Build Your Release Plan

Success doesn’t come by accident, and except for lottery winners, it doesn't happen overnight. Success requires vision, discipline, and a detailed plan.

When I walked out of prison after 26 years, my life differed from what others would've expected. The journey inside differed. It was different because I learned from leaders who taught me how to plan. The plan helped me begin to think as if I was the CEO of my life. I would have to:

1. Define success as the best possible outcome.
2. Create a plan that would take me there.
3. Prioritize my decisions.
4. Develop tools, tactics, and resources that would accelerate the plan.
5. Create accountability metrics to measure progress.
6. Adjust as necessary.
7. Execute the plan every day.

I still use these plans. They made a difference in my life, and I encourage others to learn how to develop release plans. Those plans should assist the person in restoring confidence, and most importantly, they should accelerate progress toward the intended result.

Why a Release Plan is Essential

Design a release plan that focuses on delivering the intended result. It should show that you're thinking in incremental stages. You may feel that you don't need a plan. But remember that the plan is going to become a part of your long-term mitigation strategy. Think about stakeholders in the system and the ways that you can develop assets to influence them to view differently from others.

Your plan shold consider the mindset of stakeholders. They want to see incremental progress, and many times, they want to take credit for the way that they influenced your growth. Allow them to celebrate the victory of your success, provided it leads you closer to the result you want.

Your plan should show that you've made intentional decisions. Without a plan, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of daily life, lose focus, and miss opportunities.

Personally, the plan I created gave me structure and direction during my years in prison. It helped me restore confidence because I could visualize the result I'd have, provided I follow the plan closely. Every day I worked toward my goals of earning degrees, learning new skills, and preparing for a better future. My plan motivated me to work harder, and it helped me bring more people into my life who would advocate for me, or become a board of advisors.

A great release plan does three key things:

1. Defines Your Vision: It clarifies what you want to achieve.
2. Breaks Down Goals: It transforms your vision into actionable, realistic steps.
3. Demonstrates Accountability: It proves to others (and to yourself) that you’re committed to positive change.

6 Steps to Build an Effective Release Plan

1. Start with a Clear Vision

What kind of life do you want to lead on the other side of this journey? Write out your goals in detail. Be specific. Your vision, or how you define success, should serve as your guiding star.

Self-Reflection Question: “If all obstacles were removed, how would I define success a year from now?”

When I served my sentence, I started by visualizing how I would earn academic degrees, becomes a published author, and build a strong support network. That vision shaped every decision I made. It helped me craft a plan, one that I could execute as the weeks turned into months, the months turned into years, and the years turned into decades. The goals I hit at one stage put m into a position for opportunities at later stages.

2. Set SMART Goals

Once you have a vision, break it into smaller, manageable objectives using the SMART framework. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

For example:

• Specific: “I will write letters to 100 universities to try and get into a program that will lead to a university degree.”
• Measurable: I'll track the letters that I write, and assess the need to follow up.
• Achievable: If I stay focused, I believe that I can earn a university degree while I serve my sentence, regardless of what obstacles the system presents.
• Relevant: By earning a university degree, I'll have an asset that puts me on the pathway for new opportunities that otherwise wouldn't be available.
• Time-bound: I'll earn at least one university degree during the first decade I serve in prison.

These goals will provide structure and keep you on track.

Write your goals down and check your progress weekly. Adjust them as needed without losing sight of your vision.

3. Build a Support Network

Surround yourself with people who believe in your potential and can help you along the way. These could be family members, mentors, or other people you bring into your network. Think of steps you can take to make those people your advocates.

While serving my sentence, I found mentors who inspired me to think bigger and explore opportunities. Some of them I met, some of them I only read about in books. Those people could help me adjust my plan, creating strategies, and then tactics that would put me on the pathway to success.

You may need to develop a different kind of support network. It's your plan. Develop it.

Start forming your advisory board. Who can you add to your support network, and how will they help you grow?

One excellent way to demonstrate your planning to potential supporters is by creating a detailed profile on tools like Prison Professors Talent. A professional-looking profile highlights your goals and achievements, building confidence in those who want to help. It also shows how hard you're working to prepare for success, as you define success.

4. Show Intentional Progress

Your plan should evolve as you achieve milestones. Start tracking your incremental progress now, regardless of what stage you're in. For example:

• If you haven't gone into the system yet, develop a plan that shows how you're thinking about the journey and the steps you're taking to make it productive.
• If you’re incarcerated, document every educational certificate you earn or any skill-building class you attend. Develop your profile on Prison Professors Talent so that others can track your progress.
• If you’re post-release, keep records of every decision your making and show how you're advancing in a methodical, intentional way.

Momentum builds belief—in yourself and in others. Consider the flywheel concept that Jim Collins wrote about in his book Good to Great. The flywheel concept illustrates greatness results from consistent, disciplined effort applied over time, much like turning a massive, heavy flywheel. Initially, it requires significant effort to get the wheel moving. With persistence and steady application of force, the momentum builds. Over time, each turn of the flywheel contributes to a compounding effect, making the wheel spin faster and faster with less effort. This principle emphasizes the power of small actions done methodically and highlights how incremental progress, when aligned with a clear purpose, leads to extraordinary results.

Self-Reflection Question: “What steps am I taking today to move closer to my long-term goals?”

5. Plan for Challenges

No plan unfolds perfectly. Life has a way of throwing curveballs, but your release plan should account for potential obstacles. Whether it’s limited job opportunities, housing challenges, or rebuilding trust with loved ones, think about ways to mitigate these hurdles.

For example:

• Financial Challenges: Research programs or grants that support your financial needs.
• Employment Gaps: Prepare a script to explain your past while focusing on the skills that make you an asset.
• Mental Health: Create a self-care strategy to manage stress and stay on track.

Challenges are temporary. Your ability to adapt and stay focused will determine your success.

6. Use Your Plan as Proof of Accountability

A strong release plan demonstrates to others that you’re taking ownership of your future. Live as if you're the CEO of your life. If you iterate your plan over time, it will inspire confidence, showing intentionality, discipline, and a commitment to self-improvement.

Upload versions of your plan to the profile you build on Prison Professors Talent to give potential employers or supporters an inside look at your growth. The earlier you begin building your plan, the more compelling it will be to those who can help open doors.

Self-Reflection Question: “How does my plan show others my commitment to change and growth?”

The time and effort you invest in creating and executing your release plan will determine how well you’re prepared to meet the opportunities ahead. Draft your vision. Set your goals. Build your network. Track your progress. And prepare for obstacles with confidence. Remember, success will come if you plan well and you prepare for our future.

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