Leaders taught me crucial strategies to make it through a crisis—or any kind of struggle. They emphasized the importance of knowing precisely where we want to go, or what we want to achieve. When we plan well, our incremental goals pave a pathway that leads to greater opportunities.
I was fortunate to have had many opportunities along the way. Some may find it ironic to say that I found so many opportunities while serving time in prison. Yet, the lessons I learned from leaders shaped my perspective. They guided me to spend my early years inside focusing on education and strengthening my support network. By staying true to that path, I discovered meaningful, measurable ways to contribute to the lives of others.
This strategy isn’t limited to those going through the justice system. It’s universal, offering solutions for anyone experiencing a personal crisis or struggle. The leaders I encountered taught me to:
- Define success as the best possible outcome.
- Create plans that will lead to that outcome.
- Put priorities in place.
- Build tools, tactics, and resources that accelerate the plan.
- Establish accountability tools to measure progress.
- Adjust as necessary.
- Execute the plan every day.
By following these principles during my imprisonment, I positioned myself for the many opportunities that opened up once I got out. After finishing my sentence in August of 2013, I launched a series of businesses. Through both successes and setbacks, I learned that every phase of the journey is vital—we’ve got to embrace them all, remaining focused on incremental progress.
Now that I’m 61, having been out of prison for more than a decade, I’m rebuilding and continuing to spread this message of hope, discipline, and personal development. Over the past several weeks, I’ve been working to build this new website, and I’m now recruiting interns who want to help amplify the message.
Next month, I’ll travel to UC Berkeley, in the San Francisco Bay Area, at the invitation of Professor Alan Ross. I’ll speak to several hundred students about our work, inviting them to join our community and help us improve outcomes for 1 million people in prison. It’s one part of a larger plan to keep building, keep striving, and make a meaningful impact on our world. After all, this mission gives purpose to the years I spent behind bars.
Self-Directed Learning Question:
- How can you define a clear vision for success in your own life and then break it down into the incremental steps necessary to overcome challenges and realize that vision?
