As the old saying goes, the "devil is in the details." When Lyndon Johnson first came to Congress, he became an effective leader very quickly, because he, among other things, mastered the intricacies of congressional rules and procedures. To be an effective leader, you must know the lay of the land better than your followers. For starters, this means understanding the nature of your government. That means, among other things, reading and studying the Constitution of the United States, which lays out the three-branch system of government we have at every level of our society. Then, study the laws of your state and locality. Go over the rules of your community group, homeowners association, and so forth. Learn parliamentary procedure. Be knowledgeable. As James Madison said, "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance."

7. Stick your neck out

Ultimately, a leader must lead. Once you've set a good example, learned who your officials are, opened a basic relationship with them as an informed constituent, and mastered both your belief system and the framework within which you're operating, it's time to get out there - and lead. By doing so, you will be the kind of leader everyone respects and many will follow. And you will look back on your successes later in life, knowing that you did your part.