Out with the old and in with the new….
Jamaal Blakey, A.K.A. “N.O.” from Pittsburgh, was not the typical Crip member from any of my experiences in the California prison system. The very first words that I heard from his mouth were, “You cannot solve problems with the same mentality that created them.” Those words stuck with me. Because of him, I carried a small notebook with me and wrote down everything that was said by him, and many other men that I gravitated toward, the same words that I would pass down years later to those in the classes I facilitate.
Reprograming our old way of thinking is vital if we are to become the success story we want to become. Listening to the stories of people like Michael Santos, Adam Clausen, and Shon Hopwood has proven this. My old mentality was not working for me, so I had to change it, but how?
Well, by emulating the behaviors and patterns of those who were already successful. I started compiling a list of the books they read, programs they took, and inspirational quotes that struck home. I read and lived these daily until they became second nature to me.
For me, the list of extraordinary people that had overcome extreme adversity started with the names of my peers. Later, I would learn of many more that are well-known throughout history, but for now, they all, at one time had, or still had a number just like me, but they did not let that hold them back from becoming a success story.
