Aspiration

Friday, January 17, 2025

During my sentencing hearing, I recall the judge cautioning that I’d be an old man by the time I walked out of prison. He imposed a 45-year sentence. After the hearing, two US Marshals transported me back to the detention center. Once I got there, officers led me back into the same solitary cell where I’d been living for the past year. 

At that point, I couldn’t fathom how to cope with multiple decades in prison. Instead, I chose to focus on what I could accomplish during the first ten years. By breaking that massive sentence into smaller steps, I figured I might create more opportunities for myself.

In the solitude of my cell, I read the Bible and reflected on the misguided decisions that steered my life to that bleak point. My sister and father visited me each week, waiting with strangers in long lines on weekends. They wanted to give me a little break from the isolation of my cell. I felt ashamed, but after the sentencing hearing, I also felt an emerging sense of determination. I wanted to transform and live as a person who contributed value to society. The unwavering support from my family kept me from giving up hope. I didn’t want to disappoint them further.

Officer Wilson also played a crucial role in my transformation. He brought me books that introduced me to new ways of thinking. 

Rather than wallowing in regret, I learned to aspire to a better path. Later, I wrote about those lessons that I learned from leaders in a course I wrote to teach others. I called it The Straight-A Guide. I devoted the fourth module in the ten-module course to the importance of having Aspirations. When living in challenging circumstances, we’ve got to see what we can become.

That principle helped me imagine the life I wanted—free from confinement, wearing a suit and tie, and standing confidently before others without them ever judging me for the bad decisions of my youth, or the time I served.

That vision propelled me forward. Once I had a clear aspiration, I could build a plan and set priorities that aligned with my goals. Over time, this strategy helped me maintain my dignity despite the length of my sentence, work toward a successful transition from prison, and ultimately achieve financial independence.

Today, I still rely on that same principle. I aspire to share the lessons I’ve learned with more than one million people—whether through partnerships with organizations like the Edovo Foundation, direct outreach to correctional systems, or digital platforms where anyone can download my work. Life, I’ve discovered, is all about incremental progress. Even when we feel trapped, figuratively or literally, aspiring to something bigger than ourselves can light the path forward.


Self-Directed Learning Question:

  • What do you aspire to achieve, and how will defining that aspiration help you build a step-by-step plan to overcome your current challenges or reach a higher potential?