"Every now and then a valuable and much needed book comes along. Larry Tracey has written that book for teens, pre-teens and those who work with youth called The Secret of the Can. Reading his book will develop self-confidence, self-esteem and success in school, while building a solid foundation for life. Larry has a genuine way of transforming an entire school building through the Youth4Youth program and has added another powerful tool with The Secret of the Can. His vision, passion and pursuit of excellence in education are remarkable! I have great respect for Larry and am honored to call him my friend."    — Jack Canfield Co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul in the Classroom and The Success Principles ™

Why can this book originally written for teens be beneficial in the workplace? Many agree that productivity and the bottom line are directly impacted by petty drama created by people getting distracted by the "garbage of life." Rumors, gossip, sabotaging and undermining the efforts of others in the workplace creates negativity, resentment, and hidden anger. This translates into lack of concentration or focus, wasted time and energy and slows down the system. It all directly impacts quality and customer service.

The Secret of the Can applies to all ages. Applying the principles in this book to the world of work, relationships or parenting, will allow you to create an environment that’s fun, supportive and positive. It's a new mindset that changes your environment from energy draining to exciting and uplifting. You may find yourself relating to teen Reese Williams or, other times, to mentor and role model, Austin Walker. It's a great lesson on letting go — allowing you to focus all your time and energy on your dreams and direction in life. 

Pete Schneider of Discover Solutions shares, "The Secret of the Can is a dynamic book on how one person can make a HUGE difference in many lives. A very personalized narrative of Reese Williams, a typical teenager with high school growing pains and life lessons, as substitute teacher Austin Walker mysteriously shows up to change the world as Reese and his classmates see it. Read how the baton of true leadership is passed from a sage to the next chosen leader. Learn how any parent, teacher or leader can be the one to make the difference in the success of those around them."

"Larry Tracey creatively used the entries into a journal of a fictional student to transmit to the student reader ways to find personal freedom from negative influences in life as well as keys to personal success.  Using this media allows students not drawn to traditional self-help books to identify with the character while expanding personal insight. I believe this inspirational book needs to be used in classrooms across the country as a springboard for success for our students."   — Finn Laursen, Executive Director,   CEA International 

Note: Prior to taking the helm of Christian Educators, Finn was a public school educator in Ohio for 32 years: teacher, middle school & high school counselor, middle school & high school assistant principal, high school principal, and the last 11 years as a public school superintendent.