I enlisted in the military | | | | A.M. My role as a project coordinator consists of |
| and got kicked out for not passing the aptitude | | | | bringing economic development back to |
| test. I witness a lot of domestic violence in my | | | | communities where most of our urban |
| home as a young boy. It put a strain on my | | | | community has lost hope for the future. My role |
| ability to function as a normal child in school. I | | | | also includes encouraging, uplifting, motivating, and |
| have heard it all; from, 'you're going to be a wife | | | | giving each and every individual the attention that |
| beater, you will never amount to anything, to, you | | | | they need, and the self-worth that is required to |
| will go from one dead end job, to another. I am | | | | be future leaders and role models. |
| here to tell you: somebody's comment about you | | | | F. B. Many authors have a favorite author. Do you |
| does not have to be your reality. Sure enough, I | | | | have one? If so, who is it, and why? |
| didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth in | | | | A.M. My favorite author is John C. Maxwell |
| fact I can count the spoons we had in my house. | | | | because when I was in the scrap yard learning to |
| F. B. Your highly-anticipated book, Success Behind | | | | read, the first book that I read in its entirety was |
| the Scars, is scheduled for release in February, | | | | The Success Journey by John C. Maxwell. His |
| 2009. Can you share a synopsis? | | | | book continues to inspire me to this day. Not to |
| A.M. The book talks about how I grew up in a | | | | mention, John is a dear friend of mine. He is also |
| home with domestic violence, how I was labeled a | | | | one of the pastors at my church. I have the |
| slow learner, and kicked out of the Air Force for | | | | pleasure of speaking with him each Sunday he |
| failing an aptitude test. I had to get a job in a | | | | comes to minister. |
| dirty scrap yard separating metal for a large air | | | | F. B. What has been the most moving experience |
| craft company. That scrap yard was where I | | | | since writing your book? |
| learned how to read. In Success Behind The | | | | A.M. The most moving experience I've had since |
| Scars, I recount my poignant true-life story of | | | | writing my book was to know that it would help |
| overcoming a multitude of challenges to create | | | | many people, and to know that my book crosses |
| the life of my dreams, becoming an entrepreneur, | | | | every culture, economic status, and genre. |
| educator, and now a motivational speaker. I | | | | F. B. Did you ever second-guess your faith or |
| reveal the secrets of my success and inspire | | | | ability to write a book? If you have, how did you |
| readers to boldly go after and achieve their | | | | overcome it? |
| dreams! | | | | A.M. Yes, I have second-guess my faith in writing |
| F. B. Whose counsel have you benefited the most | | | | a book because of my background of not being |
| from? | | | | able to read as a young child and totally hating |
| A.M. The one and only counsel and examples that | | | | school. Writing a book brought on multiple |
| everybody can benefit from is Jesus; that is | | | | challenges. But those challenges quickly were |
| whom I have benefited the most from. | | | | overcome by the three things that I call 'The 3 |
| F. B. What were some of the biggest obstacles | | | | D's of life.' They are Determination. Dedication. |
| involved in your decision to become the leader | | | | And Drive. |
| you are today? | | | | F. B.What makes you most happy? |
| A.M. This decision came very easy for me. As a | | | | A.M. What makes me most happy is when I |
| speaker, I would witness other kids who had the | | | | spend time with my family, and see them happy. |
| same emotions that I did when I was in school | | | | F. B. What advice do you have for the aspiring |
| and growing up. I saw these 'obstacles' as a | | | | author? |
| blessing to help others. | | | | A.M. My advice for the up and coming and aspiring |
| F. B. What's apparent is your passion and | | | | author is that if you have a dream of becoming |
| dedication for teaching others how to succeed. | | | | an author - or even speaker, or motivator - don't |
| When did you realize that you had the ability to | | | | let your fears or anyone stop you from achieving |
| ignite and help others empower themselves in | | | | your dreams. They ( your dreams) are there for |
| their daily lives? | | | | the taking. |
| A.M. When I would speak to kids and witnessed a | | | | F. B. What's next for Aldric Marshall? |
| positive change in their lives. Parents from all over | | | | A.M. I plan to take my message to the world. I |
| would come to me and ask me to speak to their | | | | want to help inspire, motivate, and deliver the |
| children about the issues they are going through. | | | | message that, you can achieve anything you set |
| F. B. Most mentors had, or have had mentors | | | | your mind to. I was a young boy that grew up |
| themselves. Did you have a mentor who greatly | | | | witnessing domestic violence and being told I |
| influenced you as a youth? | | | | would never amount to anything. I was |
| A.M. The community at large greatly influenced | | | | bombarded by all sorts of negativity and unable |
| me as a youth. When I realized that it was I that | | | | to read. Still, I graduated with a 2.0 GPA. If I can |
| was causing most of my problems. That's when I | | | | achieve my dreams, then the next person can |
| opened up to seek help. I was not able to read | | | | achieve their dreams as well. |
| and perform like most normal children. There was | | | | F. B. Thank you, Mr. Aldric Marshall. It was both an |
| a fear of being exposed which greatly intensified | | | | absolute honor and pleasure speaking with you |
| my ability to move forward. Fear is something . . . | | | | today. I am believing nothing but the best for you |
| It will keep you griped and under a rock if you let | | | | in all of your endeavors. |
| it. Another key person was my Uncle Claude. He | | | | A.M. Thank you. |
| was very inspirational in my life. My Uncle Claude | | | | |