Achievement

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

In November of 2024, I made a speculative trade that generated more than $1 million in profits. It was the most lucrative transaction I’d ever made. I’ll share full details of that trade in a separate blog. For now, let’s discuss the series of incremental achievements that led to this result. My hope is that this story will help members of our community see how decisions we make today can lead to extraordinary opportunities in the weeks, months, years, and even decades ahead.

Those wanting to know more about my journey should read or listen to Earning Freedom: Conquering a 45-Year Prison Term. In that memoir, I recount how authorities took me into custody, and how I responded—initially with denial and resistance. After a jury convicted me, I experienced an awakening that helped me see the pain I was causing the people I loved. A compassionate officer, Officer Wilson, brought me books while I was in solitary confinement. Through reading, I transformed my thinking. Through transforming my thinking, I opened my life to new possibilities.

A few months after my sentencing, the US Marshals transferred me to a high-security penitentiary. Although it seemed like an environment without hope, I began writing letters to universities, determined to enroll in academic programs. Thanks to lessons I learned from Socrates, I followed a three-pronged strategy that I believed would lead to my reconciliation with society and success upon release:

  1. Educate myself
  2. Contribute to society in meaningful, measurable ways
  3. Build a strong support network

Had it not been for the early support of my sister and father, I might have abandoned hope in solitary confinement. Had it not been for Officer Wilson, who fed my mind with books, I might have adjusted very differently. When we go through a crisis, we need a plan. We need to prioritize, and then build our tools, tactics, and resources. Through my Straight-A Guide course, I strive to show how that plan can prepare anyone for success.

One crucial step is learning to celebrate every incremental achievement. For me, the humble progress I made while in a solitary cell became the foundation for earning $1 million in a single month, many years later. Frederick Douglass taught me that we must invest in ourselves. No matter the circumstances, we can always work to develop our writing, math, critical thinking, and communication skills. When we invest in ourselves to learn, we begin to see opportunities that exist all around us. We don’t have to be special; we just have to learn from those with more wisdom. As in the Parable of the Talents, we can believe that diligent work and a willingness to apply what we learn will yield rewards.

With each passing week, month, and year, I kept building on those small wins. By my tenth year in prison, I had earned two university degrees. I was publishing my work, growing stronger, and building deeper relationships. I found the love of my life and got married in the prison visiting room. I became someone my family could trust and support. Each of those incremental achievements laid the groundwork for a better life after my release.

When I finally left the Bureau of Prisons on August 12, 2013, more doors opened. I taught at San Francisco State University. I advocated for prison reforms that would allow more people to earn freedom. All those efforts connected me to people and opportunities that expanded my knowledge and business prospects. Over time, that expanded knowledge led to higher earnings and positioned me to spot lucrative ventures—like the speculative trade that yielded a $1 million return in a single month.

It’s the reason I devote the ninth module of my Straight-A Guide to celebrating incremental achievements. Those small steps matter more than we realize in the moment, and they build the foundation for our biggest wins.


Self-Directed Learning Question

  • What small, incremental achievements can you pursue today that will open the door for extraordinary opportunities tomorrow—and how will you measure your progress along the way?