Even though Michael Jackson will always be recognized as a gifted entertainer first and foremost, the star will also be remembered for the legal troubles that plagued him throughout the latter half of his career and the persecution that followed. Every leader faces persecution.

Public opinion about Jackson was split after the settlement was announced in one of his trails. Some took the action as an admission of guilt by the singer. But others were sympathetic toward Jackson, who, having spent his childhood as a performer, was robbed of a normal upbringing. When one is at the top of the pack, they will ultimately face some form of persecution in their time as a leader.

Being a leader means recognizing passion, authenticity, integrity, and ethics as the cornerstones of effective leadership upon which we lay the foundation to bring about change. And these are private choices, not simply what we come to know by studying about leaders and leadership. Being a leader means knowing who you are at the deepest level. If you want to be a nobody, just hide under a rock… you’ll never lead people in your business or your life.

To know who you are you can think back over your personal history and identify the four or five most important events or episodes in your life, the moments that have defined who you are today. Michael Jackson had many past life events to draw on… the fame as a young child… the reported mistreatment from his father… etc. Think of the kind of leader you want to become, including the most important goals you have for the contributions you want to make to the world – your legacy- what will make you a star. Learn how to allocate your time and energy–the amount of attention you pay to various people and projects in your life—this can help you assess whether you’re actually doing what you care about doing. In recent years Michael Jackson’s attention was given to his children and his success afforded him that luxury.

At times during the super starts life it seemed as if the odds were so stacked against him that he wouldn’t go anywhere but down. However a true leader knows that the more the odds are against you, the bigger your rewards are at the end of the day.

Everyone has their own opinion on whether or not the accusations about Michael Jackson were true. This still doesn’t change the fact that the persecution he received showed him once again in the light of a leader and millions waited for the next piece of news. Don’t you agree?