I’m often asked what I do for a living. Inherently, felons are challenged to find decent employment, especially right after incarceration. By ‘decent’ I don’t mean anything close to the job, status or income they were previously accustomed to. By ‘decent,’ I mean a job that covers their basic needs – housing, clothing and food for themselves and their children.
Research consistently shows that many non-violent crimes are committed out of a sense of desperation. No, it doesn’t justify criminal behavior; however, it offers a deeper understanding of why some crimes are committed. With that we can determine practical, realistic ways to deter non-violent crime. This knowledge also highlights ways to reduce recidivism (reoffending).
If we’re being honest, all the programs, support groups and counseling in the world, don’t eliminate financial desperation. At the end of the day, people still need to feed their family today. If we want to reduce recidivism, we need to ensure that real opportunities exist for felons to earn enough income to support their families. This is a topic for an entirely different day, but it’s important context for understanding what I’m sharing.
To be clear, I’m not proposing we give things away. I’m proposing that we reward people for personal growth and hard work. I’m suggesting that we look at the qualifications of all individuals because if we’re being honest, just because an applicant doesn’t have a criminal record doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t commit a crime, creating a potential liability for the company. In fact, I argue that someone who’s experienced the criminal justice system or survived prison may be an even better candidate. Why? Because they’ve faced the punishment. They know how difficult the journey is and with all they’ve learned about that life, nothing is worth the risk of living through it again.
So, what do I do for a living? I do exactly what I love doing, I work for a cause! Helping others throughunfamiliar territory, mentoring people with a willingness to do the internal work and teaching self-advocacy are just a few of the aspects I’m passionate about.
Prior to going to federal prison, I spent 3 years and 7 months wondering. In my case, the process from being charged to stepping foot into federal prison was long. Although I’d received emails and literature from White Collar Advice, I didn’t think I assumed I couldn’t afford it and truthfully, I was in denial about the likelihood of going to prison.
Six weeks before I was sentenced, reality was staring me down. I needed answers and a sense of support from people who had been in similar shoes. I reflected on the numerous emails I’d ignored from White Collar Advice over the course of several years, and finally, the light bulb went off. I’m not sure if you know the story about the man who stood on his roof during a flood crying out to God for help, but my revelation was pretty similar. I’d ignored the help God was offering because the help I wanted was bigger, more obvious. I wanted God to make it all go away, turn back time and let me have a do-over. I was looking for full relief versus help to travel an unavoidable journey.
So, six weeks before I was sentenced, I joined a free weekly webinar call with White Collar Advice. I began watching their YouTube videos, reading and seeking their advice. I was terrified and after three and half years of feeling powerless over my life, I realized I had more power than I thought. No, I couldn’t change the past or have a do-over. I ruined that. There was a ton that I truly didn’t have control over. But I wasn’t powerless.
As I watched videos and participated in the weekly Monday webinars, I went through a range of emotions. The stages of feelings went like this: desperate, curious, educated, hopeful, crushed, sick, relieved, empowered.
Prior to White Collar Advice, I was desperately searching for the path to a miracle, a way to avoid going prison. I pleaded with God and made promises for how I would live the rest of my life. I’ll never forget a conversation I had with Justin Paperny, one of the founders of White Collar Advice. He called me and basically said… there are NO excuses and if you don’t take full responsibility for what you’ve done, you will lose! You are going to prison; the question is for how long. Ugh! Gut punch!! He was blunt and while I didn’t like what he said, he was right.
That was the moment that shifted my thinking. I stopped trying to justify or skirt around full admission that I, I alone, had royally screwed up! At the end of the day, whether directed by others or not, I lacked the transparency required to ensure sound advice. I ignored my instincts, the intuition designed to caution me that what I was being told didn’t sound right. Me… I was the problem! I was the reason my family was hurting, my clients who I’d grown to love were no longer part of my life and everything I’d worked so hard to achieve was destroyed.
With the direction of White Collar Advice, I did all that I could to salvage what was left. I focused on preparing for sentencing and doing whatever I could to move forward, acknowledging my failures and determining how I was going to right my wrongs. My focus shifted from what I’d lost to how my actions hurt others. There are victims of crime that stretch far beyond those noted in court documents. I had, and still have, a responsibility to make amends with each and every one of them.
As the time neared to surrender to federal prison, I continued following the guidance I’d received. I was on a mission with a commitment to get my life back on track and I created a plan, a Release Plan.
For the past six months, I’ve worked as an independent contractor for White Collar Advice. I help people through their journey. Whether it’s a family member or a defendant, it’s important to listen and provide individualized help. By no means is the goal to get someone out of trouble. It’s not my place to judge or impose my beliefs. I am here to offer support, encouragement and sometimes, a very uncomfortable truth.
Because the truth is this: Every single person on earth makes mistakes or deliberate bad decisions sometimes. The severity, damage, short-term and long-term consequences vary, but bad choices happen, nonetheless. And, in each case, facing the truth about what we’ve done is crucial. You can lie to the outside world and deny, deny, deny, but you can’t get away with lying to yourself.
Unquestionably, I’m fortunate. I’ve met some wonderful people and discovered some great opportunities. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m not about to credit luck for any of it. God gets the credit for leading me, I get the credit for following Him and taking action. I’ve remained open-minded, have built relationships and have invested a lot of time and energy into taking ownership. Like with most things in life, I believe in paying it forward, sharing knowledge with others.
It is an honor to do what I love most, helping others, trying to make their lives a little better and their journey filled with a little more hope.
Thank you for following my journey. It means so much to me.