Why I Read Earning Freedom
I first came across Earning Freedom before I ever stepped foot inside a prison.
Back then, I was living on my ranch in Texas. Life looked different—I was retired from business, managing a quiet existence, and thinking a lot about purpose. That was around the time I met Michael Santos. He visited me at my home, and we spent the day talking about his work with Prison Professors, the justice system, and the importance of using one’s story to help others. He gave me a copy of Earning Freedom and encouraged me to read it—not just for entertainment, but to understand what sustained him through more than 26 years in federal prison.
At the time, I didn’t know how relevant that book would become to my own life. I wasn’t facing charges yet. I had no idea that I’d soon be pulled into the federal system myself. But I read Earning Freedom because I was drawn to the idea that a person could lose everything—liberty, status, control—and still build a life of impact from within a cell.
The book stuck with me. And when I got into trouble, when the weight of my own mistakes started closing in, it was that book that reminded me I still had something to give.
What I Learned From Reading This Book
Earning Freedom isn’t just a prison memoir. It’s a blueprint for transformation.
Michael didn’t write about surviving prison—he wrote about conquering it. And he did it by taking full accountability from day one, creating structure, setting long-term goals, and refusing to let the system define his identity. That mindset resonated with me deeply. As someone who built a multimillion-dollar business from scratch, I understood the power of vision, execution, and long-range planning. But I also knew what it felt like to lose focus, to make a bad decision, and to deal with the consequences.
What struck me most was how Michael used his time. He didn’t wait for the system to offer him opportunities—he made them. He earned a college degree from inside, published books, mentored others, and built a personal brand around integrity and growth. It challenged the way I thought about incarceration. It showed me that a prison term doesn’t have to be wasted time—it can be leveraged time, if you’re disciplined and committed enough.
He also emphasized the importance of documenting progress and making that progress visible to stakeholders: judges, probation officers, administrators. That message shaped my own release planning. I started to see my journey not as something to hide from, but as something I could use to demonstrate growth, accountability, and contribution.
How the Book Will Contribute to My Life Upon Release
Even before I was sentenced, I knew I wanted to use this time to make a difference. That desire came straight out of Earning Freedom. Michael’s example inspired me to get involved with Prison Professors before I became a defendant. I started volunteering to create curriculum—writing self-directed lesson plans for people in prison who want to prepare for success. I saw it as my way of giving back, of using my business experience to help others build their future from the inside out.
Now that I’m in custody, the book’s lessons hit even harder. Every day, I try to live with intention. I mentor younger guys like DeShawn. I write. I teach. I continue to contribute content for the nonprofit. And I document everything—not because I want credit, but because I want to show a body of work that reflects who I really am, and who I’m becoming.
When I get out, I don’t plan to go back to business as usual. I want to keep working in this space—advocating for reform, teaching entrepreneurship, and helping others avoid the same traps I fell into. I want to prove, like Michael did, that a person can fall, get back up, and still lead with integrity.
This book gave me more than a story—it gave me a strategy. And for that, I’m grateful.
